Ask a Priest Anything...about Confession!

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commited said:
Thank you Father for this opportunity. I’ve been away from church for over 35 years. I believe in God and have always said my prayers most evenings. Needless to say I have not gone to confession in that many years. My questions:
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I’m not a priest, but I don’t know when he will be able to respond.
commited said:
What should I expect to hear from the priest. Should I learn cpr in case he goes down? 🙂
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A good priest will say welcome back. You are setting things right. The priest should be happy to help you.
commited said:
What should I do to prepare for this stressed out situation?
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I think remind yourself that it is God and not the priest you are there for. Also know your sins.
commited said:
How soon after confession and assuming I live through it, when can I be allowed to take communion?
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As soon as you have been absolved.
 
commited said:
  • What should I expect to hear from the priest. Should I learn cpr in case he goes down? 🙂
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For starters, something along the lines of welcome back. You’re not going to tell him anything he hasn’t heard before so no need for CPR!
  • What should I do to prepare for this stressed out situation?
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Well first, don’t get stressed; your situation is far from unusual! What would be helpful is for you to reflect on those past years and come up with basically a greatest hits of what troubles you most from that time away. The priest is going to be expecting chapter and verse, let alone a blow by blow recitation of your sinfulness from that time (if for no other reason than he quite literally doesn’t have all day) but will be looking for an idea of they key themes.
  • How soon after confession and assuming I live through it, when can I be allowed to take communion?
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You will definitely live through it and can receive communion straight away (and not just viaticum either). When we priests say “your sins are forgiven” not only do we really mean it, it’s also a done deal!
 
The formula priests are supposed to use includes the essential words “and I absolve you of your sins” with the priest’s hand raised over the penitent, and then the priests states the Trinitarian formula while making the sign of the cross over the penitent.

What if the priest states the entire formula and does all gestures necessary, but leaves out “and I absolve you of your sins?”

What if the penitent notices that and doesn’t say anything? What if the penitent doesn’t notice it? Is it a valid confession?
 
What can/should a priest do if they suspect the surroundings where a confession is about to be made are potentially being bugged - electronic surveillance?
 
Brings up a horrific thought.

Has anyone been in the confessional and have their phone start responding?
 
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Searching1 said:
What if the priest states the entire formula and does all gestures necessary, but leaves out “and I absolve you of your sins?”
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If the (Latin Rite) priest does not say I absolve you or ego te absolvo, it is invalid. I’ve had that happen one time. I called the pastor to let him know that the priest used a different formula. I don’t know what came of it on his end as I usually went to another church and haven’t been back to that confessional, but hopefully he rectified the problem. Eastern Catholics have a slightly different formula that might worry most Latins who aren’t aware of the difference, though their formula is just as valid.
 
So if I go fully intending to make a good confession and I have a humble and contrite heart and I confess all mortal sins I am conscious of and the priest gives me my penance, I make an act of contrition, and it is HIM who uses the wrong formula, whether accidentally or on purpose (and let’s also just say I don’t even know what the formula is and so don’t notice it’s wrong), it’s not valid?
 
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If you’re offering Mass after confession, how long before Mass begins do you stop hearing confessions?
 
I was raised in Catholic schools in 50’s and 60’s .
There is a very positive aspect to Confession that may help a person their entire life whether they remain religious or not.
In Confession you must get to to the root of whatever you did. In other words you cannot BS the priest orJesus. Confession assists a person in getting in touch with their true inner self and owning up to it. It takes strength to go to Confession and it is not easy for a person to lose that strength as they grow into adulthood.
Despite every negative thing I have done to myself , others and God I have the ability to own up to whatever wrong that I have done. I don’t put the blame elsewhere .
 
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.) no … thankfully.
 
WOW. I hope your son knows that since he heard your sins he is also bound by the sacramental seal of confession (which applies to any person overhearing anything in confession, not just the priest).
 
I was wondering if you could explain what excommunication is. I hear people say it but have no idea what they are talking about.

If this is too irrelevant to the conversation feel free to ignore it.
 
Pray_The_Rosary1 said:
I was wondering if you could explain what excommunication is. I hear people say it but have no idea what they are talking about.

If this is too irrelevant to the conversation feel free to ignore it.
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Modern Catholic Dictionary:

EXCOMMUNICATION. An ecclesiastical censure by which one is more or less excluded from communion with the faithful. It is also called anathema , especially if it is inflicted with formal solemnities on persons notoriously obstinate to reconciliation. Two basic forms of excommunication are legislated by the Code of Canon Law, namely inflicted penalties ( ferendae sententiae ) and automatic penalties ( latae sententiae ). In the first type, a penalty does not bind until after it has been imposed on the guilty party. In the second type, the excommunication is incurred by the very commission of the offense, if the law or precept expressly determines this (Canon 1314). Most excommunications are of the second type.
 
Searching1 said:
What if the priest states the entire formula and does all gestures necessary, but leaves out “and I absolve you of your sins?”
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Then it’s invalid - the words “I absolve you” are what’s called a performative utterance - the priest says something and it happens, the same with “I baptise you”. Of course, he may have said it without you noticing. The real question though is whether your sins are forgiven! As a priest, I don’t forgive sins myself (that is, of my own ability), I’m simply an instrument of the Lord’s mercy and it’s He who does the real work. Short answer: I wouldn’t worry too much about it, just bring it up at your next confession (something like: “Father, I’m not sure whether the priest who heard my last confession said the words ‘I absolve you…’ although he did everything else”) to put the issue beyond doubt.
 
1cthlctrth said:
If you’re offering Mass after confession, how long before Mass begins do you stop hearing confessions?
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All things being equal, I like to allow about five minutes (for a weekday mass at least) just so that I’m not rushing.
 
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