Confessional Ettiquete

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Carolyn_Lee

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An acquaintance asked me what I told the priest and then changed the question to what the priest told me. Has this ever happened to you?
 
No, but it’s possible your friend simply doesn’t understand why that’s a weird question. It’s also possible that they’re just asking how confession works in general. You could always say something like, “well, we don’t really go into specifics outside the confessional, but the process normally goes like this…”
 
these days, it’s easier and easier to eavesdrop on what is said in confession using electronic means.

Our new pastor has a white noise machine outside the confessional to prevent words from flying around.
 
I was also thinking along the same lines. The person might want information about the Sacrament of Reconciliation, but didn’t know how to ask. While it is important to stress the confidentiality of the Confessional, it is also important to talk about the grace of the Sacrament itself.
 
It has happened to me. The person asking was genuinely interested in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I didn’t give actual personal details but explained what happened briefly and then answered specific questions. The person concerned didn’t ask personal information but had that happened, I would have moved it to a generic answer or said that the level of detail was private and personal.
 
EWTN’s Fr Wade Menezes gave an answer on his radio program and he said that a penitent does not have to be too graphic about sins, to avoid tempting the priest to fall into sin, himself.
 
Yes it’s happened to me but only by someone who doesnt know anything about the faith or confession, so I just make a joke of it. I dont recall what I said but probably not what was actually said at least not exactly. I think it is natural to be curious about confession as this weird catholic thing that we do… so just start saying something about what kind of thing we are meant to be doing ie. the general idea. I might tell them what they initially wanted to know, ie what I told the priest but in general terms, like : I tell the priest my sins, so what I have been getting wrong in my life, why I think they are wrong and if I have been trying anything to fix that and if it’s been working at all, not at all or sometimes. Then he will likely give me advice and/or encouragement. Sometimes he has suggested spiritual readings/psalms etc. Then he absolves my sins and gives me my penance.
 
My Mom may have asked what sort of penance I was given, back in the day.
 
Seems as if we live in a “tell all” culture. Everyone wants to know everyone else’s business. They don’t respect privacy any more.
 
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