Confession

[Laudem]

I’ve heard from a number of older Catholics, including priests, that confessions were far more frequent several decades ago, with confession lines being long and the priest having to spend much time in the confessional. Today, the number of Catholics lining up to receive this sacrament seems small in comparison.

Why is that, I wonder?

 

[deogratias]

How many times have you heard about what is sinful and what is not, about venial and mortal sin from the Ambo? Or about going to confesson?

That may be a clue.

 

[Pani_Rose]

AMEN!

I think another thing that occurs is people for whatever reason are not realizing the grace they receive from confession. Also, all too often, our Protestant brothers and sisters contradict Catholics when they state they need to go to confession, and people say well why not just ask forgivness myself then on my own. That is so sad. It is like a priest once told a young friend; you can chose to go to heaven in a Cadilac or a Chevrolet…very true words. Ultimatly, the world says we are not held accountalbe for things in life anymore, so we don’t hold oursleves accountalbe for our sins, we don’t understand the mystery of the damage done to the soul by sin. Like you said, if we are held accountable by our priests people will begin responding to their call.

Pani Rose

 

[aaron_brown99]

The NO Parish I attend in Denver has confessions every weekday morning, and on Saturday. It’s great to be able to go to work in the morning with a clean soul!!

There is also a FSSP Latin Mass Parish in South Denver that has confessions 30 minutes before each mass, every day!

It is sad to think that parishes like these with frequent confessions are so rare. Who 40 years ago would dream that Catholics would have to “parish shop” to find adequate access to the Sacraments?

 

[aquinasadmirer]

How can we encourage our priests to talk about this great sacrament more from the ambo?

I placed an anonymous note in the collection basket about a year ago:

"Dear Father,

Recently I have rediscovered the beauty and mercy of the sacrament of confession; please teach me more."

I haven’t heard much yet. Any other ideas?

 

[deogratias]

Aaron - must be Holy Ghost

 

[Pani_Rose]

How can we encourage our priests to talk about this great sacrament more from the ambo?

I would suggest finding others that feel the same, and then talking to him one on one each of you. If that doesn’t help then come together as a group and talk with him. Then there is always the bishop.

But, with everything do with prayer and supplication. For God knows the heart of his faithful and he will meet all of their needs, for the Watcher over Israel will not let your feet to stumble. He tells us in his Word that he goes before us to make the way. So when you get there, the work will already be done.

Pani Rose

 

[larryo]

What you’ve heard from older Catholics is true. I think the reason the importance of the sacrament of Penance has been downplayed is that many clergy have not emphasized the preaching of sion and damnation. When’s the last time you heard a homilist talk about mortal sins, the Devil, and the possibility of being condemned to hell? If you’re not told that your behavior is sinful, you’re going to *feel *that you’re a “good person,” that confession is not necessary, and that you’ve got a “get out of hell” card because your intentions are good. Unfortunately, for moral relativists, God hates sin and expects His human creatures to seek His forgiveness when they sin.

 

[Toni]

Funny thing happened and I am not sure when but suddenly no one sinned any longer and the need for confession became obsolete. NOT!! Or I have heard the catholic church contains no sinners. UGH!
I went to a polish church for mass a month ago and a whole section stayed kneeling when it was time to get up for communion. I looked at my sister and said look this Catholic church has sinners! Who would ever believe it. When I go to the parish for confession I know everyone in line and that should be rare in a parish of 3000 families.
:tsktsk: I think it might have something to do with the children not receiving confession till they are in 4th grade and the sacrament of communion in 2nd grade because someone told them they are to young to sin. UGH!
:banghead: Bad subject unfortunately I believe that sin has been watered down so much that people believe unless you kill someone you have no need for absolution!