Confession before Divine Mercy Sunday: Well, it happened.. AGAIN

[Chatter163]

No. It is not a “Novus Ordo problem”. It is a lazy priest problem.

True, but I think that the member was trying to make the point–however callously–that at FSSP parishes and communties, one would not observe such nonsense. No FSSP priest would ever turn away so many people from the confessional, particularly on the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday, when additional time should be scheduled. In my FSSP parish, confessions are heard seven days a week. The priests are committed to the sacrament, and this impresses upon the laity the wonderful opportunity to avail themselves frequently of its graces.

The attitude of the priests depicted in this thread is reprehensible.:tsktsk:

 

[MarieVeronica]

We were actually directed to the local FSSP parish by the lady who spoke to Fr., for those of us who really really really needed to confess now. From our parish all the way down there and back to my house would have been at least an hour round trip, maybe more, and I had to get back home to my kid. I figured I’d ask here if I was going to be OK for tomorrow.

Yes, for me too. Plus… I had my disabled mother waiting for me in the car. She wouldn’t have been able to make the trip to the other parish.

And I feel bad for the priests at the other parish… who had to sit in the Confessional… that much longer… to take care of the Faithful who were sent away. That wasn’t really fair to them.

Did you see the link on page 1… provided by Joann? It’s reassuring. I think we’ll be OK… because as mentioned by another poster… we did TRY. And Jesus knows our good intentions.

P.S. I’m still going to write to the Archbishop.

 

[maryelizabeth1]

Today I went for confession. There had to have been at least 25 people there. I had to come back because at 4:30 (which is when the mass was starting) one of the priest came out and said they would be starting again at 5:30.
That was fine I didn’t mind coming back. I was actually very surprised to see some many people waiting.

But, when I came back a women said she had gone to another parish earlier and there was a signed that said NO CONFESSIONS TODAY. She also was telling about another parish where her husband went to for confession and the priest shows up only when he wants to. It’s a 50-50 shot whether the priest will show up for confession. I thought that was very weird. I would think that all priest would want to encourage people to praticipate in the sacrament. Like the women said you would think that it wouldn’t be so hard to have your confession heard.

 

[ibkc]

Did you see the link on page 1… provided by Joann? It’s reassuring. I think we’ll be OK… because as mentioned by another poster… we did TRY. And Jesus knows our good intentions.

Yes.

P.S. I’m still going to write to the Archbishop.

I was just received into the church last weekend and we only officially joined the parish a couple of weeks ago, so I am embarrassed to complain about anything to the archbishop just now! But I am glad that someone is going to mention it, so that things can be clarified for all.

 

[Like]

Hmm…I’ve never had that problem at any of the traditional parishes (whether SSPX, FSSP, or indult) I have gone to. Confession is always available and if the priest isn’t hearing them, he is happy to hear it if you ask him. Must be a Novus Ordo problem!

WRONG!

No. It is not a “Novus Ordo problem”. It is a lazy priest problem.

James

I’ve asked within 10 min. before Mass and have never been turned down!

 

[Like]

I think we were in line at the same Church. I PM’d you… to see.

MarieVeronica, I read your thread and now confused because of your profile. You said you were going to write your Archbishop & I thought “OH Boy, not the AB in LA”!

 

[Karl_M]

Sometimes I think things were topsy-turvy in these parts, then I read y’all’s posts. Our “new” Bishop is making a difference. A lot of priests now at least pay lip service to the Vatican-which is really saying something. One former extremist-one of the worst in the Diocese-has been substantially “converted” by his transfer to an extremely conservative parish. Of course, there’s still the parishes not having Holy Water, women giving homilies, etc…

At any rate, I don’t get this at all of this fuss about confessions this weekend-not one little bit.

I have never, ever heard of the Catholic Church not having confessions on a particular day because it’s a certain time of year. I don’t have a clue where it came from that there are no confessions Easter Week. We had confessions at our parish-in fact it was almost a photo finish for Father.

