Confession for weddings

  • Thread starter Thread starter klmt123
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
At the wedding I went to Saturday, the priest made an announcement before Communion saying that if you were not able to receive Communion you could come forward to receive a blessing. I think that worked out well for everyone.
 
QwertyGirl said:
Many people believe in the value of a blessing as long as it is well-intended, regardless of where it comes from.
Click to expand...
Maybe you’re right, but I’d have discomfort approaching a Baptist preacher for an individualized blessing. It would be a different thing for a preacher to pray for all of the people collectively.
 
Things to consider on the subject:
If offering a surprise confession opportunity would give the target audience…which sounds like is people who have been away awhile…ample opportunity to examine their consciences.

If trying to make that happen for the wedding makes it appear to the less informed that the couple just needs/wants everyone to do this for their wedding(rather than for their own souls)

Weddings and funerals are already great opportunities to plant the seeds of faith. Conversion and reversion of souls could certainly be added to the prayer intentions for the mass if carefully worded.

Also the couple has the rest of their lives together to evangelize with their joy and by the life they lead. Maybe asking people to join you every now and then when you’re planning to go to confession is a better option. My dad came with me after 30 years of not going to confession. All I could do was blink and wonder was an invite all that needed to happen this whole time?
 
They do that at churches around here at both weddings and funerals. And it’s usually addressed to not only those who are not Catholic, but Catholics who are not in a state of Grace or otherwise eligible to receive.
 
In my opinion, it’s fine to have a note on the program that reminds people that only Catholics who are appropriately disposed should take communions. I’ve been to Catholic weddings where non-Catholic attendees got into the communion line. They weren’t trying to be disrespectful, they just genuinely weren’t aware.

On the other hand, making an announcement that says “If you haven’t been in awhile, please go” strikes me as incredibly bossy and patronizing. How often someone goes to confession and when is between them and God, not you.
 
BoomBoomMancini said:
In my opinion, it’s fine to have a note on the program
Click to expand...
That only works if people read the program.
The announcement I heard was neither bossy nor patronizing. And by inviting those unable to receive Communion to come forward for a blessing it addressed any problem with a non-Catholic who would feel awkward sitting in a pew while the Catholics went up.
 
Last edited:
I don’t think the issue is with the Communion comment. It’s the Confession comments that are the issue. It’s too easy to misconstrue and comes across as an admonishment.

A wedding just isn’t the place for a “teaching moment”. It’s about the couple, not everyone else.
 
We generally know the people we invite to a wedding. If that many of them are non-practicing or non-Catholic, I’d likely choose to have a wedding without Mass.
 
Pup7 said:
A wedding just isn’t the place for a “teaching moment”. It’s about the couple, not everyone else.
Click to expand...
I could not disagree more. In a culture that does not even understand what marriage is, a Catholic wedding is one of the best teaching moments available. With very few exceptions, my extended family are practicing Catholics, but we also included people from our jobs and neighbors who were not Catholic. One of the people most impressed by our wedding was my Jewish boss.

Weddings are not just about the couple; it is also about the community. Even a civil marriage requires witnesses from the community. Marriage begins a new family and the family is the basic building block of all societies, even those that don’t understand that. In the communities where marriage is rare and families are broken, gangs and other forms of tribes immediately form to fill the gaps in their deepest longing for communion with others.
 
MikeInVA said:
That only works if people read the program.
The announcement I heard was neither bossy nor patronizing. And by inviting those unable to receive Communion to come forward for a blessing it addressed any problem with a non-Catholic who would feel awkward sitting in a pew while the Catholics went up.
Click to expand...
I’m fine with a verbal comment that politely lets non-Catholics know that communion is only for Catholics, or reminds Catholics of the requirements. What rubs me the wrong way is the admonishment to go to confession before Mass if it’s been awhile. Letting people know what the requirements are is fine. Telling them what to do with that information is over the line.
 
I disagree.

The wedding is about the couple. Not everyone else. It’s not the forum for lecturing about one’s faith. I’m not talking about community and setting an example. I’m talking about the whole “go to confession before you come to my wedding” thing. That’s not the place for that.

I know what marriage is - I’ve been in one for almost two decades. But a wedding isn’t a teaching moment, and what is between people and God is just that: between them and God. There are things that don’t belong on wedding invitations. That’s one of them. I’d be put off if I got an invite telling me to go to Confession if I haven’t been to Mass in a while.

It’s not a faith formation moment to tell people what to do - that’s the priest’s job, not the couple’s, which is what this post was about.
 
Last edited:
You don’t have the authority to defend it by being a Liturgy Cop at a wedding and telling people they need to go to Confession before they can receive. You have no idea if they’ve are in a state of mortal sin or not…

Also, God who created the universe and everything that is, doesn’t need your defense.

You need Him, He doesn’t need you.

JIm
 
It shouldn’t be. I thought it was a good idea too.
 
Last edited:
It is not being a liturgy cop to offer confession before a wedding.
 
OsculeturMeOsculo said:
It is not being a liturgy cop to offer confession before a wedding.
Click to expand...
The way it was put in the OP’s post is very liturgical police-y.

And I quote…"…please make use of this if you are Catholic and you haven’t been to Mass in a while".

It might not be playing liturgical cop. But it’s rude nonetheless.
 
It is not rude to say please go to confession if you have not been to mass in a while. I think some people are too sensitive these days.
 
Last edited:
I think you are putting negative connotations because it doesn’t fit your view.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top