Confession before mass?

[tkdnick]

Saturday morning I needed confession, so I went to a local parish in the hopes of finding a priest available. It was approximately 20 minutes before their daily mass and I asked the priest if he were available for confession. He told me he would do so after mass, which I thought a bit strange, but was willing to work with. Then he told me I should actually come back later in the day when there was scheduled confession. I thought priests were supposed to be available for confession before mass? Maybe not in this instance? I don’t know, all I know is that I have never been refused confession by a priest before. I felt terrible as I walked out of the church.

 

[puppylove]

Maybe there was a reason he could not hear your confession at that moment, but in general, you are right, confession is usually offered just before mass on weekdays and Saturdays at least where I live…

 

[Marauder]

Actually don’t forget to use charity. You have no idea what the priest needed to do before Mass. He could have just gotten there after spending a lot of time at the hospital, doing a wedding, etc. He may need a little time to get things ready for Mass or to get himself in a state where he is ready to offer Mass.

It is a little selfish (no I’m not calling you selfish) to expect a priest to be able to drop everything he is doing on a moments notice and offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is unfair to him as well as you because he may not be able to offer you the time he needs in order to get it done. I think it is extremely fair to ask you to wait until after Mass if you approached him just before Mass unless you are in danger of death. It is even fair to ask you to come back, he may have to go immediatly to the hospital. Just because you may be in a state of sin doesn’t mean the Mass will not help you in receiving graces. It is only society that makes people think we must receive communion EVERY time we attend Mass.

If he was putting you off to go to a golf game or something else like that, it may not be appropriate. But you never know, unless he told you, what he was dealing with.

If the sacrement of Reconciliation is not offered enough in your parish, that is another matter that should be brought up at a different time with the priest.

 

[Detroit_Sue]

My priest has been in the confessional with a line a mile long, and had to run to the hospital to annoint a dying person. We never know when that is going to happen, but we understand it. Perhaps your priest received an emergency call.

However, my friend loves being in the confessional. He’s there at least 15 minutes before each daily Mass. He’s still an associate, so he has that freedom with another priest in the parish.