I know our parish doesn’t have scheduled confessions Easter (Triduum) weekend or if Christmas Day is a Saturday or Sunday because there’s too much going on-but he’ll make appointments if asked.

 

[AngelRose81]

Wow…I’m sorry that happened to you!!

I was afraid that one of our priests wasn’t going to be there to hear confession this morning but thankfully he walked in about 15 minutes before Mass!! Does your parish offer extra confession times at all since its Divine Mercy Sunday? You might be able to go then or if there is another parish close by maybe go there for confession?

 

[MarieVeronica]

Nope… there were no extra Confessions being heard at the other parish we attend. I’m now speaking of two different parishes, near where we live. Saturday, the “No Confessions” at one parish. This morning… at the other. When we arrived for Mass… there was a large notice pasted right on the front doors… “NO CONFESSIONS BEING HEARD THIS WEEKEND”. So… it happened (as I had suspected) at the other parish, too.

“ibkc”… in my being so upset… I didn’t think to say WELCOME HOME to you. I’m so happy that you’ve been received into the Church. Believe me, this type of thing (priests refusing the Sacrament of Reconciliation to the Faithful) isn’t the norm… as you can see, from all the people who posted and said their parishes DID have the Sacrament available.

I just think it is time for someone in this Archdiocese (in which we both live)… to write the Archbishop concerning this matter. I’m working on the “wording” of my letter to him. God bless.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Whether or not it’s Divine Mercy Sunday, I wonder how a priest can ignore a line of penitents in light of canon law:

Can. 986 §1. All to whom the care of souls has been entrusted in virtue of some function are obliged to make provision so that the confessions of the faithful entrusted to them are heard when they reasonably seek to be heard and that they have the opportunity to approach individual confession on days and at times established for their convenience.

 

[ibkc]

“ibkc”… in my being so upset… I didn’t think to say WELCOME HOME to you. I’m so happy that you’ve been received into the Church. Believe me, this type of thing (priests refusing the Sacrament of Reconciliation to the Faithful) isn’t the norm… as you can see, from all the people who posted and said their parishes DID have the Sacrament available.

Thank you! Despite this confusing little blip, I quite like our parish and both our priests.

 

[MarieVeronica]

Whether or not it’s Divine Mercy Sunday, I wonder how a priest can ignore a line of penitents in light of canon law:

Can. 986 §1. All to whom the care of souls has been entrusted in virtue of some function are obliged to make provision so that the confessions of the faithful entrusted to them are heard when they reasonably seek to be heard and that they have the opportunity to approach individual confession on days and at times established for their convenience.

Thanks for this. I will include this little “reminder” in my letter to the Archbishop. Please pray for me. I’m going to start on the letter now.

 

[chrisb]

Grace and Peace Brothers and Sisters,

At times, particularly during Lent, I was been turned away before Liturgy but the Priest has always offered us to say an Act of Contrition and asked us to have the intension of attending Confession at the earliest available time. I’ve personally never been upset at this but it has troubled me if it was okay to receive the Blessed Sacrament after such a event…

Sometimes I have and other times I haven’t.

I do understand that the Church can and does exercise economia in such cases but I hate to see such things become regular or the acts of a priest who simply doesn’t desire to do his priestly duties.

Perhaps prayer for this Pastor is in order?

 

[MarieVeronica]

Grace and Peace Brothers and Sisters,

At times, particularly during Lent, I was been turned away before Liturgy but the Priest has always offered us to say an Act of Contrition and asked us to have the intension of attending Confession at the earliest available time. I’ve personally never been upset at this but it has troubled me if it was okay to receive the Blessed Sacrament after such a event…

Sometimes I have and other times I haven’t.

I do understand that the Church can and does exercise economia in such cases but I hate to see such things become regular or the acts of a priest who simply doesn’t desire to do his priestly duties.

Perhaps prayer for this Pastor is in order?

