Confession (Old Rite)

[A.Pelliccio]

I am stationed in Camp Bondsteel Kosovo and our Priest is on leave during lent. We have a local Catholic priest come on to post and perform Holy Mass on Sundays. He does not speak english, which isnt a problem for mass becuase I attend TLM anyway.

The thing is though I really need confession. I was wondering if there is come common ground I can use to get confession to him. Learn my sins in his langauge (albanian) and then say the act of contrition in Latin?

Thats my real question was there a differnt act of contrition in Latin pre vat II, or did the Church use the Confetior?

Or on the other hand could I recieve a private absolution from him and that still be the same as going to confession, if the language barrier can not be scaled?

Thanks so much!

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Thank you for your service, first.

THIS IS JUST MY OPINION, but I can’t see how you’re going to be able to do it any other way until the chaplain comes back off leave. If you can make an Act of Contrition in Latin, can you tell your sins in Latin? That would save you having to download the language course from the DOD.

The chaplain is gone ALL of Lent? Will he back for Holy Week?

 

[pm1853]

I don’t know if the language barrier matters. I mean, you ARE confessing your sins, its neither yours nor the priest’s fault that you don’t share a language in common. You could opt for an interpreter though. If you go to the “Ask an Apologist Section” of the forum and scroll to March 18, 2005, a question was asked about using an interpreter. Michelle Arnold answered as such:

Yes, a layperson can translate for a priest and penitent, assuming that there is a language barrier and the penitent wants a translator present. (An interpreter should not be present against the wishes of the penitent.) However, that layperson must know that he is as bound by the sacramental seal of confession as is the priest and may not reveal the contents of the confession under any circumstances whatsoever.

Quote:
§1 The sacramental seal is inviolable. Accordingly, it is absolutely wrong for a confessor in any way to betray the penitent, for any reason whatsoever, whether by word or in any other fashion.

§2 An interpreter, if there is one, is also obliged to observe this secret, as are all others who in any way whatever have come to a knowledge of sins from a confession (canon 983, Code of Canon Law, emphasis added).

 

[otm]

To begin with, we did not say the Act of Contrition in Latin pre-Vatican 2. the Sacrament has not changed much at all since Vatican 2, with the exception of face to face confessions - which occured on occasion before Vatican 2.

He may know more English than you give him credit for; go ask to go to confession. See what happens.

 

[thistle]

I understand the issue of priest and penitent not understanding each other’s language but I’m a bit confused as to why anyone would want to make the Act of Contrition in Latin. Saying it in Latin doesn’t make any better than if said in your normal language.

 

[wisteria]

It doesn’t make it any “better” - it’s just that Latin might be a shared tongue that both the priest and this soldier know?

 

[brotherhrolf]

Confession was always in the vernacular pre-VII. I think I’d take this particular issue up the chain of command. It’s one thing for Catholics to attend a TLM celebrated by a priest who may not speak your language (hey, we’re all Catholics and this used to be the norm), but it is another thing entirely for confession. I’d check first with the officer in charge of the chaplain’s corps- whatever that denomination may be. He or she should be able to kick the question up the coc and get an answer.

 

[A.Pelliccio]

Well Latin part was a compromise? I thought maybe that if there was part of it that was in Latin, maybe the Priest knew it as well? He speaks Albanian and no English and my Albanian is limited to thank you and good morning ect.

Latin wasn’t really a preference thing I thought it would be more a comprise. But my real question was if I asked him through an interpreter for an absolution would that be ok?

Thanks for the advice; I will check the apologist forum.

 

[thistle]

A.Pelliccio:

Well Latin part was a compromise? I thought maybe that if there was part of it that was in Latin, maybe the Priest knew it as well? He speaks Albanian and no English and my Albanian is limited to thank you and good morning ect.

Latin wasn’t really a preference thing I thought it would be more a comprise. But my real question was if I asked him through an interpreter for an absolution would that be ok?

Thanks for the advice; I will check the apologist forum.

Don’t all priests speak Latin? How about you? Do you speak Latin?

 

[A.Pelliccio]

“Don’t all priests speak Latin?”

Where Did I write this? And yes I have a pretty good command of Latin, I took 4 years of it not to mention weekly Mass.

No where did I write nor imply that he should or must speak Latin.

 

[thistle]

“Don’t all priests speak Latin?”

Where Did I write this? And yes I have a pretty good command of Latin, I took 4 years of it not to mention weekly Mass.

No where did I write nor imply that he should or must speak Latin.

You’ve misunderstood me. What I am saying is that as far as I know it is compulsory for all priests to be able to speak Latin. That being the case if you can also speak Latin then you could actually do your entire confession and act of contrition in Latin as he would understand you and you would understand any penance he gives you.

 

[palmas85]

A.Pelliccio:

I am stationed in Camp Bondsteel Kosovo and our Priest is on leave during lent. We have a local Catholic priest come on to post and perform Holy Mass on Sundays. He does not speak english, which isnt a problem for mass becuase I attend TLM anyway.

The thing is though I really need confession. I was wondering if there is come common ground I can use to get confession to him. Learn my sins in his langauge (albanian) and then say the act of contrition in Latin?

Thats my real question was there a differnt act of contrition in Latin pre vat II, or did the Church use the Confetior?

Or on the other hand could I recieve a private absolution from him and that still be the same as going to confession, if the language barrier can not be scaled?

