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JanR
Guest
Of course, the whole problem could be lessened if people were just more considerate of others.
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Irishmom2
Guest
Perhaps they had an appointment with the priest and he said to meet at church. If it was over when confession was supposed to begin, then it doesn’t really matter. 
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woolycaterpillar
Guest
Gossip? Shoplifting? Fighting with their kids?
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Mi_Rose
Guest
Little old ladies confess the same sins over and over and over again,just like everyone else. Also as people get closer to the end they see more clearly how even small things offend God. A priest who heard the confessions of retired nuns said it was like shooing away gnats.
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Windmill
Guest
Why not send an email to the priest bringing up your concern with how long it takes for a handful of penitents to have their confessions heard?
If the problem is with penitents, then your letter may give the priest an excuse to preach about proper confession etiquette. You might also offer the priest a link to a good examination of conscience that gives proper instruction on making a good, but efficient, confession and have this available for people in the confession line. Maybe suggest the priest put a link on the parish website to this examination of conscience.
If the problem is with the priest, he may not realize how long he is taking and how his choices of counsel in the confessional are impacting his parishioners still waiting in line.
Communication is not as complicated as people make it out to be.
If the problem is with penitents, then your letter may give the priest an excuse to preach about proper confession etiquette. You might also offer the priest a link to a good examination of conscience that gives proper instruction on making a good, but efficient, confession and have this available for people in the confession line. Maybe suggest the priest put a link on the parish website to this examination of conscience.
If the problem is with the priest, he may not realize how long he is taking and how his choices of counsel in the confessional are impacting his parishioners still waiting in line.
Communication is not as complicated as people make it out to be.
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whatistrue
Guest
Consider that many gray-haired grannies these days are products of the 60s - Woodstock, free love, recreational pharmaceuticals, hippie communes, etc. - and just let your mind take it from there. That’s why I said probably better not to know.
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Gorgias
Guest
Nope. If you did that, you would literally be requiring those who have grave sin or a greater number of sins to “out” themselves by standing in the “big sinner” line. Not cool.
“Being pelted with marshmallows” is another way I’ve heard it described…
“Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity—greedy, dishonest, adulterous—or even like this tax collector.’” (Luke 18:10-11)
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JW55
Guest
People sometimes confuse or try to combine confession and counseling into a confession.
Spiritual counseling should be done by appt, so as to allow for sufficient time for the priest or monk to assess, ask questions and give you the best advise to alter your situation .
Confession is just basically, identifying what you did and how many times without attempts to basically justify your actions, as was identified earlier.
Spiritual counseling should be done by appt, so as to allow for sufficient time for the priest or monk to assess, ask questions and give you the best advise to alter your situation .
Confession is just basically, identifying what you did and how many times without attempts to basically justify your actions, as was identified earlier.
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Tommy999
Guest
I’ll take your word for it, although I don’t understand why a grave sin has to take a long time to confess. Can’t those also be quick if the penitent sticks to the essentials and the priest does likewise?
Of course, if the priest is led by the Holy Spirit to counsel or extend the session for some reason, the penitent shouldn’t be kicked out by a time clock violation.
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JanR
Guest
I guess we all just have to be patient, and trust that God understands – because he does.
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Irishmom2
Guest
I doubt they are confessing what they did in the 60s now…
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pnewton
Guest
I do not know that I would ever want to tell a priest how he should hear confessions, or what confession “should” be. I understand where a concern might be pointed out, but unless one has more training and experience in the matter, it would be like thinking one has the right to tell Tom Brady what plays he should have called.
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Gorgias
Guest
At the very least, you’d be setting up a standard that says “if you have little to confess, then go here, but if you have lots to confess, go over there.” That’s what is bad about the idea – you’re asking penitents to publicly ‘out’ themselves.
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babochka
Guest
It seems as if you are telling priests how to hear confessions. If priests choose to offer some spiritual counsel or direction during confessions, it is entirely appropriate and at their discretion. If penitents come to confession seeking such spiritual counsel, it is because they have become accustomed to it, thanks to those priests who generously offer it in the confessional.
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SPONP4US
Guest
I think anyone standing in line for a rediculous amount of time, knowing others will never even get a chance to confess having waited even longer, has a right to an opinion. Just for the record.
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JW55
Guest
I am not “telling” priests anything or any other individual making a confession how to do it. That is at the discretion of the individual priest. I am sharing what has been my experience. I at one time asked our priest about guidelines because I felt I might be sharing more than I needed to or was necessary and I didn’t want to take time away from others. He Was kind enough to identify what is the normal protocol of a confession to me.He just simply distinguished the difference between counseling and confession. No harm. no foul.
