Confession in Foreign Language

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I am wondering if anyone here as gone to Confession in a foreign language and could provide any tips. I live in Japan and some of the priests speak English, but not all of them do. I speak Japanese, but often attend Mass in English. When I attend in Japanese, I have to follow along in the Japanese Missal, and am not at the point where I can pray in Japanese.

If I go into the Confessional, and the priest does not speak English, is it better to explain that I prefer receive Confession in English and leave, without having received Reconcilliation? Or do I do my best in Japanese, but ask the priest if I can say some parts in English? Or do I do my best and muddle through in Japanese? I am wondering what the proper ettiquette is. I think even if the priest does not perfectly understand everything I say, God does, so the sacrament would still be valid.

I know I could make an appointment with an English speaking priest, but prefer to go anonymously.

If anyone has any tips they could pass along, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks!

Sincerely,
Maria1212
 
My grandmother liked to confess in Polish, even though she was born in the USA. She always went to a priest who was bilingual in English and Polish. Even if you make an appointment, you can still kneel or sit behind the screen in the confessional, and then confess in either Japanese or English, whichever language you are more comfortable with.
 
I once made my confession in Spanish before I was quite fluent… I wrote out my confession with the help of my text books and dictionary and then read it to the priest. I’m sure it wasn’t flawless, but the priest understood me well enough. So there’s an idea.

I don’t know whether or not this sacrament is valid if the priest doesn’t understand what the penitant is saying. A good question for the apologist forum!
 
You can actually use a translator in the Confessional. But that translator would be bound by the oath of secrecy just as the priest is.
 
You might also consider contacting the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your area, or an American military installation. They may be able to help you find a priest who speaks English.

Hope that helps.
 
Maria1212 said:
I am wondering if anyone here as gone to Confession in a foreign language and could provide any tips. I live in Japan and some of the priests speak English, but not all of them do. I speak Japanese, but often attend Mass in English. When I attend in Japanese, I have to follow along in the Japanese Missal, and am not at the point where I can pray in Japanese.

If I go into the Confessional, and the priest does not speak English, is it better to explain that I prefer receive Confession in English and leave, without having received Reconcilliation? Or do I do my best in Japanese, but ask the priest if I can say some parts in English? Or do I do my best and muddle through in Japanese? I am wondering what the proper ettiquette is. I think even if the priest does not perfectly understand everything I say, God does, so the sacrament would still be valid.

I know I could make an appointment with an English speaking priest, but prefer to go anonymously.

If anyone has any tips they could pass along, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks!

Sincerely,
Maria1212
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Maria, I also live in Japan and have the same problem. Usually I use a dictionary beforehand and make a list of things I want to confess. It isn’t perfect but it works. I say the Act of Contrition in English. I miss not being able to get any spritual advice and at times I haven’t understood what penance I received. We do have one English speaking priest from the Philippines but he has a very strong accent and mixes English and Tagalog constantly so he is extremely difficult to understand. I have found that confession with him is as bad as with the Japanese priests (:_:wink:
If there is a US Army base nearby you could try there. I don’t live anywhere near any bases so this is not an option for for me.

Gearoidin
 
I’m an American that has lived in multiple countries in Europe and ergo speak multiple European languages, all of them to varying degrees of proficiency (or incoherence, as the case may be). I’ve confessed in languages I have a poor grasp of…I’ve found the priests always accomodating, and I usually say the Act of Contrition in English, sometimes without even asking the priest if that is acceptable. (After all, what is he going to do??)

I suppose the biggest problem, as has already mentioned, is whether you understand the penance you are given!
 
I found this article which might help you decide to confess to a priest who speaks English, although it does not specifically address your exact situation.

If Confessor Doesn’t Know Penitent’s Language
ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur74.htm
 
After two decades of extended visits to central México, I now am confident in going to Confesson in Spanish.
The first time I sought the sacrament in México, I asked the priest in halting Spanish if he spoke English. He didn’t. He also didn’t know of any priests in that part of the country who did.
He recognized that I wanted to go to confession and told me in Spanish, “Go ahead and confess in English, I’ll hear you in Spanish,” and pointing skyward, he said, “He’ll understand both of us.”🙂
 
If you are near Tokyo or Osaka or some other major city, you should have no trouble finding an English speaking priest for confession. If you are out in the countryside, you could plan a trip to one of the major cities occasionally and then make it a point to go to confession then. I found that most Japanese priests knew enough English to hear my confession. However I mostly went to native English speaking or European priests in Tokyo. Hope you get a chance to read this. Ishii
 
Thanks. I have gone and when I wasn`t sure if he spoke English. I asked in Japanese if it was okay to say my confession in English. He responded in Japanese and said it was okay, so I switched to English, and it went well.

I would like to learn how to make confession in Japanese, just in case the priest doesn`t speak English. Do you know of a guide where I can find one. For example something that shows you how to say “Bless me Father for I have sinned” and then goes through the format?

I often go to Mass in Japanese, but it is one thing to follow along with my Mass book, and quite another thing when I get nervous!

Sincerely,

Maria1212
 
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