Confession during Mass?

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yallguys

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I am wondering, has anyone seen or know anything about the sacrament of Confession being offered throughout the Mass during the whole Mass? I have never seen this before in the USA, but in two different churches in Latvia I have seen a priest who sits in the confessional on the side of the Church and people will get up and go to Confession almost randomly throughout the entire Mass! He stays quite busy. Is this an old practice that isn’t done so much anymore, or maybe it belongs to a special rite? I like this very much, at any rate it’s nice to see that sinners still exist somewhere in the Church, I was feeling alone back home. I can think of only one Church I know of there where Confession is even offered before every Mass, most others it is only twice a week.
 
it has been over 20 years since we belonged to a parish that had more than one priest in residence, so if it is an old custom, that may be why it is dying out.
 
I have seen this a few times and think it really is a great opportunity for someone who is not in the state of grace to clean their soul and then receive communion.
 
I’ve seen it done several times. I believe there is no canon against it. It’s done a lot at conferences around here.
 
Actually, it’s quite forbidden to do so. However, where I witnessed it – in my home parish here in the USA, while I was in Seminary in Eastern Europe, and here in my parish – it has been the result of simply hearing confessions until they are finished and if the Mass starts in the meantime, oh well. Everywhere I have seen it, including here in my parish, we use the bells at the epiclesis so everyone knows to stop everything and pay attention, no matter what their reason for being in the church. I consider all this to be quite different from actually scheduling Confessions at the same time as Mass, in the same space.

– Fr. L.
 
Fr. JLT:
Actually, it’s quite forbidden to do so. However, where I witnessed it – in my home parish here in the USA, while I was in Seminary in Eastern Europe, and here in my parish – it has been the result of simply hearing confessions until they are finished and if the Mass starts in the meantime, oh well. Everywhere I have seen it, including here in my parish, we use the bells at the epiclesis so everyone knows to stop everything and pay attention, no matter what their reason for being in the church. I consider all this to be quite different from actually scheduling Confessions at the same time as Mass, in the same space.

– Fr. L.
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I think that’s probably what was happening when I saw it. Most of the parishes I attend use the bells, but I don’t remember them (confessions) going through the Sanctus, anyway.

Thanks for straightening this out for me. 🙂
 
Would it be distracting for the others having people coming and going from the confessional all during Mass?

On a personal note though, I like the idea. Even in our “sin free” parish, there might be one or two who would partake of this, hmmmm,come to think of it, thats how many go to regular weekly confession. 😦
 
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mkw:
Would it be distracting for the others having people coming and going from the confessional all during Mass?
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It can’t be any more distracting than having to look at torn jeans, young lovers giving each other back rubs, belly buttons and the like. :eek: 😦 😦 😦

Confessionals are generally at the back or sides of a church. Attention should be on the altar.
 
Fr. JLT:
Actually, it’s quite forbidden to do so. However, where I witnessed it – in my home parish here in the USA, while I was in Seminary in Eastern Europe, and here in my parish – it has been the result of simply hearing confessions until they are finished and if the Mass starts in the meantime, oh well. Everywhere I have seen it, including here in my parish, we use the bells at the epiclesis so everyone knows to stop everything and pay attention, no matter what their reason for being in the church. I consider all this to be quite different from actually scheduling Confessions at the same time as Mass, in the same space.

– Fr. L.
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Where does it say it is forbidden to do so? Is it wrong for me to have confession during Mass and then receive Communion during the same Mass?
 
Fr. JLT:
Actually, it’s quite forbidden to do so. However, where I witnessed it – in my home parish here in the USA, while I was in Seminary in Eastern Europe, and here in my parish – it has been the result of simply hearing confessions until they are finished and if the Mass starts in the meantime, oh well. Everywhere I have seen it, including here in my parish, we use the bells at the epiclesis so everyone knows to stop everything and pay attention, no matter what their reason for being in the church. I consider all this to be quite different from actually scheduling Confessions at the same time as Mass, in the same space.

