Confession concerns

[englishredrose]

Exactly my point…it is THE single most important task the Church is charged with, yet it is barely addressed and all but glossed over due to the modern world’s notion of “everyone is going to heaven”.

hmm I am one of those who do believe all go to Heaven and I do Confession but I don’t do Confession to help me get to Heaven because for me that isn’t what Confession is about. It has nothing to do with Heaven for me. If the main purpose of Confession is about being clean and fit for Heaven then … Its not what I go to Confession for anyway

I don’t dispute God’s power to forgive the truly repentant outside of confession, but the sacrament is there to ensure that it occurs. Why is it treated as it is? I feel obliged to try to do something to change that.

And yep God forgives whenever we say sorry which includes Sorry to God and Sorry to each other. We say Sorry at every Mass aswell even for the things we have failed to do. Luckily not everyone believes that God only forgives the repentant in Confession. God Forgives whenever we say Sorry. Its simple

 

[Jordanes]

That 6% of those who attend confession must be all the ones who post on here.

I would tend to agree.

Or that the Statistics not that very well done and I for one don’t really read into Statistics because one can make them say whatever you want them to say in research.

The statistic was from an article I read written by a traditionalist Catholic. Knowing that, I expect it is somewhat biased…but I’m also connecting it based on my personal observations. I know a lot of Catholics and they never go to confession, yet the vast majority of them are receiving the Eucharist. I also further know that many of them are committing mortal sins, but they are rationalizing away what they are doing.

But as for your vocation in confession and absolution etc Can deacons here confession etc in the Catholic Church?

I don’t know, but I don’t think so. Giving absolution is a sacrament, and as far as I know deacons are not permitted to administer sacraments.

Perhaps you might like to consider spiritual guidence training because there is a lot of connections in being able to listen to us penitents.

I agree, which is why I’ve said that I know this is the general area where I feel called, but I’m going to need some more time and work in refining it. Fr. Sousa (my mentor/spiritual director) told me it takes about 3 years from the time when a man first expresses interest in the priesthood until he enters the seminary. I am only about a year and a half into that process. I plan to embark on a different career for the next two to three years to pay off my debt and give me more time to think/pray…and at that time I’ll be ready, with God’s grace, to proceed.

Some Priest guide well because they listen well. Listening well is something you can start now. Its also listening to things not being said too. Being able to sift through lots of words and telling us what it is etc. Okay that is not confession from what you guys experience. But listening is and lots of you will do confession very different from each other even though you may think it the same here.

I am already very good at listening…God has given that talent to me. I know it is something which I can use well as a priest.

Priests will handle it different from each other especially if you do face to face confession.

I will be honest and say that I am not a fan of face-to-face confession. Yes, the Church sanctions it, but my personal feeling on it is that the screen is preferable. I of course will follow the dictates of the Church, however.

 

[Jordanes]

And yep God forgives whenever we say sorry which includes Sorry to God and Sorry to each other. We say Sorry at every Mass aswell even for the things we have failed to do. Luckily not everyone believes that God only forgives the repentant in Confession. God Forgives whenever we say Sorry. Its simple

I don’t believe that God only forgives people when they say sorry during confession. I am aware of the healing parts of the Mass (Penitential Rite and the Eucharist being a source of forgiveness). I just feel that confession is very important and it is a way for you to know that your sins have been forgiven.

 

[englishredrose]

I don’t believe that God only forgives people when they say sorry during confession. I am aware of the healing parts of the Mass (Penitential Rite and the Eucharist being a source of forgiveness). I just feel that confession is very important and it is a way for you to know that your sins have been forgiven.

I realised my mistake in what you were saying but left it and glad you picked it up and I am sorry for getting the wrong end of the stick what you meant here.

I actually do go

 

[englishredrose]

I would tend to agree.

The statistic was from an article I read written by a traditionalist Catholic. Knowing that, I expect it is somewhat biased…but I’m also connecting it based on my personal observations. I know a lot of Catholics and they never go to confession, yet the vast majority of them are receiving the Eucharist. I also further know that many of them are committing mortal sins, but they are rationalizing away what they are doing.

I don’t know, but I don’t think so. Giving absolution is a sacrament, and as far as I know deacons are not permitted to administer sacraments.

I agree, which is why I’ve said that I know this is the general area where I feel called, but I’m going to need some more time and work in refining it. Fr. Sousa (my mentor/spiritual director) told me it takes about 3 years from the time when a man first expresses interest in the priesthood until he enters the seminary. I am only about a year and a half into that process. I plan to embark on a different career for the next two to three years to pay off my debt and give me more time to think/pray…and at that time I’ll be ready, with God’s grace, to proceed.

I am already very good at listening…God has given that talent to me. I know it is something which I can use well as a priest.

I will be honest and say that I am not a fan of face-to-face confession. Yes, the Church sanctions it, but my personal feeling on it is that the screen is preferable. I of course will follow the dictates of the Church, however.

