Simple - call up your priest, explain to him that you can’t make it to confession at the scheduled times and ask if you can make an appointment to meet with him at another time that suits you both… Most priests will be happy to do this for you. If you want it to remain anonymous, suggest that you meet him in the confessional at the suggested time.
there is no such thing as communal confession, the only way to have ones sins absolved is through indvidual confession to a priest. There is a communal penance service, with is a time of prayer to prepare for the sacrament, which includes individual confession and absolution, and your parish will probably offer those during Lent and Advent, if not other times of the year. trouble is unless several priests are present, not everyone gets the chance to confess.
As others have said, simply make an appointment. I did this quite a while back when I had my first confession in a LONG time. I simply called my parish, said I wanted to make an appt. for confession, they put me through to a priest, and that was it. Our parish actually has a note in the weekly bulletin regarding this. They WANT you to do it if you can’t make it during the normal hours.
Not personally - but plenty of CAFers will tell you they have, it’s quite quite common. And it’s certainly not anything to be embarrassed or concerned about - think of the beautiful image of the penitent woman washing Christ’s feet with her tears!
I usually see a box of Kleenex in the confessional. There’s a reason for that!
I cannot say why I feel this way maybe b/c I finally realized what the effect of all my sins really are…I just came into the Church this past Easter, have went to confession about five times and I have cried everytime!
Jesus said ‘whose sins you forgive they are forgiven’. If you’ve made your best effort to confess sincerely and thoroughly, not deliberately omitted or minimised any mortal sin, and been absolved, then you can have faith in His words on this topic as all others.
We’re human, of course it’s sometimes difficult to forget things - but once we have confessed and made restitution for our sins, we should make the effort to do so.
I understand what your point, but I wouldn’t put it quite that way.
yes this can simply be normal emotional release, or the spiritual gift of tears. it is not a breakdown. Priests are used to it, compassionate and won’t be upset by it.
quite and this rite forgives venial sin, as does reception of the Eucharist (if you are in the state of grace), but does not meet OPs needs or answer his question accurately. It is not communal confession with absolution, which is his question.