I am not chastising anyone and I am certainly glad that priests are willing to take the time for confessions as well as counseling. If a priest feels the need to counsel during a confession, that is his prerogative.
The written word unfortunately doesn’t always convey 100% understanding to all readers. I think you have read far more into what I said than was my intention. I don’t speak for priests or anyone else. However, I took this particular priest’s direction and help to define the difference for me . Did he say a person can’t be counseled during confession? NO. Does he counsel at times during Confession ? YES.
He related they are normally two different activities. A separate session dedicated to particular issues tend to be more helpful. Hope this helps you clarify my previous post.
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JanR
Guest
God particularly looks after the “clueless” folks. There’s an old adage that says God takes extra care in looking after children, drunks and fools. I guess “clueless” could be categorized among the third group. LOL!
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babochka
Guest
Thank you for the clarification. I do now understand what you are saying.babochka:
I am not “telling” priests anything or any other individual making a confession how to do it. That is at the discretion of the individual priest. I am sharing what has been my experience. I at one time asked our priest about guidelines because I felt I might be sharing more than I needed to or was necessary and I didn’t want to take time away from others. He Was kind enough to identify what is the normal protocol of a confession to me.He just simply distinguished the difference between counseling and confession. No harm. no foul.
I am not chastising anyone and I am certainly glad that priests are willing to take the time for confessions as well as counseling. If a priest feels the need to counsel during a confession, that is his prerogative.
The written word unfortunately doesn’t always convey 100% understanding to all readers. I think you have read far more into what I said than was my intention. I don’t speak for priests or anyone else. However, I took this particular priest’s direction and help to define the difference for me . Did he say a person can’t be counseled during confession? NO. Does he counsel at times during Confession ? YES.
He related they are normally two different activities. A separate session dedicated to particular issues tend to be more helpful. Hope this helps you clarify my previous post.
I was reacting particularly to the word “should” in your statement:
It has been my experience that the length of the confession is almost always guided by the priest and it is the priest who offers the spiritual counseling (or not). I welcome that counsel and seek out priests who are more inclined to offer it, so when you wrote that “people sometimes confuse or try to combine confession and spiritual counseling into a confession”, I assumed that “people” refers to priests.
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JW55
Guest
I was not referring to priests. I was referring to laity. I admit My command of the English language is not scholarly nor am I a master of it, so possible my narrative could be misunderstood. However, it would indeed be egocentric of me to assume any priest would think “I should get on CAF and find a random poster who can tell me how to conduct a confession.”
I have in the past found myself during confession elaborating on details. In my mind I questioned if I should be doing this and did some reading and then talked to my priest to seek further clarification. He basically said confession by the numbers consists of identifying the sin, state how many times if you know, don’t make excuses and ask for forgiveness. He went on to say In-depth issues are better dealt with in counseling. However, he never failed to offer counseling during confession to me prior to my asking nor discouraged my comments. It was my concern that I wasn’t following how it should be done and I Felt I was imposing on others time
. We are fortunate at our parish, numerous opportunities are available for confession so lines are usually not lengthy. This priest has always to my knowledge provided counsel during confession if someone wanted it.
At a previous parish, we normally had 15 minutes if we were lucky, before Mass unless you made an appointment.
I have in the past found myself during confession elaborating on details. In my mind I questioned if I should be doing this and did some reading and then talked to my priest to seek further clarification. He basically said confession by the numbers consists of identifying the sin, state how many times if you know, don’t make excuses and ask for forgiveness. He went on to say In-depth issues are better dealt with in counseling. However, he never failed to offer counseling during confession to me prior to my asking nor discouraged my comments. It was my concern that I wasn’t following how it should be done and I Felt I was imposing on others time
. We are fortunate at our parish, numerous opportunities are available for confession so lines are usually not lengthy. This priest has always to my knowledge provided counsel during confession if someone wanted it.
At a previous parish, we normally had 15 minutes if we were lucky, before Mass unless you made an appointment.
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AHapka
Guest
I had to wait in a long line this past Saturday. I pulled out my phone and looked at an examination of conscience website. And waited. If I was bold enough to pierce God’s heart by committing mortal sin, I can certainly deal with waiting in line for confession. I didn’t like it, but if it’s of value it’s worth waiting for.
If one of those people got in a car crash after leaving Church and died, then all of the waiting is worth it.
If it is getting really close to Mass time, I will say something like “you have three more.” Just as a courtesy.
If one of those people got in a car crash after leaving Church and died, then all of the waiting is worth it.
If it is getting really close to Mass time, I will say something like “you have three more.” Just as a courtesy.
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