You’re right, Chris. I have prayed for him… all day. I offered my Mass today, for him as well. However, I do think that the letter to our Archbishop is still in order. If nothing else, perhaps he can help me and everyone to understand why this happened. God bless.

 

[StephenB]

Thank you very much, Claire. Your words are very comforting. God bless you. But I have a hard time with this… as Jesus did not say “within 10 days” or “within a week”. He said “ON the Feast of My Mercy”. Therefore, I don’t understand why they seemingly go out of their way to deny the Sacrament to those who request it.

Curiosity question: Does that mean only confession on Deviine Mercy Sunday counts? Didn’t a personage, no less than our late Holy Father, JPII, indicate up ro 10 days before and 10 days after?

This site has some clarifying information concerning confession and Divine Mercy…

divinemercysunday.com/clarification_for_confession.htm

Be sure to go top the bottom of the cited page for the authority…

 

[childofmary1143]

For the 3rd year in a row… I (and about 30 other parishioners) were turned away from our Church… when we showed up for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, late this afternoon. At ten minutes after 4:00 p.m., one of the ladies in line, got the Pastor on the phone… and pleaded with him to come and hear confessions. You won’t believe the reason he gave for declining.

He said that because we are still in Easter week (although just barely, since it was late Saturday)… there will be NO CONFESSIONS. Then, he gave this short directive. “Have everyone there say an Act of Contrition”. He tells a LAY WOMAN (who appeared shocked at his words… poor thing) to tell the Faithful to say an Act of Contrition and THAT will suffice to satisfy Our Lord’s desire that we go to Confession?

I’m sorry. But I’m having an extremely difficult time understanding this “attitude” which seems to be occuring at many different parishes.

When Our Lord spoke to St. Faustina (according to HER diary)… He did NOT say “have them say an Act of Contrition, and then… get to Confession as soon as the priest has time”.

He said… “It is My desire that it (The Feast of Divine Mercy) be celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter.” (699)

He also said… “I want to grant a complete pardon to the souls that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on the Feast of My Mercy” (1109). He did not say “within 10 days”… He said ON the Feast of My Mercy (which is tomorrow).

Furthermore… I did not know that there was EVER a time during the year… when the Sacrament of Reconciliation is NOT offered. I was under the impression that it is ALWAYS to be made available to the Faithful, who request it. I have heard this said on EWTN. Please correct me if I’m wrong about this. Am I wrong about this?

I appreciate your (name removed by moderator)ut. I am very shaken right now. Please pray for me. And for the Pastor of our Church… and any others which are taking it upon themselves to twist the words of Jesus… in order to suit themselves.

Are you in Cardinal Mahoney’s diocese?

 

[MarieVeronica]

Curiosity question: Does that mean only confession on Deviine Mercy Sunday counts? Didn’t a personage, no less than our late Holy Father, JPII, indicate up ro 10 days before and 10 days after?

This site has some clarifying information concerning confession and Divine Mercy…

divinemercysunday.com/clarification_for_confession.htm

Be sure to go top the bottom of the cited page for the authority…

Thank you, Stephan. Your link is also very reassuring. God bless you.

As I stated previously, though… I am still concerned about the Pastor of the parish in question… denying the Sacrament of Reconciliation to 30 people… who showed up, wanting it. Maybe, it would have been more understandable… had there only been 2 or 3 people requesting it. This is my main reason, for writing the Archbishop of my diocese. Please pray for me and for my Pastor. Thank you.

 

[MarieVeronica]

Are you in Cardinal Mahoney’s diocese?

No, I am currently not living in California.

 

[DJgang]

This is the very reason, before every decade of the Rosay, we should pray “Lord, send us Holy Priests”…

I am so fortunate to live near the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville AL…Mother Angelica makes sure that there are Priests there for Confession every single day!

God bless!

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Well, it seems to me that its more important to get to confession, before Easter than Mercy Sunday. So, why haven’t you made confession last week?

If you did, you need not go again for Mercy Sunday.

Priest are pretty burnt out after the Easter season, so give the priest a little slack.

Jim