Confession Issue (NEED ANSWERS)

[odile53]

I suppose you could try to call the priest and see if he can hear your confession privately either this evening or early tomorrow, before his Mass schedule begins, if the roads were really bad and you had other extraordinary circumstances. If all else fails, just go to Mass, either the anticipated Mass or the regular Sunday Mass, and stay in your pew at communion time. Or call around to other churches, if there are some in your locale, and you think you can make it there safely. They may have later confession times and you might be able to get a ride there.

If confession times at your parish are few and far between, you might want to make that call anyways to try to make an appointment for Monday or Tuesday.

For what it’s worth, I live in a notoriously snowy city in the Northeast. Each year Father publishes this dispensation in the bulletin:

“If the weather is severe, especially if you are ill or elderly, you are dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday. Please do not jeopardize your life trying to get to church! The Church does not demand the impossible, and neither does God.”

But if you believe you are in mortal sin, do not receive the Eucharist until you are able to make a good confession.

 

[InLight247]

Jeanne and Iris, I know what you are talking about. This problem sounds familiar. In my immediate family(all Catholics), it seems I am the only one takes this church rule seriously.

Last week we travel internationally back to States on Sunday. I thought about going to a Vigil Mass Saturday. When Saturday came, we were extremely busy and I forgot about looking for a Vigil Mass. On our way to the airport Sunday morning, all of a sudden I realized we did not go to Mass the previous night. It was such a bad feeling. Our travel was about 30 hours. There was no way we could attend church on Sunday.

I usually go to daily Mass, after coming back to States, I could not receive Eucharist until finding a chance of confession, so I did not go to daily Mass. It was very painful. And I resolved to plan ahead in the future and never miss Sunday Mass again when travel. Here, I can well identify with what Jim said in his post. Not being able to receive the Eucharist is certainly an unforgettable punishment. But the rest of my family think I am making a small thing big. Even I did not purposely miss Sunday Mass, I would not feel right to receive the Lord without confession.

 

[LifeWithChrist]

Amen to you all. I love the sense of community on this forum. My dad said he is going to schedule an appointment sometime this week for me to go to confession. I am going to mass tomorrow if my family is not still sick, and if I go I’ll just abstain from communion. Keep in mind, a am only in HIGH SCHOOL, and cannot drive. So, although I MIGHT have been able to go tomorrow before mass, an appointment might be more logical for sometime this week. Does this suffice, instead of the slight chance I may be able to go to confession tomorrow?

 

[Joannm]

We don’t have to receive the Eucharist. Just the other day I didn’t think I was going to make it to Mass (not a SUnday) because I was waiting for a call. WHen the call came in time, I realized that I had eaten breakfast and it would only be a little over a half hour before communion (our daily masses are short and I am only 3 minutes from the church). So I sat out from receiving communion. It may be uncomfortable but it’s not the end of the world. Make a spiritual communion.

 

[Leegal]

Amen to you all. I love the sense of community on this forum. My dad said he is going to schedule an appointment sometime this week for me to go to confession. I am going to mass tomorrow if my family is not still sick, and if I go I’ll just abstain from communion. Keep in mind, a am only in HIGH SCHOOL, and cannot drive. So, although I MIGHT have been able to go tomorrow before mass, an appointment might be more logical for sometime this week. Does this suffice, instead of the slight chance I may be able to go to confession tomorrow?

You have no way of getting to confession. Your father is making the appointment for a confession later in the week. It’s all you can do.

 

[LifeWithChrist]

You have no way of getting to confession. Your father is making the appointment for a confession later in the week. It’s all you can do.

Okay, I feel at peace now. Yet, I must still be steadfast in the Lord, and can’t let my guard down.That is how the Evil One tempts. God Bless You all, and find your strength through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Phillipians 4:13- “I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me”

 

[fred_conty]

To Jeanne S and to Snugglebugmom,

There is something you can do.
Mary gave us hope for those we love who are nor responding to God’s graces.
She came and appeared to a sister to give us a message of her undying love
and assistance in our needs. Nothing is so heartbreaking then to see someone
we love drifting away and nothing we do seems to help. She is the Mother of
Hope and the Mother of divine grace. She can and does obtain graces for us
even in impossible situations which have tumbled out of control and are beyond
reason.

Ten years after the manifestation of the Miraculous Medal to Sister Catherine Laboure
in 1830, Mary entrusted the Green Scapular of her Immaculate Heart to
Sister Justine Bisqueyburu, likewise a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
And it was given for the reasons you both cited, drifting from the faith, or in even a
worst situation, loss of faith. She gave that scapular precisely for conversion.
Conversion of those not believing, conversion of those who are lost or strayed from
believing. Also to strengthen the faith of those already believing. The Devil too will
be impeded from doing his worst. And her kindness even extends to the end of our
life by providing us with the assurance of a happy death.

You may be thinking that this is too good to be true. But, she does require of you to
do a few things. Have it blessed. Wear or carry the scapular. If this isn’t possible,
then hide it in their room or where they spend most of their time. Pray, at least twice daily:
“Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death.”
This prayer should be said for oneself and separately for each person to whom it has been given
(unless they pray it themselves). And finally:

“The GREATEST graces come from using the scapular but these graces come
in direct proportion to the degree of CONFIDENCE IN ME which the user has.”
Mary’s own words.

What does confidence mean? To find that out, let’s look at Mary’s confidence and trust.
“Yes, blessed is she who BELIEVED that the PROMISE made her by the Lord would be FULFILLED.” (Lk. 1;45) St. Elizabeth extolling the absolute trust of Mary in God’s promise. She didn’t doubt.

A rock solid faith in Mary’s promise is paramount for you to have for your husbands.
Remember, remind Our Lady each day that she promised and that you know she will make good.
Be faithful to the prayer. She didn’t say when, just that she promised it would happen.

Just a beautiful gift from our Lady to you.

Ps. Google “Green Scapular” on the internet and you will find some free ones.