We, thankfully don’t have boxes but the first time this priest sat in front of me facing the same way so he did know it was me but couldn’t see each other faces at all. When he lifted the hood of his gown to place the purple sash on it kind of nearly finished me. The second time been in confession with him I felt exactly the same. Last two times he sat one side in the pew in front which I feel 100% better with. His eyes are shut or appear as though they are. I prefer it like that because kind of naturally look at him at times and it was hard when couldn’t see any part of his face. I haven’t said anything so whether someone else has or he assessed it himself or he has picked up I was a little freaked out by it I don’t know. I tried to kid myself on well at least he can’t see if I was crying because years ago I had walked 3 mile that time and got in and my nose was all runny with the exercise and into the warmth etc so I was snuffling away and I was incredibly embarrassed :blush:that night - Ash Wednesday when that priest kind of apologised in the sermon for not seemingly being caring when we are crying. He didn’t say my name of anything but… This guy was sat at my side so he ought to been able to tell I wasn’t crying but he didn’t pick up on that. Yeh I just prefer that little bit of face to face though as far as I can tell their eyes are shut

 

[jsaldar]

Confession: I think that small amount of confessors is driven by our, ‘do what you feel like, it’s all good’ culture. Many people may not be able to see sin because they have been conditioned to feel good no matter what. It’s hard to admit to wrong doing, and it is even harder when society actively encourages you not to.

Eucharist: Similar vein. If I am good, then I can receive. Plus, I am sure a lot of Catholics don’t know that you are not supposed to receive in a state of mortal sin. I didn’t know that until my 30’s and I am a cradle Catholic who wen to Catholic school!

I agree, many Catholics don’t know that you are not supposed to receive the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin. Catholic schools need to do a better job of teaching about mortal sin. Even in mass many priest never talk about it. I believe many do it out of pure ignorance. They don’t even know what a mortal sin is. In this case, they can’t really be guilty of committing mortal sin. I went to catholic school and attended mass every Sunday, and still found out only after I did much reading about Catholicism. The key here is that Catholics need to be more educated about their religion. Otherwise we are all just ignorant about many things and therefore not guilty.

 

[Bballer32]

I agree, but tell me…of all of the Church’s duties, what is more important than ensuring salvation? If the teachings on that are not being stressed, that is the single most serious problem (in my opinion).

Exactly! If we aren’t informing people on the Truth and the way to salvation, we are basically disobeying God. His goal is for ALL of us to be saved. How are all supposed to be saved if all don’t know how to be saved? This is why Pope Benedict XVI called for a greater evangelizing of the world.

 

[Neofight]

I can accept this premise, but I know personally two people for whom this is untrue. One has not gone to confession since 1994 and has had a number of sexual encounters outside of marriage since his divorce – yet he still receives the Eucharist every week. I know he’s committing some kind of mortal sin there.

The older I get the more I realize I can’t keep others from sinning or reconciling… It take all my energy and consent ration just to focus on my journey!

 

[Gordon_Sims]

Confession: I think that small amount of confessors is driven by our, ‘do what you feel like, it’s all good’ culture. Many people may not be able to see sin because they have been conditioned to feel good no matter what. It’s hard to admit to wrong doing, and it is even harder when society actively encourages you not to.

Eucharist: Similar vein. If I am good, then I can receive. Plus, I am sure a lot of Catholics don’t know that you are not supposed to receive in a state of mortal sin. I didn’t know that until my 30’s and I am a cradle Catholic who wen to Catholic school!

I think you hit the nail on the head with both points. I’ve had countless arguments/discussions with others who don’t believe that anything short of murder is a sin. One friend has a theology degree from a Catholic college and he doesn’t believe that missing Mass is a mortal sin or that taking Communion with a mortal sin on your conscience is a mortal sin (he also believes that the Church allows abortions when the mother’s life is in danger, if that tells you the quality of catechesis he received while obtaining his degree). I beat the poor catechesis dead horse quite a bit, and when I run into people like him, it’s no wonder. At the same time, I try to be as patient as possible because, like you, as a cradle Catholic with 12 years of Catholic school, I had no clue that I wasn’t supposed to be receiving Communion in a state of mortal sin until a few years ago.

Someone else stated that kids aren’t being taught these things anymore and that the Church should be stressing this information more. I couldn’t agree more with this. While my younger kids seem to be getting a slightly better catechesis than I received, it’s still woefully lacking. I’m doing my best to take up the slack. At the same time, I’d love to hear more homilies that touch on and/or stress the basics. It would benefit the adults and children alike.

 

[RileyG]

My soul feels tortured if I don’t go to confession weekly. (Because of the horrible sin of lust…:banghead: )
Back to the topic, I think many people don’t like confessing their faults to someone because in their mind they think it shows a “weakness”, also some might feel uncomfortable confessing their sins to a priest. (I’ve known several). But the #1 problem I always hear is: “Why can’t I just confess my sins directly to God instead?” Uhhh…John 20:23, James 5:13-16, Acts 1:9, etc, hello? It’s biblical and practiced by the early Christians (who were Catholic ).

 

[englishredrose]

How do you know these people haven’t gone to confession for years?

To my own community, I wouldn’t naturally say so even if the conversation came up so for many they would say I don’t go but I have been going for 25+ years. We can arrange to be totally private. One person found out by accident because I did agree to before a service and she walked in on us and it was obvious we were doing confession. We gone into the vestry because she had arrived early. Anothe person I have shared the odd thing with. But otherwise I be classed as one of those who don’t go based on what you guys base your knowledge on each other. Its ‘nowt’ to do with you that another goes or seemingly not to go to Confession. You can encourage someone if they ask you about it but the word is strictly encourage. But you cannot and should not judge others for what may seem like to you that they don’t do Confession because you will never know. I would quite happily lie and pretend I didn’t go away from this forum because it has 'nowt to do with another, this stuff about pretending you know tha tsomeone not been since whenever… and dont give me am an anglican so its different. No its not. We shouldn’t be judging others for something we know very little about each other with because none of know when they may fit the time in to go and priests are all discrete especially if they know ‘we’ don’t want others to know about it.