Anyone go to confession according to the EF?

[DL82]

Is there much of a difference? I have heard it said that the old form of the Sacrament of Reconciliation was much more like a court or tribunal, with more emphasis on guilt.

Does anybody still offer according to the pre-Vatican II form? (anyone licitly within the Catholic Church I mean) Does anyone go?

What happens? How is it different?

 

[DeusEratVerbum]

It’s basically the same thing except absolution is in Latin instead of the vernacular. Oftentimes the priest will pray the prayer of absolution while you are saying the act of contrition, which is the only thing that will strike someone as “odd” although I’ve been to a NO priest who did the same thing (which really threw me off!).

 

[cam100]

Is there much of a difference? I have heard it said that the old form of the Sacrament of Reconciliation was much more like a court or tribunal, with more emphasis on guilt.

Does anybody still offer according to the pre-Vatican II form? (anyone licitly within the Catholic Church I mean) Does anyone go?

What happens? How is it different?

The church I attend is approved by the diocese and offers daily confessions in the pre-Vatican II Latin form. It is really nothing like a “court” or “tribunal”. After all, by confessing your sins, you’re accusing yourself, so there is no need for a “tribunal” to accuse you. Rather, the priest often gives advice on how to avoid a particular sin or two in the future.

I should also add that the traditional confessions are so popular here that the priest spends countless hours in the confessional, and the lines are still so long that it’s often hard to get in! I also see a lot of unfamiliar faces in line, so I think people are coming in from other parishes, as well.

 

[markadm]

Apart from the absolution being in Latin, I haven’t noticed any perceivable difference…

 

[laudamus_te]

Is there much of a difference? I have heard it said that the old form of the Sacrament of Reconciliation was much more like a court or tribunal, with more emphasis on guilt.

Does anybody still offer according to the pre-Vatican II form? (anyone licitly within the Catholic Church I mean) Does anyone go?

What happens? How is it different?

How can there be too much emphasis on guilt, after all, why else are we there? Anyway, the traditional form of Confession is the same as it was in the NO when I was growing up, in that you follow the same proceedure: “Bless me Father for I have sinned, its been ___ since my last confession… these are my sins.” Sometimes the priest will wait until you’ve finished with your Act of Contrition before giving absolution, sometimes not. I was very disturbed at the last NO confession that I made, when the priest told me that I didn’t need to say the Act of Contrition, or that I could “say it outside if I want.”

 

[lizaanne]

I should also add that the traditional confessions are so popular here that the priest spends countless hours in the confessional, and the lines are still so long that it’s often hard to get in! I also see a lot of unfamiliar faces in line, so I think people are coming in from other parishes, as well.

May God bless him for such wonderful commitment to the sacrament!!! That is just so good to hear!

~Liza

 

[DL82]

How can there be too much emphasis on guilt, after all, why else are we there?

Thanks for all the answers. I guess there can be ‘too much’ emphasis on guilt when the sacrament becomes more about us and how bad we feel rather than God and how much He wants to restore us to His Grace. Though that doesn’t seem to be true of what people here have said of the traditional confession.

 

[wisdomseeker]

The church I attend is approved by the diocese and offers daily confessions in the pre-Vatican II Latin form. It is really nothing like a “court” or “tribunal”. After all, by confessing your sins, you’re accusing yourself, so there is no need for a “tribunal” to accuse you. Rather, the priest often gives advice on how to avoid a particular sin or two in the future.

I should also add that the traditional confessions are so popular here that the priest spends countless hours in the confessional, and the lines are still so long that it’s often hard to get in! I also see a lot of unfamiliar faces in line, so I think people are coming in from other parishes, as well.

Amen to that! i think many feels neglect by the Church lately. where i am confession is once a week and only for an hour. that means you have to be quick. or you have to make appointment.

i remember years ago i used to walk into the any time of the day. and a priest would come out and sit in his confession room. so confession was anytime any day of the week. priests were always availabe. not anymore.

Peace

 

[Fitswimmer]

Yes, often. I really love going that way. I’ve gotten wonderful counsel from my Confessors and I appreciate everything they have done. Other than the absolution in Latin, everything else is in English.

 

[PrayforMallory]

There’s no difference between OF and EF priests and confession, except that the EF priests are going to be a little clearer about what you need to do.

They are just as merciful, but in all areas of the Church, I think EF priests have a tendency to be more to the point.

 

[puzzleannie]

Is there much of a difference? I have heard it said that the old form of the Sacrament of Reconciliation was much more like a court or tribunal, with more emphasis on guilt.

Does anybody still offer according to the pre-Vatican II form? (anyone licitly within the Catholic Church I mean) Does anyone go?

What happens? How is it different?

I have been going to confession since 1956, and other than the fact that in some places it is possible to sit in a chair and face the priest, (an option I avoid unless I have no choice) and absolution is now in English, I have noticed no particular difference. I have seen some nuttiness over the years, usually in regard to communal penance services, but not with the acutal rite of confession itself. I should hope preparation for confession always includes a soupcon of guilt. If you are not guilty for your sins you need an attitude adjustment.

the biggest change I notice, but it varies on location, is availability of confession. why priest are not in the confessional most weeknights of Lent is beyond my comprehension. In most places if the scheduled time is 4 pm Saturday, you better be in line no later than 3:30, because if nobody is there at 4:05 the priest will lock up and go home.

 

[brotherhrolf]

I made my first confession in 1957. Like Annie points out, the only thing that has changed is the absolution in Latin. No, I do NOT want to face the priest. I always use the screen.

