Confessing sins to a close priest

[Joannm]

Why is having friends unholy???

I guess the other poster figures priests shoud not have a social life because it would take away from their prayer time. heck our guys go out to dinner with parishioners all the time.

 

[rpp]

That is not what Saints say. They would never recomend a priest to invite friends to dinner. A priest more than anyone should aim for holiness.

Tessi, we are still awaiting your reply to the objections raised by me and others regarding your post. Do you intend to reply?

 

[acadian]

Some of my best confessions have been to a familiar priest. After being away from the church for many years, I sought out a priest I had known for close to 20 years and who had officiated at our wedding. I knew I would be met with kindness and he did not bat an eye when I told him what there was to tell him. That was a turning point in my life and I was glad that he played a part in that grace-filled encounter.

I have gotten to be fairly close to the 2 priests we’ve had as pastors as they see my face often at Mass during the week, and I help with the altar servers. Sometimes we visit the one who is no longer our pastor and take him to lunch. In any case, sometimes there is something somewhat embarrassing, but it doesn’t seem to phase them.

What is most important for you is that you GO. Behind a screen or face to face. With a priest you know or one you don’t. Jesus is the one you are confessing to.

 

[benedictgal]

My parochial vicar is also my best friend. I first met him in the confessional (behind the screen). It was very easy to come clean and make a floodgate confession.

We eat out sometimes and we will go have coffee at the local coffee house on occasion. I have trusted him with many things and vice-versa. It’s kind of funny but he looks to me as his liturgical resource (I also served as his director of divine worship when he was rector of our cathedral). He’s even helped me on a couple of occasions at our local animal shelter.

However, through the years, it’s been hard because we have had our ups and downs. I can’t very well go to him after we’ve had a fight and say “bless me, Father, for I have sinned, I got mad at you.” I told him that I just could not go to confession to him becasue of our friendship. We both figured that would be the best route to go, although, he knows me a lot better than I know myself. I do go to him for advice, though.

Of course, in the event of an emergency, I’ll go to him. But, in communal reconciliation (when we go for individual confession), I’ll go to someone else. In fact, one of the priests made a remark when I approached him. He asked me, “Why aren’t you going to him?” I told him, “He’s my friend.” The priest laughed, “and I’m not?” “You and I can talk Spurs and how we both can’t stand the Mavericks,” I replied. “It’s not the same, but, I do like you and I do appreciate you.” He laughed and went on to hear my confession.

 

[Schola]

A priest is ordained to never speak of your sins again, either to other people or to you, even in privacy. The priest takes the place of the Lord in confession, so when you leave, it was like he never heard anything.

I always find that when you closely know a priest, he may be able to p(name removed by moderator)oint your sins and help you through it much more than a priest you do not know can. I think of it as a sort of penance kind of, because it’s very difficult, but you sacrifice that part of humiliation for the forgiveness of your sins. You’ll feel great after your confession.

 

[CatholiCommit]

I don’t think there is any rule that says you can not continue your confessions with a priest that knows you as well as what you have described. It seem he knows you and might be able to steer you in a better direction then another confessor, it all about what you are comfortable with, and what you can handle.

Hopefully after some thinking you will come to a decision that will help you out.