Confession at National Shrine in Washington, DC

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Maria1212

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Hi,

Has anyone been to Confession at the National Shrine in Washington, DC? I found the Confession times online but haven`t been able to locate where it is actually held.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Maria1212
 
I got a hold of someone on the phone and found the location. It is located in the Crypt Church just past the statue of Our Lady of Hope on the left side (in case anyone else wanted to know).

I also found this beautiful prayer on their website.

O Mary, my Mother,
I kneel before you with heavy heart.
The burden of my sins oppresses me.
The knowledge of my weakness discourages me.
I am beset by fears and temptations of every sort.
Yet I am so longing for Heaven
I am filled with dread at the thought of death.

O Mother of Mercy, have pity on me in my distress.
You are all-powerful with your Divine Son.
He can refuse no request of your Immaculate Heart.
Show yourself a true Mother to me
by being my advocate before His throne.
O Refuge of Sinners and Hope of the Hopeless,
to whom shall I turn if not to you?

Obtain for me, then, O Mother of Hope,
the grace of true sorrow for my sins,
the gift of perfect resignation to God’s Holy Will,
and the courage to take up my cross and follow Jesus.

But above all I pray, O dearest Mother,
that through your most powerful intercession
my heart may be filled with Holy Hope,
so that in life’s darkest hour
I may never fail to trust in God my Savior,
but by walking in the way of His commandments
I may merit to be united with Him and with you
in the eternal joys of Heaven.

Mary, our Hope, have pity on us.
Hope of the Hopeless, pray for us.
Amen.

Sincerely,

Maria1212
 
We often visit the National Shrine and always go to Confession. The Crypt is such a beautiful, peaceful place.

Betsy
 
We often visit the National Shrine and always go to Confession. The Crypt is such a beautiful, peaceful place.

Betsy
Is Confession held in confessionals? I haven`t been there before but am going to try to go this later this afternoon or tomorrow. I always prefer to go behind the screen when available.

Sincerely,

Maria1212
 
Is Confession held in confessionals? I haven`t been there before but am going to try to go this later this afternoon or tomorrow. I always prefer to go behind the screen when available.

Sincerely,

Maria1212
Yes it is. I have been there many times (my last time visiting my dad in MD we went there and I went to confession there - the rest of my family gave me the “she’s crazy” look, but that’s off topic).
 
Yes, they’re big, roomy confessionals with the option of behind the screen, which is actually a kneeler and a curtain, or face to face. If I recall correctly, there’s even a hook on the back of the door for your coat if you wish to use it.

Betsy
 
Yes, they’re big, roomy confessionals with the option of behind the screen, which is actually a kneeler and a curtain, or face to face. If I recall correctly, there’s even a hook on the back of the door for your coat if you wish to use it.

Betsy
Thanks! I wasn`t able to get there in time today but am going to go tomorrow. Thank you again!

Sincerely,

Maria
 
I went to Confession here and it was great! The National Shrine is so beautiful! And the Confessionals were the most comfortable I have ever been in. I really liked how you could be behind the curtain or face to face. The priests there were also really wonderful.

Sincerely,

Maria1212
 
Glad you had a good experience, Maria1212.

Betsy
Thanks! The Church was so beautiful. It is a place I look forward to going back to again and again. For anyone in the Washington area, I really recommend it. It also seems like a great place to go to Confession for those who have been away from the sacrament for awhile.

Sincerely,

Maria1212
 
They also have a wonderful website. You can sign up to receive all kinds of information. We’ve made a few small contributions, and they send us beautiful wall calendars, Christmas and Easter cards, CDs of the choir, rosaries, etc. And we don’t seem to be on anybody else’s mailing list as a result.

When I have a Sunday off from my choir job, we go to the choir Mass at the Shrine, then go downstairs to the cafeteria for lunch, which is always delicious, then shop in the bookstore and gift shop, then go to the crypt to pray and go to confession. It’s a wonderful day.

I agree with you about confession for someone who’s been away for a long time. There’s always more than one priest hearing confessions, so even if a penitent takes a long time, others don’t have to wait forever.

Betsy
 
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