 

[lizaanne]

I made my first confession in 1957. Like Annie points out, the only thing that has changed is the absolution in Latin. No, I do NOT want to face the priest. I always use the screen.

I much prefer the screen - face to face feels way too much like a counseling session to me. The ONLY thing I miss about face to face is when the priest would place his hands on my head when giving the absolution - it would always, every single time, bring me to tears.

Our parish how has the old fashioned style confessionals where the priest and the penitent are in separate compartments with the screen in the wall between them. And the kneeler with the pressure activated red/green light, which is ever so cool.

~Liza

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

There is a difference. It is now in the vernacular. For most of us, that is English. For others it is in their native language. It is the same sacrament, unchanged except for that one difference.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

 

[AJV]

Is there much of a difference? I have heard it said that the old form of the Sacrament of Reconciliation was much more like a court or tribunal, with more emphasis on guilt.

Does anybody still offer according to the pre-Vatican II form? (anyone licitly within the Catholic Church I mean) Does anyone go?

What happens? How is it different?

The prayers of course, are different. The priest *may *begin with the Misereatur and the Indulgentiam, and then proceed onto the absolution prayer which is different from the NO.

Dominus noster Jesus Christus te absolvat; et ego auctoritate ipsius te absolvo ab omni vinculo excommunicationis (suspensionis) et interdicti in quantum possum et tu indiges. Deinde, ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis in nomine Patris + et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

May our Lord Jesus Christ absolve you; and I by His authority absolve you from all chain of excommunication(suspension) and interdict, so far as I can and your needs require. Then, I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father + and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Perhaps this prayer, with the mention of interdict, excommunication, etc. is one of the reasons why the Traditional rite seems more juridical?

After this there a prayer “Passio Domini”

Passio Domini nostri Jesu Christi, merita Beatae Mariae Virginis et omnium sanctorum, quidquid boni feceris vel mali sustinueris sint tibi in remissionem peccatorum, augmentum gratiae et praemium vitae aeternae. Amen

The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the merits of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all the saints, whatever good you do or evil you endure be for you the remission of your sins, the increase of grace and the reward of eternal life. Amen.

A practically identical version of this prayer may still be said in the NO- it is one of several options.

Surprisingly once, an old priest absolved me using the Traditional prayer (abbrev.) in English at a non-Traditional confession.

 

[Joannm]

There’s no difference between OF and EF priests and confession, except that the EF priests are going to be a little clearer about what you need to do.

They are just as merciful, but in all areas of the Church, I think EF priests have a tendency to be more to the point.

I think these two underlined statements are simply a personal opinion and have no basis in fact. I have been to confession to a very ultra traditional priest who didn’t offer any advice and just wanted a list and no explainations or elaborations. I honestly got nothing out of it except the knowledge that I was forgiven.

 

[DL82]

Thanks for this. I guess there isn’t any difference after all. The other strange thing, and I’ve only seen it once, is the old-style confessional that had THREE (yes, three) compartments - the priest in the middle and a penitent on either side. I realise only the penitent on one side would be confessing, and the one on the other would be waiting, but it must have been a bit unfair on the priest, no sooner has he finished with one penitent but there’s one on the other side. At least with newer confessionals he has the few seconds between one penitent opening the door and another closing it again.

I’ve only ever seen these on display, never seen one used. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to use one.

 

[Genesis315]

There’s a parish near my work run by Dominicans that has daily confession and some of them say the Passio Domini–it’s a beautiful prayer. Currently, one Mass is a Latin, Chant, etc. OF but they may be changing that soon to a EF or Dominican rite.

 

[laudamus_te]

There is a difference. It is now in the vernacular. For most of us, that is English. For others it is in their native language. It is the same sacrament, unchanged except for that one difference.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

Actually, the prayers of absolution are very different. Or I should say, the traditional form is longer - and very beautiful. English translation:
"May the Almighty God have mercy on you, and forgiving your sins, bring you to life everlasting. Amen.
May the Almighty and Merciful God grant you pardon, absolution, and remission of your sins.
May Our Lord Jesus Christ absolve you, and I, by His authority, absolve you from every bond of excommunication [suspension, in the case of a cleric only] and interdict as far as I can and you may need.
I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
May the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the merits of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all the Saints, what good you have done or what evil you have suffered be to you for the remission of (your) sins, growth in grace and the reward of everlasting life. Amen.

The post-VII form of absolution:
God the Father of mercies has reconciled the world to Himself through the death and resurrection of His Son, and has poured forth the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins. May He grant you pardon and peace through the ministry of the Church. And I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

However, I don’t know how many priests use the whole form. I was used to hearing only the last sentence, “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Of course, the important, necessary part is 'I absolve you."

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

There’s no difference between OF and EF priests and confession, except that the EF priests are going to be a little clearer about what you need to do.

They are just as merciful, but in all areas of the Church, I think EF priests have a tendency to be more to the point.

I think these two underlined statements are simply a personal opinion and have no basis in fact. I have been to confession to a very ultra traditional priest who didn’t offer any advice and just wanted a list and no explanations or elaborations. I honestly got nothing out of it except the knowledge that I was forgiven.

I totally agree that this is personal opinion only and has no objective basis in fact. It depends on the personality of the priest and his spirituality. And I am saying that the spirituality of priests who prefer one form over the other, does not in any manner make one priest more spiritual than the other.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B