Confession/rosary during mass (TLM)?

[tau_gamma_pi]

This NO catholic who has never actually been to a Tridentine (yet) is confused.

My traditionalist friends tell me it’s okay to say the Rosary or go to confession during Mass. That seems really, really strange to me - aren’t you supposed to be praying the Mass during Mass?

And, do you have citations?

hvala

 

[markadm]

I do not have any citations, but I have heard it is specifically wrong to say the Rosary during Mass. Equally, I have heard there is nothing wrong in going to Confession during Mass.

 

[laudamus_te]

I do not have any citations, but I have heard it is specifically wrong to say the Rosary during Mass. Equally, I have heard there is nothing wrong in going to Confession during Mass.

Who has said it is wrong to say the Rosary during Mass? And if a priest is hearing Confession, it is obviously OK.

 

[Eilish_Maura]

Guess God does not deserve our full attention at the liturgy of the Word and Eucharist if one can run these other tasks at the same time.

Maybe one can get up and stretch their legs, go out for a breath of aiir too.

 

[laudamus_te]

Guess God does not deserve our full attention at the liturgy of the Word and Eucharist if one can run these other tasks at the same time.

Maybe one can get up and stretch their legs, go out for a breath of aiir too.

Go tell that to all of the holy priests throughout the years who have heard confessions during a Mass.

 

[Eilish_Maura]

Go tell that to all of the holy priests throughout the years who have heard confessions during a Mass.

I have been in churches where Mass was held near where confession was being held – like some cathedrals in big cities.

But to double up on one’s duties by planning to go to mass AND slip over to confession then back into mass ??

How is that justifiable?? Which is more important - mass or confession? And if one needed confession that badly then do that FIRST then go to mass.

The Mass is not the time to multi-task unless you are caring for children and even then one tries to keep that to a minimum.

 

[laudamus_te]

I have been in churches where Mass was held near where confession was being held – like some cathedrals in big cities.

But to double up on one’s duties by planning to go to mass AND slip over to confession then back into mass ??

How is that justifiable?? Which is more important - mass or confession? And if one needed confession that badly then do that FIRST then go to mass.

The Mass is not the time to multi-task unless you are caring for children and even then one tries to keep that to a minimum.

Again, go tell it to the holy priests who hear confessions during Mass. Your accusations of “multi-tasking” are ludicrous in such a scenario.

 

[Alexios]

Yes, confessions can be heard during Mass, in both the Novus Ordo and the TLM.

I’d say saying the Rosary would be discouraged, as one should try and take part in the public prayers of the Mass, ISTM.

 

[LilyM]

I have been in churches where Mass was held near where confession was being held – like some cathedrals in big cities.

But to double up on one’s duties by planning to go to mass AND slip over to confession then back into mass ??

How is that justifiable?? Which is more important - mass or confession? And if one needed confession that badly then do that FIRST then go to mass.

The Mass is not the time to multi-task unless you are caring for children and even then one tries to keep that to a minimum.

Eilish - it is not in the slightest multi-taking to receive any of the other six sacraments during Mass. And to do so is in no way comparable to heading outside for a break. The sacraments don’t clash with each other in the way you seem to think they do. This weekend alone at Easter Vigil there will be massive numbers of people receiving other sacraments - namely Baptism and Confirmation - during Easter Vigil Mass. No multi-tasking there.

Put it this way - what is the purpose of the Penitential Rite of the Mass? It’s how we ‘prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries’, as the prayers themselves say.

How do we do this? First we confess, in a general way, our sinfulness (“I confess …”) and ask for mercy (“Lord, have mercy”), and then the priest pronounces a formula of absolution over us (‘may almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life’). This effects the absolution of our venial sins, although not our mortal, as the CCC points out.

It is an awful lot like the process of confession, in fact, though of a limited kind. It seems to me that if someone were to go to confession during Mass they are merely doing the same type of preparation of their souls as occurs in the prayers of the Mass itself.

All things being equal, I’d agree that it’s preferable to go before Mass if possible. Sometimes it just isn’t possible, in which case better go to Confession during Mass and know you’re as worthy as can be to receive Our Lord than not go and risk receiving Him in an unworthy state.

Finally - didn’t Jesus say ‘if you are about to offer at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you (in other words that you’ve sinned against man or God) … go first and be reconciled (which is the purpose of confession, no?) … then come back and offer your gift’. He seems to encourage the sacrament of reconciliation whenever we feel the need, even at the very feet of the altar itself.

 

[Eilish_Maura]

Again, go tell it to the holy priests who hear confessions during Mass. Your accusations of “multi-tasking” are ludicrous in such a scenario.

If one is trying to do two things at one time - participate in Mass and go to confession - they they are multi tasking.

Usually such tasks are done sequentially.

Do they announce at these Masses ohh by the way - “feel free to go to confession while we have the liturgy going on”??

 

[laudamus_te]

If one is trying to do two things at one time - participate in Mass and go to confession - they they are multi tasking.

Usually such tasks are done sequentially.

Do they announce at these Masses ohh by the way - “feel free to go to confession while we have the liturgy going on”??

