confession

[Monica37]

I have a question that I am asking in this forum for a reason that will become clear as I relate the background info. So here goes…
My 17 yr old niece is staying with me. She has gotten into quite a bit of trouble back home and we are trying to help her see a better future. She was baptized Catholic because my brother was Catholic and his wife was not attending any church. My brother was not a practicing Catholic and died 6 years ago (as an aside, please pray for him and all who have died in that state). So, my niece has not attended church, much less Mass hardly at all. I attend a TLM here and when she did attend back home, it was at my mom’s church which is also a TLM (God love her she didn’t even know that there were Masses in English!). Anyway, I have not forced her to attend here yet, please don’t flame me, there is much work to be done, but I take every opportunity to talk about Christ and the Church that come up. The area that she seems to be the most curious about is confession. I have explained in detail the need for it, the power of it, the gift it is, and especially the sacredness of it. I have explained to her that the priest can not and will not disclose anything and explained the need to confess out loud and to a priest. So, here is my question, she doesn’t want to stay here any longer that she has to (goals set by her mother before she gets a plane ticket home) so if she decides that she would like to make a confession here (maybe the distance from the priest who hears her confession is a comfort to her) what would she be required to do? This would be her first confession. I am hoping if she can make a full and good confession, she may experience the healing power of it and want to maintain that in her life when she does leave. Suggestions? Again, I know I should be forcing her to attend but I am moving very cautiously and want her to come to the church because she desires it so please don’t yell at me for that or act like I don’t know that I am wrong on that issue, ok? Thanks so much

 

[Catholig]

Don’t you have to have gone through so much training first?

Catholig

 

[LilyM]

Well most kids make their first confession shortly before receiving their first communion, so you don’t need a great deal of instruction to receive the sacrament.

I’m sure the priest could explain the procedure and significance of it to her privately - if she wants to remain anonymous it could even all be done in the confessional, though a prior explanation and request would need to be made - possibly an appointment scheduled if it’s likely to take a while.

 

[Malcolm_McLean]

So, here is my question, she doesn’t want to stay here any longer that she has to (goals set by her mother before she gets a plane ticket home) so if she decides that she would like to make a confession here (maybe the distance from the priest who hears her confession is a comfort to her) what would she be required to do? This would be her first confession.

The conventional post-Vatican II wisdom is that she should see a priest for a prvate conversation. I’m not so sure. I think there was something to be said for the tradition that the priest heard your sins from behind a screen and gave the penance, not tryng to offer advice or counselling.