Confession at a Tridentine Parish

[PaulinVA]

Where I live (New England) I have not found this to be the case. How can one move toward personal growth when confession is almost never mentioned from the pulpit and a parish of 3,000 members only offers confession once a week for an hour or half hour ?

One moves toward personal growth by going to confession when it is offered. If one consistently finds that there is still a line when confession has to end, then deal with that issue.

If an opera singer has laryngitis (stumbling block) is it better to tell her that laryngitis is no longer considered an impediment to her singing career (I’ve had priests tell me incorrectly that known mortal sins are no longer mortal), or is it better to get her the medicine (confession) to clear up the condition, heal, and then get on with her personal growth as an opera singer ?

There are indeed issues with the way individual priests handle certain sins - I view that as a millstone around their own neck if they mislead people. But, the breaking out of the idea of fear and superstition of the past into the rich fullness of understanding and participating in the sacrament for it’s grace is a good thing. Not enough people go to confession, obviously, but that’s a much larger problem than just confession.

 

[Gidge]

One moves toward personal growth by going to confession when it is offered. If one consistently finds that there is still a line when confession has to end, then deal with that issue.

There are indeed issues with the way individual priests handle certain sins - I view that as a millstone around their own neck if they mislead people. But, the breaking out of the idea of fear and superstition of the past into the rich fullness of understanding and participating in the sacrament for it’s grace is a good thing. Not enough people go to confession, obviously, but that’s a much larger problem than just confession.

Fear and superstition ? One’s salvation should be the most real and important thing in their life, period. Fear of losing one’s soul, oh yes, quite possible – I don’t see where superstition comes into play ?

What happens in a good or bad parish affects the entire Body of Christ (His Church) –
we’re all in this together, and merely ascribing the issue as some vague “larger problem” only kicks the can down the road for someone else to deal with it in the future, IMO.

One of these larger problems is the shortage of priests, many have 2 or 3 parishes to cover, making it very difficult to offer frequent confession times. I believe that we as individuals, need to make the sacrifice to get to confession, ask your pastor, write your bishop, find many local parishes and get a list going of when confession is offered in your area.

Frankly, the one hour a week for Hundreds/Thousands of parishioners and communal penance services at Christmas and Easter is woefully inadequate.

 

[UncleBill]

You are absolutely right.

The ethos has changed from everyone lining up every week to tell the priest the littlest sins so you don’t go to hell to addressing those sinful areas in your life and truly reforming your life.

I personally think that an emphasis on personal growth and reconciliation with Christ and His Church is better than it was.

You want personal growth…go to a counselor…want your sins forgiven go to confession…your understanding of what confession is for is sadly lacking…more of the warm fuzzy church mentality…it really stinks!

 

[JuantheTuba]

…to addressing those sinful areas in your life and truly reforming your life.

But thats absolutely NOT what Confession is about, but that is what Spirirtual Direction is all about. If people want to go and talk out their issues and “grow” then they may go and see a Spiritual Director.

 

[PaulinVA]

You want personal growth…go to a counselor…want your sins forgiven go to confession…your understanding of what confession is for is sadly lacking…more of the warm fuzzy church mentality…it really stinks!

Your response was incredibly uncharitable.

Let me spell out what the Catechism says about confession. Confession, according to the Catechism, is for reconciling us to Christ and the Church, to help form our conscience, to fight against evil tendencies, and to* improve* our lives in the Spirit. That is what my previous post is saying.

From the Catechism
1484 “Individual, integral confession and absolution remain the only ordinary way for the faithful to reconcile themselves with God and the Church…

1458 Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.59 Indeed the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit. By receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the Father’s mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as he is merciful:60 (1783, 2468)

 

[UncleBill]

Your response was incredibly uncharitable.

Let me spell out what the Catechism says about confession. Confession, according to the Catechism, is for reconciling us to Christ and the Church, to help form our conscience, to fight against evil tendencies, and to* improve* our lives in the Spirit. That is what my previous post is saying.