I don’t know, maybe they do. I’m sure they don’t announce “Father is in the confessional during Mass, but please don’t avail yourself of the sacrament during Mass… that would be multi-tasking. We don’t know why Father is in the confessional. Perhaps he’s catching up on his sleep.”

 

[Eilish_Maura]

Eilish - it is not in the slightest multi-taking to receive any of the other six sacraments during Mass. And to do so is in no way comparable to heading outside for a break. The sacraments don’t clash with each other in the way you seem to think they do. This weekend alone at Easter Vigil there will be massive numbers of people receiving other sacraments - namely Baptism and Confirmation - during Easter Vigil Mass. No multi-tasking there.

NONE of the other sacraments you listed would conflict - and actually two of them can often be found as part of a Mass, much like the sacrament of Marriage.

Put it this way - what is the purpose of the Penitential Rite of the Mass? It’s how we ‘prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries’, as the prayers themselves say.

Since there is a Penitential Rite within the Mass WHY would anyone have to step over to a confessional for the Sacrament of Penance??

People get stressed over how late one can come in for Mass for it to be acceptable – so is it like 'well you are here might as well get a couple of things done"??

 

[Eilish_Maura]

I don’t know, maybe they do. I’m sure they don’t announce “Father is in the confessional during Mass, but please don’t avail yourself of the sacrament during Mass… that would be multi-tasking. We don’t know why Father is in the confessional. Perhaps he’s catching up on his sleep.”

It would seem that there should be a damn good reason for confessions to be held at the same time, in the same place as a Mass - like some Cathedrals that get lots of visitors that may want to make confession.

Even these often juggle where mass or confession will be held so both are not going on at the same time.

 

[laudamus_te]

NONE of the other sacraments you listed would conflict - and actually two of them can often be found as part of a Mass, much like the sacrament of Marriage.

Since there is a Penitential Rite within the Mass WHY would anyone have to step over to a confessional for the Sacrament of Penance??

The Penitential Rite within the Mass does not absolve one of mortal sin. Of course most Catholics (and maybe even yourself) don’t know that, judging by the large numbers of communicants every Sunday.

People get stressed over how late one can come in for Mass for it to be acceptable – so is it like 'well you are here might as well get a couple of things done"??

So, like, maybe some people have a grave mortal sin that they need to confess and figure “hey, look, I can go to confession so that I may worthily receive communion.”

 

[Eilish_Maura]

The Penitential Rite within the Mass does not absolve one of mortal sin. Of course most Catholics (and maybe even yourself) don’t know that, judging by the large numbers of communicants every Sunday.

Can’t help assuming the worst of others? Or have you taken to reading hearts and souls to know so many are guilty of mortal sin?

So, like, maybe some people have a grave mortal sin that they need to confess and figure “hey, look, I can go to confession so that I may worthily receive communion.”

Yep - they are like 'Hey look - I can go to confession NOW while I am here and don’t have to make another trip! How convenient!"

 

[lak611]

I have been in churches where Mass was held near where confession was being held – like some cathedrals in big cities.

But to double up on one’s duties by planning to go to mass AND slip over to confession then back into mass ??

How is that justifiable?? Which is more important - mass or confession? And if one needed confession that badly then do that FIRST then go to mass.

The Mass is not the time to multi-task unless you are caring for children and even then one tries to keep that to a minimum.

I go to a shrine church sometimes for confession. They say the OF Mass, not the EF. They hear confessions every day during the week (Saturday schedule is different.). Confession starts at 11:30 am, and Mass starts at 12 pm. The priest who is not saying Mass stays in the confessional until all confessions are heard. Daily Mass is not obligatory anyway, so if a person needs confession, he can come only for the confession and leave afterwards. I usually get there early, so I can either stay for the whole Mass or leave after confession if I cannot stay for Mass due to time constraints. I do not see any problem with this, since nobody is obligated to attend daily Mass anyway, but people who have mortal sins to confess are obligated to confess ASAP. The priest is doing the right thing by hearing all confessions and not turning away someone who may need confession at that very moment, not on another day.

 

[markadm]

I do not see a problem with going to Confession during Mass. What if one has no other opportunity?

Just as the father in the parable of the prodigal son welcomes the son back with welcome arms, so to should we be glad (as God and his Holy priests are) when anyone chooses to approach Him in the Confessional.

Eilish Maura: The Penitential Rite in no way removes the necessity for Confession.

 

[Yerusalyim]

In a similar thread I posted a letter from the Pope that said those who recited the rosary during mass were misguided.

Confession is not part of the liturgy. If one is attending mass and then goes to confession they are leaving the liturgy, I’ve never seen this before, but I would suggest this is yet another misguided pious action.

As to the “holy priests” hearing confessions during mass, I would ask them why they thought it was ok to divert one’s attention from the liturgy.

 

[markadm]

As to the “holy priests” hearing confessions during mass, I would ask them why they thought it was ok to divert one’s attention from the liturgy.

I don’t know the answer, but it’s been traditional for years!!

 

[HOPEFUL_IN_UK]

From what I’ve seen, the people going to confession do so before taking their seats. They’re not leaving the liturgy, they’re going to confession and then joining in with the Mass.

I don’t see why this upsets people so much. I do think that the NO Mass emphasizes the participation much more than the EF did, and that perhaps people used to have a different idea of what they were doing when they were at Mass.