– Fr. L.
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Here it looks quite deliberate. The priest is there before the Mass, but there is never really a constant line. He waits and now and then someone will go over to the confessional. He is there on purpose, not just trying to get everyone to confess before he stops. Sometimes only one or two people will go the entire time he is there, but often many many more. I don’t pay so close attention every Sunday, I only notice if I happen to be standing near the confessional. And no it isn’t distracting. For starters in Europe many people are always coming and going during the Mass, and there are very many people there and very few seats, so people are always standing and moving a little anyway. I might have to go to confession myself if I were to take a seat from one of the old ladies. 😉 At any rate I am much more distracted in the USA by cell phones, half naked or immodestly dressed people, and the other dozen things that bother me that don’t go on here. I can gladly deal with people standing or moving around a bit compared to what else could be going on, and would gladly put up with a few more distractions to keep this wonderfully reverent Mass. I’ll miss it when I go home. I still am not certain about the confession going on during the Mass, if it is the same situation the Father has mentioned. If it is the same situation I wonder is it very wide spread in Europe? Where in Eastern Europe were you? And why is it forbidden?
 
Well, at the TLM here in Detroit, one sunday there were confessions up to the Agnus Dei, and confessions started a half hour before Mass. Normally, tho we only have confesions from 9.15 to the Gospel and Sermon[about 9.50]. Also I attended a Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church during the summer and the confessions started at Beginning of Divine Liturgy and ended about the time of the reception of Communion.
 
One thing, does someone miss Mass by being in the confessional, and thus fail to fulfill his or her sunday obligation? Other than that, I give a big hand to all priests who hold confession before Mass. Having to make time on a saturday to go to confession when I plan to go to Mass on Sunday can be a bit of an inconvenience. And what if I commit a mortal sin Saturday night? I can just sneak into the confessional, recieve the sacrament, then be able to receive Holy Communion! It would make it so much easier for us if there was Sunday morning Confessions. For one thing, we wouldn’t have to make time on Saturday.
 
for those who think we had no liturgical abuses before the Council, this is one that generally has been eliminated except in a few conservative locales.

Another pre-counciliar abuse was holding concurrent Masses at various altars in the same church so one could witness the elevation, and turn one’s head and witness it again five minutes later, and so forth.
 
I agree that there were abuses before Vatican II; indeed there were many throughout all time. Its just right now were in a rash of abuses. Now onto confession. I would have to think Confessions during Mass wouldn’t be right cause it would keep people from attending the entire Mass, and as I understand it, we are required to attend an entire Mass every sunday. To miss 5 minutes in a confessional would strike me as missing part of Mass. Nonetheless, on the other hand, Confession before Mass is a very good thing. Hmm, I went to confession during vigil Mass cause I had to go, in 1997. Maybe I should have arrived in church earlier that day.
 
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katherine2:
for those who think we had no liturgical abuses before the Council, this is one that generally has been eliminated except in a few conservative locales.

Another pre-counciliar abuse was holding concurrent Masses at various altars in the same church so one could witness the elevation, and turn one’s head and witness it again five minutes later, and so forth.
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Mope, concurrent Masses on separate altars are not abuses. What the people did outside the altar is up to them. Do you think the laity force the priests to do what they want?
 
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katolik:
Mope, concurrent Masses on separate altars are not abuses. What the people did outside the altar is up to them. Do you think the laity force the priests to do what they want?
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sorry, kiddo, it was an abuse. I think since the Council one has little reason to fear this will occur in one’s parish anymore.
 
Actually, it’s quite forbidden to do so.
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Actually, it isn’t:
Consequently, it is clearly lawful, even during the celebration of Mass,to hear confessions when one foresees that the faithful are going to askfor this ministry. In the case of concelebrations, it is earnestly to be desired that some priests would abstain from concelebrating so as to be available to attend to the faithful who wish to receive the sacrament of Penance.It should be borne in mind, nevertheless, that it is not permitted to unite the sacrament of Penance with the Mass, making of them both a single liturgical celebration.
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Another pre-counciliar abuse was holding concurrent Masses at various altars in the same church so one could witness the elevation, and turn one’s head and witness it again five minutes later, and so forth.
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This, too, isn’t abusive.

Concurrent Masses may be celebrated on different altars, in the same church, except a) on Holy Thursday, and b) when a concelebrated Mass is being celebrated.

This was true pre-Vatican II, and it still holds now.

However, this is not reccomended on Sundays and feast days, as public liturgies where the faithful are present.
 
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DominvsVobiscvm:
Actually, it isn’t:
This, too, isn’t abusive.

Concurrent Masses may be celebrated on different altars, in the same church, except a) on Holy Thursday, and b) when a concelebrated Mass is being celebrated.

This was true pre-Vatican II, and it still holds now.

However, this is not reccomended on Sundays and feast days, as public liturgies where the faithful are present.
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But do you really know why this isn’t abusive? The Kantians do it and ergo this is isn’t abusive. Understand?
 
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