From the Catechism
1484 “Individual, integral confession and absolution remain the only ordinary way for the faithful to reconcile themselves with God and the Church…

1458 Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.59 Indeed the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit. By receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the Father’s mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as he is merciful:60 (1783, 2468)

That’s right go to confession to have your sins forgiven…NOT for spiritual direction! Find a councilor or a Spiritual Director already…get a grip!

 

[PaulinVA]

That’s right go to confession to have your sins forgiven…NOT for spiritual direction! Find a councilor or a Spiritual Director already…get a grip!

I never mentioned spiritual direction in my post. I don’t know why you think I did.

I mentioned “personal growth”. Do you not think that “form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit.” entails personal growth? The growth comes from cooperating with the graces that God gives us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

 

[Tbrightson]

Reminds me of a confession experience…

My wife became Catholic after we married. Did her first confession. She was nervous and the RCIA priest said dont worry, it wont be bad. Well she went to confession at another parish later near the time she was to be formally confirmed and was “lucky” enough to get an old school Priest who gave her the equivalent of an Inquisition. After all he had a lifetime of sins to browbeat out of her right?..she came out shellshocked and hasnt been back to confession since (15 yrs)

 

[UncleBill]

Reminds me of a confession experience…

My wife became Catholic after we married. Did her first confession. She was nervous and the RCIA priest said dont worry, it wont be bad. Well she went to confession at another parish later near the time she was to be formally confirmed and was “lucky” enough to get an old school Priest who gave her the equivalent of an Inquisition. After all he had a lifetime of sins to browbeat out of her right?..she came out shellshocked and hasnt been back to confession since (15 yrs)

Not the priest’s fault the RCIA people didn’t properly prepare her.

 

[maryjk]

Not the priest’s fault the RCIA people didn’t properly prepare her.

Yes, because everyone should know that when you go to Confession, you will be grilled about your sins.

Like I said, way back in the beginning of the thread, it sounds like an inquisition.

 

[Tbrightson]

Not the priest’s fault the RCIA people didn’t properly prepare her.

Didnt say there was “fault” anywhere. Just sayin what was.

 

[UncleBill]

I never mentioned spiritual direction in my post. I don’t know why you think I did.

I mentioned “personal growth”. Do you not think that “form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit.” entails personal growth? The growth comes from cooperating with the graces that God gives us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Hey I joined this conversation to make the point that the ethos of confession has greatly changed since Vatican II. I have also stated that confession was not a time for spiritual direction but a time to confess your sins and get on with life. I think your idea of confession has proved my point.

Now that being said…pre Vatican II one would wait in line for confession for at least a half hour. Confession was heard all afternoon Saturdays as well as before and DURING all Sunday Masses. Today maybe confession is heard for an hour on Saturday afternoon. Seldom before and never during Mass. Are things really better today with the current mindset? Certainly freed Father up for an extra round of golf on Saturday afternoon…but has it really helped those folks in the pews? Or maybe the church is just full of saints who don’t require confession anymore?

 

[Gidge]

Not the priest’s fault the RCIA people didn’t properly prepare her.

It used to be the priest who prepared the candidate, and then they had to abjure their false religious belief before being allowed to enter the church.

Priests and layfolk each have their role, and the role has been quite blurred over the past 40+ years, IMO.

 

[UncleBill]

It used to be the priest who prepared the candidate, and then they had to abjure their false religious belief before being allowed to enter the church.

Priests and layfolk each have their role, and the role has been quite blurred over the past 40+ years, IMO.

**AMEN!
**

 

[UncleBill]

Yes, because everyone should know that when you go to Confession, you will be grilled about your sins.

Like I said, way back in the beginning of the thread, it sounds like an inquisition.

The point is that way back before Vatican II confession WAS an inquisition!

And my further point was Catholics were better Catholics for it!

 

[maryjk]

Hey I joined this conversation to make the point that the ethos of confession has greatly changed since Vatican II. I have also stated that confession was not a time for spiritual direction but a time to confess your sins and get on with life. I think your idea of confession has proved my point.

