Confession

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How important is the sacrament of reconciliation to Byzantine Catholics? It seems that I have heard that the practice of going to confession has far more emphasis in Latin rite than Eastern Rite.
 
GodIsGracious said:
How important is the sacrament of reconciliation to Byzantine Catholics? It seems that I have heard that the practice of going to confession has far more emphasis in Latin rite than Eastern Rite.
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I’d say you have it backwards.

In some BC and most EO Churches, if you haven’t confessed THIS WEEKEND, you don’t get admitted to communion.
 
Aramis said:
I’d say you have it backwards.

In some BC and most EO Churches, if you haven’t confessed THIS WEEKEND, you don’t get admitted to communion.
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Thank you, Aramis. I am Latin Rite and I am dating a Byzantine Catholic man who was an altar boy all through his teen years until he went to college, which was Notre Dame. He attended Latin rite masses there and so he is familiar with Latin Rite. Also with our talks he hears of the emphasis that I have been placing on confession.

We were talking last night and he made the comment that it seemed to him that Latin Rite placed a larger and greater emphasis on the sacrament of reconciliation than did Eastern Rite. Note, he made that claim. While I am not familiar with Byzantine Catholics only what I learned from him, I just assumed, since they ARE Catholic, the emphasis for the sacrament of reconciliation should be equal to Latin Rite.

When he made that statement I couldn’t quite believe it, to be honest. So I posted this question here. I showed him your response and he said that that was not his experience. He then said that if that was the case, there’d be lines outside his Byzantine church every weekend. I responded with, “Trust me. I have heard priests in the Latin Rite ‘wonder aloud’ why there aren’t lines outside the confessional every week.” 😉
 
In the village Russian Orthodox parish I’ve been communed at, and the oriental orthodox parish as well, confession was a prerequisite, and the pastors made no issue of my being Catholic. “Byzantine Catholic is Orthodox enough for me!” was the literal response of one pastor. And, at that time, it was also the pastor’s decision on communing catholics, and a matter of case by case, not generality. And everyone who went to communion had been to confession after vespers or before matins.

The Ruthenian and Ukrainian churches are noted for having become rather lax about it, especially in the US and Canada. I’m still rather lax about it, too, sadly.
 
But is it almost universal custom for EO or ECs to commune EVERY Sunday as it is for Latins?
 
I think it is conceivable that someone might think that the Latin Rite has a greater emphasis on the Sacrament since the Latin Church makes confession available “on demand.” IOW, it’s importance would be reflected in the level of availability to Church members, rather than how often the Church members take advantage of it.

Just a theory.

Blessings
 
In the old days confession was very important. There were lines every Saturday. My mother set the example and went just to show me how important it was. I was in the Latin rite. Especially at Lent they were long. There was a lot more sin considered mortal sin. If you swore at someone that was considered a bad sin. All and all we should go back to confessing sin all sin.
 
Aramis said:
I’d say you have it backwards.

In some BC and most EO Churches, if you haven’t confessed THIS WEEKEND, you don’t get admitted to communion.
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I’ve seen and heard different things concerning this. I don’t keep track of when everyone goes to confession (:)), but speaking for myself, I’ve been admitted to communion at Orthodox churches even if I have not attended Vespers the night before, or have not gone to confession for several weeks (I try to go once a month or so).

In such cases, I pray the pre-Communion prayers and fast from midnight the night before. Frequent communion is the norm at my present parish.

I have heard of strict enforcement on confession right before communion but have yet to see it for myself. One of my friends at my last parish told me that, when she was in Russia, she and her young children had to strict fast for several days, and then go to confession, before receiving the Eucharist.
 
Madaglan said:
I’ve seen and heard different things concerning this. I don’t keep track of when everyone goes to confession (:)), but speaking for myself, I’ve been admitted to communion at Orthodox churches even if I have not attended Vespers the night before, or have not gone to confession for several weeks (I try to go once a month or so).

In such cases, I pray the pre-Communion prayers and fast from midnight the night before. Frequent communion is the norm at my present parish.

