Confession during Latin Mass

[daeve]

I went to grade school in the 50s and 60s, and we attended Mass everyday. We had confession during Mass everyday. Of course, we have 3 or 4 priests at that time too, plus whoever taught at an archdiocesan school and lived in the rectory. Seems perfectly normal to me.

 

[NMJenny]

When I was in college, before Vatican II, there would be a long line before the confessionals at every mass (hourly–5am to noon). I noticed that those who didn’t get out of line before the bell that sounded at the start of the Canon would wait and attend the next Mass, where they presumably received. I never went to the noon Mass so I don’t know what the people who didn’t have another Mass to attend mostly did, but I would guess that they just didn’t receive–a lot of people didn’t in those days…

 

[Caesar]

Confessions end at the Sanctus on Sundays and Holy Days. People that adhere to the pre-VII rules do not partake of the Eucharist unless they have been to confession.

According to the post-VII rules nobody who hasnt been to confession should partake of the Eucharist either.

 

[Genesis315]

I disagree with this last point. What could be more in the spirit of the Mass than trying to receive Christ worthily?

Is it better for people to pat rapt attention to the Mass and receive while in Mortal Sin?

God Bless

It’s not an either-or situation.

a) if they are in mortal sin, they should not receive, but should make a spiritual communion.

b) enough time should be set aside outside of Mass for those who need to go to confession to go.

Some norms from Pope Paul VI:

“4. Local Ordinaries and, to the extent that they are concerned, priests are bound in conscience to see that the number of confessors should not become reduced because some priests neglect this noble ministry (cf. Presbyterorum Ordinis, 5, 13, Christus Dominus, 30), while involving themselves in secular affairs or devoting themselves to less necessary ministries, especially if these ministries can be performed by deacons or suitable lay people.”

“9. In order that the faithful may easily be able to satisfy the obligation of making an individual confession, let care be taken that confessors are available in the churches on days and at hours that are convenient for the faithful.”

 

[Catholig]

According to the post-VII rules nobody who hasnt been to confession should partake of the Eucharist either.

What if that person doesn’t have a mortal sin on his conscious?

Catholig

 

[BobP123]

This still sounds weird to me…

It shouldn’t. If you bring your missal, you can read ahead for the readings while standing in line. You should not miss a thing. I agree that getting rid of your mortal sins is more important than following the readings as the very time they are recited by the priest.

 

[BobP123]

That rule (if it ever was a rule) was definitely gone before Vatican II.

In some cultures, people still don’t receive unless they’ve been to confession, even in the NO. It’s not everywhere where most people in the congregation receive. Maybe they’re more worthy-conscious than participation-conscious, I don’t know. However, I venture to say, before Pius X, the percentage of those that received (or didn’t receive) in each congregation was more uniform.

 

[BobP123]

What if that person doesn’t have a mortal sin on his conscious?

That’s another issue. Some think they couldn’t possibly have committed anything serious enough to stop them from receiving communion. And some others think that the communion itself reconciles one to Christ. Too much Lutheran influence maybe?

 

[TraderTif]

Wow, Confession during mass? I’ve never heard of such a thing.

Of course, I’ve never been in a parish that had more than one priest, so that sort of thing wouldn’t be possible. But it sounds interesting!!

In my experience, Confession is usually offered Saturday afternoon, just before mass. But the line is never long enough to make mass start late or anything. I’ve never seen more than one or two other people in line.
Tif

 

[palmas85]

We went to a Latin Mass and they had confession going on during Mass. Is this common? Is this right? I was a little put off by it.

In the Traditional Mass it is proper to hear confessions up until around the Offertory. You have to be present at the Offertory. but not before,

Why would you be put off by it? Does it bother you that people took the time to confess before receiving Holy Communion? As a strict matter of fact you really shouldn’t be paying too much attention to what others are doing at Mass anyway as your attention should be focused on Christ.

 

[Brendan]

I was thinking more like they pay rapt attention to the Mass and don’t receive.

Paying rap attention at Mass does not restore one;s Soul to Life if it has been killed by Mortal Sin.

Confession would be more beneficial to that soul than the Gospel readings.

 

[Brendan]

Wow, Confession during mass? I’ve never heard of such a thing.
Tif

Our (N.O.) parish has 2 priests, our pastor and a 91 year old “senior priest in residence”

They hear confessions starting 1/2 hour before each Mass ( in addition to a block on Saturdays)

Which ever priest is not saying Mass will continue to hear confessions up until around Offertory time.

(then that priest will come out to assist the celebrant with distribution of Holy Communion)

Of course, our parish has an advantage that wasn’t possible in previous centuries. We have the Mass being ‘piped’ in over speakers into the confessional waiting area, so those waiting can still hear the Readings and Gospel.

 

[Genghis]

I seem to be getting a lot of flack for this thread.