Now that being said…pre Vatican II one would wait in line for confession for at least a half hour. Confession was heard all afternoon Saturdays as well as before and DURING all Sunday Masses. Today maybe confession is heard for an hour on Saturday afternoon. Seldom before and never during Mass. Are things really better today with the current mindset? Certainly freed Father up for an extra round of golf on Saturday afternoon.…but has it really helped those folks in the pews? Or maybe the church is just full of saints who don’t require confession anymore?

I find it incredibly insulting to all priests to assume that priests aren’t hearing Confessions so they can “play golf” on Saturday afternoon.

Around here, priests are witnessing the Sacrament of Marriage on Saturdays. Or performing Baptisms. They have also been known to visit the sick and dying. Or in my case, visiting the family after a death.

Maybe you should hang around a parish and see what a priest does on a daily basis. It would open your eyes to how busy they are.

The point is that way back before Vatican II confession WAS an inquisition!

And my further point was Catholics were better Catholics for it!

There is no reason to yell.

You may feel that Catholics were better for it. But obviously others don’t agree with you. Otherwise priests would continue the inquisitions.

 

[JuantheTuba]

PaulinVA, I’m sorry, but either I’m misunderstanding you or you’re being dishonest or a right out hypocrite, but, the part of the Catechism you just quoted:
*
"1458 Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.59 Indeed the** regular confession of our venial sins** helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit. By receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the Father’s mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as he is merciful:60 (1783, 2468) "*

Looks exactly like, especially the bolded part, what you were just criticizing…

The ethos has changed from everyone lining up every week to tell the priest the littlest sins so you don’t go to hell…

 

[PaulinVA]

PaulinVA, I’m sorry, but either I’m misunderstanding you or you’re being dishonest or a right out hypocrite, but, the part of the Catechism you just quoted:
*
"1458 Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins)* is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.59 Indeed the** regular confession of our venial sins** helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit. By receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the Father’s mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as he is merciful:60 (1783, 2468) "

Looks exactly like, especially the bolded part, what you were just criticizing…

Wow. You could have made your point without the person insult, but you chose to make it. Why?

Let me help you frame a civil discourse on a public Catholic web site:

“Paul, I must be misunderstanding you. You seem to be advocating in this post the exact thing you were arguing against in a previous post. I’m confused. Could you explain further?”

Why, of course Juan.

I am of the age that I remember the transitional time in the sixties between the Latin rite and the vernacular, and the changes that occurred either spurred by Vatican II or well-meaning people’s interpretation of VII.

I have also spoken to relatives who lived through the forties and fifties.

I have been told, and vaguely remember myself, the goal of confession being get in, give a laundry list of sins and numbers of times they were committed, get your absolution and your penance and get out. That is what I was referring to in my first post. That was the “everyone lining up every week to tell the priest the littlest sins so you don’t go to hell…” The focus was on staying out of hell, not increasing in holiness.

The revamped, re envisioned, whatever, Sacrament of Reconciliation is geared towards, focused at, not only being forgiven (the list of sins), but also increasing in holiness by accepting the graces in regularly confessing and attempting to* progress in our life in the Spirit. *

These two experiences are/were different.

 

[commenter]

In my diocese, there is a Jesuit parish with I think 7 priests, all about or over 80. They hear confessions about 10 hours a week, often 2 or more priests at a time. They often bring a strong Ignatian spirituality to the situation. Adoration goes on before, during and after confessions.

Given that some forums have rightly pointed out the problems with the Jesuits, I just wanted to mention that treasures are still out there, if you look for them.

 

[UncleBill]

I find it incredibly insulting to all priests to assume that priests aren’t hearing Confessions so they can “play golf” on Saturday afternoon.

Around here, priests are witnessing the Sacrament of Marriage on Saturdays. Or performing Baptisms. They have also been known to visit the sick and dying. Or in my case, visiting the family after a death.

Maybe you should hang around a parish and see what a priest does on a daily basis. It would open your eyes to how busy they are.

There is no reason to yell.

You may feel that Catholics were better for it. But obviously others don’t agree with you. Otherwise priests would continue the inquisitions.

Sorry that your offended by the truth! You must be a very sensitive soul.