Thanks so much!

Pre Vatican II confession was always done in the vernacular… Sometimes the Priest would give a blessing in Latin, but you always confessed in the vernacular and you were absolved in the vernacular. It is possible that the Catholic Priests in Albania maight still go through training in Latin, I don’t know. It is pretty close to Italy and I think there it is required that they at least have an understanding of the language. Or maybe if you dig around a little maybe you could find an older or retired priest to help you out… If not you could always ask the Priest for a blessing and unless you’ve done something really bad that should suffice until your own Priest returns…

Question though, the military has been on a big ecumenical kick ever since I was in way back in the Viet Nam era, and if I recall correctly, all the chaplains were cross traioned in other religious practices and had authority to conduct basic religious services of different faiths… One of them might be able to help out as well or at least point you in the right direction.

God Bless and keep safe.

 

[palmas85]

thistle:

You’ve misunderstood me. What I am saying is that as far as I know it is compulsory for all priests to be able to speak Latin. That being the case if you can also speak Latin then you could actually do your entire confession and act of contrition in Latin as he would understand you and you would understand any penance he gives you.

It is not compulsory that all priests speak Latin. It used to be, but not any longer. At many seminaries in the United States it isn’t even a required course or even offered. Of course in Albania it might be different.

 

[palmas85]

thistle:

You’ve misunderstood me. What I am saying is that as far as I know it is compulsory for all priests to be able to speak Latin. That being the case if you can also speak Latin then you could actually do your entire confession and act of contrition in Latin as he would understand you and you would understand any penance he gives you.

No it is not required that all priests speak Latin. It used to be a required course at seminaries but is not any longer. In fact at some US seminaries it isn’t even offered as an elective let alone a required course. Many priests do study the language as it is the official languge of the Church, and it greatly aids their development as Priests, but as a general rule nowadays it is totally optional.

 

[Chatter163]

Pre Vatican II confession was always done in the vernacular… Sometimes the Priest would give a blessing in Latin, but you always confessed in the vernacular and you were absolved in the vernacular.

The absolution in the pre-Vatican II rite was always said in Latin by the priest.

 

[Chatter163]

Pre Vatican II confession was always done in the vernacular… Sometimes the Priest would give a blessing in Latin, but you always confessed in the vernacular and you were absolved in the vernacular.

The absolution in the pre-Vatican II rite was always said in Latin by the priest, and still is, where that rite is used.

 

[palmas85]

Chatter163:

The absolution in the pre-Vatican II rite was always said in Latin by the priest, and still is, where that rite is used.

Not that I recall. The priest would sometimes say a blessing in Latin, but the penance and absolution was in the vernacular. There may have been exceptions, but I don’t remember ever being completely absolved in Latin.

 

[kleary]

A.Pelliccio:

I am stationed in Camp Bondsteel Kosovo and our Priest is on leave during lent. We have a local Catholic priest come on to post and perform Holy Mass on Sundays. He does not speak english, which isnt a problem for mass becuase I attend TLM anyway.

The thing is though I really need confession. I was wondering if there is come common ground I can use to get confession to him. Learn my sins in his langauge (albanian) and then say the act of contrition in Latin?

Thats my real question was there a differnt act of contrition in Latin pre vat II, or did the Church use the Confetior?

Or on the other hand could I recieve a private absolution from him and that still be the same as going to confession, if the language barrier can not be scaled?

Thanks so much!

As far as the “Old Rite” [Traditional Rite that I hear every time I go to confession] the only difference is in the formula used by the priest for absolution. The absolution is given in Latin: "Dominus noster Jesus Christus te absolvat: et ego auctoritate ipsìus te absolvo ab omni vinculo excommunicationis, (suspensionis), et interdicti, in quantum possum, et tu indiges. Deinde ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis, in nomine Patris, et Filii, + et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

I know that some time in the past with the “old rite” the person confessing did not need to say the Act of Contrition, the basic appearance of that person in the confessional sufficed.

Anyway at the Indult Mass I attend the rite is basically the same as it is today with praying any act of contrition (though one is printed directly in front of you on the screen) with the absolution as above.

Your problem is different. I experienced this when I was travelling abroad. If the priest does not know English he can still absolve you even if he does not understand what you are saying. I would ask for help from local people as far as translating into the local language your sins, etc.

Ken

 

[Elzee]

palmas85:

No it is not required that all priests speak Latin. It used to be a required course at seminaries but is not any longer. In fact at some US seminaries it isn’t even offered as an elective let alone a required course. Many priests do study the language as it is the official languge of the Church, and it greatly aids their development as Priests, but as a general rule nowadays it is totally optional.

Well that’s a sad thing to hear. Not much of an official language if it’s going to gradually die out as more and more priests and bishops don’t learn it.

 

[Chatter163]

Not that I recall. The priest would sometimes say a blessing in Latin, but the penance and absolution was in the vernacular. There may have been exceptions, but I don’t remember ever being completely absolved in Latin.

Your memory is playing tricks on you. The absolution was always in Latin, as is still done by FSSP priests today. All sacraments were administered completely in Latin until 1954, at which time a mixed Latin/vernacular form was approved for the USA. The 1954* Rituale Romanum* and 1961 Collectio Rituum, which were the books in force prior to Vatican II, both list the absolution as being required in Latin.