I have heard of strict enforcement on confession right before communion but have yet to see it for myself. One of my friends at my last parish told me that, when she was in Russia, she and her young children had to strict fast for several days, and then go to confession, before receiving the Eucharist.
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Sounds like most people at your liturgy wouldn’t be presenting themselves for Communion every week then?
 
Madaglan said:
Like I said, frequent communion is the norm at my present parish.
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Yeah, but ‘frequent’ is relative. Would you say 95% + of the congregation are receiving communion EVERY SINGLE week, like current practice is among Latins? I can’t imagine that’s the case.
 
LilyM said:
Yeah, but ‘frequent’ is relative. Would you say 95% + of the congregation are receiving communion EVERY SINGLE week, like current practice is among Latins? I can’t imagine that’s the case.
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It is in newer parishes, especially where there is a large number of converts.
 
LilyM said:
But is it almost universal custom for EO or ECs to commune EVERY Sunday as it is for Latins?
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Varies. US Ruthenians? Yes. US Ukrainians, US Melkites, from what I have seen and read, yes.

OCA in Alaska, Yes.
 
I am a convert of 13 yr. converted at 34 yr old. I do not go to confession as often as i should, i know that. it makes me so nervous, that it almost makes me sick prior to going. when i first joined the church, the Priest then would just talk to me and you really never felt like you were in confession. i mean i did not have to repeat a certain prayer or read the one taped inside the confessional. he told me once if i went to confession to another priest to tell them that i am a convert and it would go smoothly. but when i do go i read the little prayer thing that i carry in my wallet. don’t get me wrong i do think that confession is important. i really do feel cleansed when leaving the confessional. i just wish it was not so stressful to me. i have migraines often and making myself prepare for confession has actually started migraines before.
 
hello
i don’t care about the future anymore. i hope nostradamas was right and we all die. we deserve it.
 
It is much easier to go to the Latin Rite parish for Confession. I don’t like the idea of not having a confessional in the Eastern Rite and I certainly don’t like the idea of confessing to a priest I know so I never go to Confession in an Eastern Rite church. Does anyone else agree? I wonder if this is what makes it seem like the East does not care as much about Confession since a lot of people don’t want to Confess there.
 
wjp984 said:
It is much easier to go to the Latin Rite parish for Confession. I don’t like the idea of not having a confessional in the Eastern Rite and I certainly don’t like the idea of confessing to a priest I know so I never go to Confession in an Eastern Rite church. Does anyone else agree? I wonder if this is what makes it seem like the East does not care as much about Confession since a lot of people don’t want to Confess there.
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I think this is probably part of the reason my boyfriend (Byzantine) has somewhat of an aversion to confession. Although, he claims that at his church confession simply wasn’t emphasized as much.

I keep telling him to go to a Latin Rite church. 😃
 
CONFESSING MYSTERY

I have read at this sait that mystery of confessing is not practiced too widely among Latin catolics - so if Byzantine Catolics less, that is sad. Perhaps those who have boyfriend or acquaintance who is such - rather than urge to go to different church - perhaps you go with them to confession. I believe GrekoCatolics and Latin Catolics can do such.

For Orthodox confession is required to receive communion. We must confess in evening or morning before communion, avoid all food and drink on day of communion and and other personal committment. Not to confess because you know priest is odd for us because priest who gives you communion must know you have been confessing within a day. Not to worry - priests are holy men, but also sinners, they do want you to encounter Our Lord Jesus Christ:

It is easy to go to confession by just asking priest. Many people I know who have been to such box or little confessing room for confession in Greko Catolic church find it a more frightening thing - in the dark without a cross, Gospel, icon - without actual interaction of priest placing epitracl on shoulders. These latter things are helpful for me - less frightening than in dark little room for many.

It is of http://content.foto.mail.ru/mail/sergetru/654/i-760.jpg

http://obozrevatel.com/files/NewsPhoto/2008/04/18/232178/82114_image_large.jpg
 
Many people I know who have been to such box or little confessing room for confession in Greko Catolic church find it a more frightening thing - in the dark without a cross, Gospel, icon - without actual interaction of priest placing epitracl on shoulders.
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I’ve not seen a Greek Cattholic Church in the US that uses confessional booths. (I’m not saying there aren’t any.)
 
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