Confessional vs Face to Face Confession

[WanderAimlessly]

I am one of those who refuse to do face to face confessions. In fact, there was a Cluster Reconciliation with individual confessions at the parish I was at in the Philadelphia area and they were not using the confessionals. When I saw that, I walked out and went to a near by parish that was doing the same thing and were using the confessionals

 

[Pious_Mat]

Many people consider the “box” to be older, and the “screen” to be newer, however, both are quite common, and the screen is a great solution to those who don’t like small, dark places. In fact, Padre Pio’s confessional was wide-open, employing the “screen” method.

 

[LilyM]

Many people consider the “box” to be older, and the “screen” to be newer, however, both are quite common, and the screen is a great solution to those who don’t like small, dark places. In fact, Padre Pio’s confessional was wide-open, employing the “screen” method.

Amen! I get a bit claustrophobic in tiny confessional boxes, so much prefer a larger one with the screen option. I suppose I could just offer it up as part of the penance

 

[Vittorio23]

My home parish has a confessional and this is the only thing used during regularly scheduled confession times. If one wanted to schedule an appointment, face to face can be arranged. Also, if it’s a reconciliation service, face to face is used (although the confessional is also in use for those who want it) because there are a few stations set up.

Here at school we have the main Church and the chapel, both of which have confessions at different times during the week. In the main Church there is are a few traditional confessionals with one side being a screen and the other being open for face to face. At the chapel there is a reconciliation room where one can either go annonymously with a makeshift screen, or step around to an arm chair facing the priest.

Personally, I don’t mind either way, really. 'Cause even when I go face to face, I am usually looking down at the ground and the priest usually does not attempt to make eye contact. I’d say that I slightly prefer annonymous for the reason that I am able to kneel during confession, which helps me. But, I can do either way.

 

[RAGGANDI]

My home parish’s confessionals have two doors–one says face to face and the other says private. You can choose whichever you prefer. I’m with those who prefer face to face. I don’t know why it is, but I always cry more and feel more penitent when I am face to face. Maybe I feel more “face-to-face” with my sins than if I were speaking to a screen?

 

[preV2tradcath]

Being the traditional Catholic that I am, I prefer the confessional. There have been times when I have gone face to face. I have also been on traditional pilgrimages where the priest and I were walking side by side as he heard my confession.

 

[thomasf]

I am thankful that we have both. Our confessionals offer a screened room and a face to face opportunity. The priest sits in the middle. To go to the screened room, you take the door on the right. To go face to face you take the door on the left. We also have a good priest so i feel comfortable going to either side.

 

[fbl9]

My home parish’s confessionals have two doors–one says face to face and the other says private. You can choose whichever you prefer. I’m with those who prefer face to face. I don’t know why it is, but I always cry more and feel more penitent when I am face to face. Maybe I feel more “face-to-face” with my sins than if I were speaking to a screen?

i do feel i cry more in face to face also.for me it is the priest showing me the face of Christ. in my small parishes one preist for 6 churches, our priest could most likey know who was speaking to him without seeing the person.maybe i like ftf confession better because that is how i saw the face of Christ for the first time in my life. God’s mercy shown unto me in a human face.

 

[scylla]

The most difficult confession I made was a general confession with a very traditional priest in the most traditional parish in my diocese. It was very good, yet difficult to do. This was done face to face and I will confess face to face as we should confess as much as possible.

Unfortunately I would have rather done it kneeling in a confessional but due to the circumstances it was done face to face. It is a matter of preference but to me it seems much more appropriate to kneel in recognition of the presence of Christ there, and to show the gravity of our sins.

It is a matter of preference, unfortunately some of the priests these days have some sort of weird thinking that everything old is bad, so in my parish some just sit in a pew waiting for confession.

God Bless
Scylla

 

[CB_Catholic]

While I would prefer to be anonymous, I go face-to-face because I find it is more humbling, which for me, is more beneficial spiritually. I find great benefit in acknowledging my sins to another human being (and yes, I know the priest is acting in the person of Christ). My psychology is such that I would rather hide behind things or pretend they don’t exist, and I have found face-to-face Confession helpful in overcoming this tendency. I may not like it, but I do it anyway, because I think God would prefer that I learn to be more open. And there definitely is something to be said for looking directly into the priest’s eyes and seeing Christ in them, while receiving absolution. I’ve never had a priest look at the floor while I am confessing, they’ve always made eye contact, and seemed to be truly listening. And for some reason, I always cry.