Confession...some more queries for discussion

[Tis_Bearself]

1. I recently heard someone describe Medjugorje as “the confessional for Europe” because apparently people confess there in great droves. Why don’t these people simply confess back home where they come from? No doubt there are priests and confessions there that can give the exact same absolution?
2. I also recently heard a story of someone going to confession to some priest who was supposed to be a renowned confessor and the confessions took a really long time because apparently the priest made the person confessing tell their “whole life story”. Why would a confessor do that, if the person confessing had confessed previously within a reasonable time? I could understand it if the person had gone 10 or 20 years without confessing, but if he just confessed a month ago or even 6 months ago, how is it important that the confessor has to know background or possible sins that happened prior to the person’s last confession?

 

[PatK63]

I believe when people make a trip to a religious site the Holy Spirit touches their heart and they feel the need to confess.

Can’t say much about the second question because I have little idea what sins were confesses. Fr Pio was know to be able to tell if someone was withholding sins so if a priest had that knowledge he would need to encourage the sinner to come clean.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Reasonable points. I just don’t get why the Holy Spirit can’t touch your heart in your local adoration chapel. It’s the same Jesus right there and the confession lines are way shorter. I really don’t think people behave with logical sense sometimes.

 

[PatK63]

Of course the Holy Spirit can. It is us that limit His ability to bless us. Don’t you know that God wants everyone in church regularly? Some people will only show up on major feast. I am sure that God try’s all different ways to get a person’s attention.