Confession Line Etiquette

  • Thread starter Thread starter tededfred
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

tededfred

Guest
At my church we have two priests. A single line develops for both confessionals. As a person leaves each confessional, the next person in line goes in.

The problem is, I like to go to one priest more than the other – I’m more comfortable with him and he understands more of my background and what I’m struggling with. I’m really able to make a much better confession with him.

So…should I feel uncomfortable asking a person behind me in line to go in front of me if the confessional opens that I’d rather pass on?
 
Nothing wrong with it. I think that going with the same priest will help you in the long run. Once the priest gets to know us he can help us better with our challenges. In our parish we usually have an English speaking line and a Spanish speaking line. I prefer to go in the Spanish speaking line even if I confess in English because the priest knows me well and he can push me in the right direction.
 
You have a line for Confessions?:eek: No, seriously. Other then our Lenten Penence(sp) service, there is NEVER a line. What a sad thing indeed.😦
 
There is nothing wrong with trying to go to the same priest each time as your regular confessor. It can allow him to give better spiritual guidance if you decide you want spiritual direction also. If you feel really bad about the line business, try making a private appointment at another time. I’ve had my confession heard in the priest’s office, but it means that it will be face-to-face which some people don’t like.
 
Perhaps you can try to arrive at the beginning of the cofession time, so you can be sure to get in with the priest you like. Or possibly ask for an appointment either just before or just after the stated times (or at a different time altogether).
 
Perhaps you could suggest to your pastor that they form two lines, since people should be free to choose their confessor. At my former parish, the confessionals consist of three doors. The priest sits in the middle compartment with a penitent “box” on either side. There are four sets of these confessionals, and on a given Saturday two or three of them are in use. The problem is that instead of forming one line for each confessional, they form two lines – one for each door. There may be six people on one side and three on the other, entering the confessional alternately, when another person arrives and naturally takes the shorter line. This prolongs it for everyone on either side. It would work better to form only one line for this kind of confessional. The nice part is that there are always about ten to twenty people in line for each priest, whose name is printed on the indicator light above his door. Also, only one of them was converted to the “reconciliation room” format, and that one is used by a priest who speaks only Spanish.
 
We just usually have one priest hearing confessions;)

:heart:Blyss
 
BlyssfulDreamer said:
We just usually have one priest hearing confessions;)

:heart:Blyss
Click to expand...
Really? We usually have at least four. I guess that’s kind of out of the ordinary; I never really thought about it. Our parish has nine priests in residence.
 
The last time I went to confession, the woman in line in front of me offered to let me go first because she wanted to wait for the other priest. It didn’t bother me at all.
 
We usually only have one priest in the confessional. On weekdays before Mass and on Saturdays there is usually a line. But unless you are waiting there early enough to see which priest goes into the confessional, you will have no idea who is in there.
 
I try and go when there is no line, I always feel rushed when there is a line as I’m always concerned about the person waiting for me. :rolleyes:
 
love4mary said:
You have a line for Confessions?:eek: No, seriously. Other then our Lenten Penence(sp) service, there is NEVER a line. What a sad thing indeed.😦
Click to expand...
That is sad… we usually have a decent size line (at least 6 but usually 10 or more in a constant flow, probably at least 20 to 30 total), but then again, we only have 1 priest. Heck, when I take my family, I almost feel like we should call ahead and warn the priest (there are 6 of us). Actually when we do Lenten or Advent penance services we have 6 priests and the lines go very quickly. When we really really feel we need confession and can’t wait for Saturday, we go up to the local university because they offer reconciliation every weekday.
 
love4mary said:
You have a line for Confessions?:eek: No, seriously. Other then our Lenten Penence(sp) service, there is NEVER a line. What a sad thing indeed.😦
Click to expand...
ya same here, and you know you make a good point, that is sad. We need to encourage our young people about confession so we can make it a big part of our faith again!
 
anamchara said:
ya same here, and you know you make a good point, that is sad. We need to encourage our young people about confession so we can make it a big part of our faith again!
Click to expand...
Gee from what I see it isn’t the younguns that need the encouragement it is the 30-50 range. At our parish and at the schools the kids are really good about going to reconciliation for the most part.
 
tededfred said:
So…should I feel uncomfortable asking a person behind me in line to go in front of me if the confessional opens that I’d rather pass on?
Click to expand...
I see this all the time, and I don’t see a problem with it. After all, there’s a good chance that the person behind you is waiting for the priest that just became available: it’s a win-win! There was one time when I went to confession and the four people in front of me all wanted to wait for a certain priest and the offer just passed up the line until it got to me! I was certainly pleased with being able to “jump” ahead 4 spaces in line.
 
Jason_Hurd said:
Really? We usually have at least four. I guess that’s kind of out of the ordinary; I never really thought about it. Our parish has nine priests in residence.
Click to expand...
Can I ask what your parish is? That is seriously unusual & lucky these days.

As for the confessional line, it is probably best etiquette to tell the person behind why you want to go to one confessor.
 
As for the confessional line, it is probably best etiquette to tell the person behind why you want to go to one confessor.
Click to expand...
I disagree. It is not necessary to reveal personal information concerning one’s relationship with a confessor. Simply indicating that one is waiting for Father So-and-So should be sufficient.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top