Another Confession question

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ajecphotos

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Can a priest here confession anywhere or has it got to be in a confessional.

Also, has he got to wear his purple stole?
 
Priests can hear confessions outside of confessionals. You commonly see this at communal Reconciliation services when there will be a number of priests available in various places in the church. Absolution is valid whether a priest is wearing a stole or not.
 
So they dont even have to be in church it could be anywhere?
 
With a just cause, yes, anywhere. Do an Internet image search on World Youth Day 2013 confession for an example of administration of the sacrament outdoors! :cool:

Relevant canons:
Can. 964 §1. The proper place to hear sacramental confessions is a church or oratory.
§2. The conference of bishops is to establish norms regarding the confessional; it is to take care, however, that there are always confessionals with a fixed grate between the penitent and the confessor in an open place so that the faithful who wish to can use them freely.
§3. Confessions are not to be heard outside a confessional without a just cause.
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What constitutes “a just cause” is for the local ordinary to decide, I imagine.

To paraphrase and expand upon a previous statement, absolution is not invalidated by the absence of a stole or the presence of a stole that is of a color other than violet.
 
If I understand correctly, a priest can hear someone’s confession anyplace, provided the security of that confession is maintained.

Scheduled confessions might be another matter, due to the presence of a line, etc.

ICXC NIKA
 
ajecphotos said:
So they dont even have to be in church it could be anywhere?
Click to expand...
Priests quite regularly hear confessions outside of the church building.

Think about all of the people in the hospital. Or the home bound. Or those in prison. Those people cannot get to the church. If the priest had to be at the church, the Church would be denying those people the grace of Confession.
 
Ok, another question:

When saying a confession, does it ‘have’ to follow the written procedure? I know that probably lots of people forget the way in which it is said so must be right that one can ad lib?

Also, does the ‘Act of Contrition’ have to be said as written or can one make up ones own?
 
ajecphotos said:
Ok, another question:

When saying a confession, does it ‘have’ to follow the written procedure? I know that probably lots of people forget the way in which it is said so must be right that one can ad lib?
Click to expand...
The “proper” format for confession varies considerably from culture to culture. You do not have to follow any particular format. As long as you confess your sins with sincerity and contrition, it is acceptable.
Also, does the ‘Act of Contrition’ have to be said as written or can one make up ones own?
Click to expand...
You are free to make up your own. In fact, some priests don’t even have you say the “Act of Contrition” in the confessional. It is the contrition itself that is critical, not the words of a particular prayer.
 
maryjk said:
Priests quite regularly hear confessions outside of the church building.

Think about all of the people in the hospital. Or the home bound. Or those in prison. Those people cannot get to the church. If the priest had to be at the church, the Church would be denying those people the grace of Confession.
Click to expand...
When I was headed to Toronto, ON, for World Youth back in 02, confessions were heard in the back of the moving bus.

ICXC NIKA
 
ajecphotos said:
Ok, another question:

When saying a confession, does it ‘have’ to follow the written procedure? I know that probably lots of people forget the way in which it is said so must be right that one can ad lib?

Also, does the ‘Act of Contrition’ have to be said as written or can one make up ones own?
Click to expand...
Confession is designed to be as easy as possible for the penitent, as it is often stressful enough already.

As the rubrics are often forgotten, the priest will walk them through it.

The Act of Contrition is often posted in the confessional. But if not, or if not in a confessional, any such prayer is acceptable.

ICXC NIKA.
 
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