To clarify:
Here is my issue: I am “put off” by it and “find it weird” because I am of the opinion that we need to be present and attentive for the entire Mass, as much as possible that is in our control, and if we have committed a mortal sin then we need to go to confession at some point before Mass and if we cannot then we do not receive and then go to confession ASAP.

I haven’t said anything about what some of you seem to be accusing me of, i.e. not thinking that confession is important or something.

 

[Johndigger]

Don’t worry, Genghis. It’s not that we think you’re saying confession is bad - or that we’re saying that paying attention Mass is wrong.

It is about the proper ordering of things, though. Restoring life to your soul through confession is more important than listening to the Priest say the readings.

So, it’s a choice between two goods, really. But one good is greater than the other.

See what I’m saying?

JD

 

[KathleenElsie]

Also there are many things we do that society does not consider a sin. Many Catholics no longer consider it a sin to miss Mass if they have a “good” reason (work, vacation etc) yet the pre VII views these as just not going to Mass. The true reason for missing Mass are health (your own or a family member you can’t leave) and necessary work (nurse, police, armed forces etc) other than these you are not excused for “inconvenience” and “hard to get toooo”, so the rules are not the same they are the TLM.

 

[Brendan]

I seem to be getting a lot of flack for this thread.

Not giving any flack here Just trying to clarify priorites.

Using Health terms. Mass is the 'Excercising and Eating Right".

Mortal Sin is Cardiac Arrest ( Heart Attack).

A person in Mortal Sin cannot, by defintion, benefit spiritually from a Mass, in much the same way as a person having a Heart Attack recieves no cardiovascular benefit from jogging during the middle of the attack. In fact it’s rather UN-healthy for a person to do so.

What is necessary is for the person in Mortal Sin to get CPR for their soul ASAP. That happens in Sacramental Absolution.

Then, and only then, can they get the spiritual benefits of the Mass, and specifically the reception of the Eucharist.

Does that make sense?

 

[BobP123]

Just trying to clarify priorites.

Actually one attends Mass to fulfill his/her Sabbath obligation so to avoid (further) mortal sin. The Mass is made complete when the priest consumes part of the Victim, not those present.

Full graces of the Mass are obtained when one own state is in sanctifying grace. Full graces of the Eucharist are obtained when one receives in the state of sanctifying grace. Full graces of confession are received when one confesses all his mortal sins (and venial sins he finds troubling) and performs the required penance.

A lot of opportunites for grace there in that one Mass if confession is included. Not to mention an opportunity for a plenary indulgence as well given the right conditions.

 

[Brendan]

Actually one attends Mass to fulfill his/her Sabbath obligation so to avoid (further) mortal sin. .

No,

We attend Mass to offer our worship to God in conjunction with the unbloodied Sacrifice offer by Christ via His priest.

We attend out of Love for our Lord and to redender onto Him our Praise and Worship.

We are obligated, under pain of mortal sin, to attend Mass on Sundays and such other appointed days that the Church may dictate, but the REASON we attend Mass is to worship God.

A person in Mortal Sin cannot, by definition, give true worship to God.

They might recieve from God Actual Graces that may insprire them to repentance, but they are spiritually dead and may offer nothing to God.

 

[bilop]

It’s not an either-or situation.

a) if they are in mortal sin, they should not receive, but should make a spiritual communion.

b) enough time should be set aside outside of Mass for those who need to go to confession to go.

Some norms from Pope Paul VI:

“4. Local Ordinaries and, to the extent that they are concerned, priests are bound in conscience to see that the number of confessors should not become reduced because some priests neglect this noble ministry (cf. Presbyterorum Ordinis, 5, 13, Christus Dominus, 30), while involving themselves in secular affairs or devoting themselves to less necessary ministries, especially if these ministries can be performed by deacons or suitable lay people.”

“9. In order that the faithful may easily be able to satisfy the obligation of making an individual confession, let care be taken that confessors are available in the churches on days and at hours that are convenient for the faithful.”

But having confession directly before and even during Mass makes it much more likely people will avail themselves.

Many Churches only have confession for 1/2 hour on Saturday afternoon, not even directly before a Mass. So anyone even remotely hesitant about confession likely won’t go.

But if they are at Mass, or maybe a few minutes early, and they see people lining up for Confession, they may say let me go too.

Given how Confession has fallen out of favor, and how people seem to think it’s so hard to commit mortal sin these days , we need to demonstrate the importance of Confession.

Having Confession during Mass does this. It shows that Confession is more important than singing a hymn, more important than listening to the readings, more important than just about anything else, if you are in mortal sin.

Again, I would say for a daily Mass, it would be better for the Priest to cancel Mass, if there were sufficient people in need of Confession.

God Bless

 

[Caesar]

What if that person doesn’t have a mortal sin on his conscious?

Catholig

Well then there is no need to go to confession, venial sin should not stop one from recieveing as long as one is repentant.

But the rule that you must be in a state of grace to recieve communion is still in force.