Decreased Confessions

[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.

What is the reason for this unfortunate trend, I wonder?

 

[Faithful_2_Rome]

#1 Reason:

Because the Priests dont preach about Sin…(with a Capital “S”)in that they fail to discuss it in its “specificity”…they preach “general sin”…(small “s”) greed, lack of love for neighbor, etc… when they should be SPECIFIC about PERSONAL SIN…and Church Teaching and what it means to be OBEDIENT to that Teaching in areas of…Co habitating without marriage, pre marital sex, birth control, contraception, abortion, homosexuality, etc… Personal Sin has given way to General Sin in the Pulpit…therefore, people who dont research the Faith and solely rely on their pastors to feed them, fall in the so called “out of sight, out of mind” mentality when it comes to their Souls nourishment… its good to be FED…its even better to feed “yourself” (with KNOWLEDGE)

I go monthly, and with the rare exception of a few weeks ago when at least 10 people were in line…I havent seen more than 3 -4 folks when I show up…sometimes I see younger, mostly its older folks…I’m in my 30s …and generally the older folks are the ones who sin less…

 

[KCT]

Yep, there seems to be no mention of the need for confession. My mom, who was raised Catholic and had 12 years of Catholic education (in the 30’s and 40’s) commented once, “What do I have to confess?” The general Catholic population doesn’t know what mortal sin is or why it’s helpful to confess venial sins. —KCT

 

[Mary1973]

“I don’t have to go to confession. I tell Jesus my sins”. Who hasn’t heard that? Yeah, I do too but I also go to confession to get concrete absolution and the grace of the sacrament.

 

[DrCat]

KCT:

Yep, there seems to be no mention of the need for confession. My mom, who was raised Catholic and had 12 years of Catholic education (in the 30’s and 40’s) commented once, “What do I have to confess?” The general Catholic population doesn’t know what mortal sin is or why it’s helpful to confess venial sins. —KCT

Last Sunday a visiting priest from Spain gave the Mass in my chapel. Almost the entire sermon was about the importance of confession.

Loved that sermon.

John

 

[JimG]

Well, I can recall in my long lost youth going to confession every Saturday afternoon. There were 3 priests, and the lines were long.

Now, maybe we were more scrupulous then, or maybe we were more honest.

Today, I think, there is a loss of the sense of sin, of what is right and wrong. After all, some on this forum have pointed out that 50-70% of Catholic engaged couples are cohabiting. And you don’t find too many unmarried persons with no sexual experience any more. People dabble in, or are addicted to, internet porn and see nothing wrong with it. Or with contraception. Or with missing Mass on Sunday. Or with gossip, or hurtful speech. And no confession lines?

Better stop; I am beginning to sound crotchety myself.

JimG

 

[BLB_Oregon]

I thought it originally had to do with a renewed appreciation of the efficacy of the Penitential Rite. In other words, if you tell people they have to go to confession every Saturday, what is the Penitential Rite in there for on Sunday? In the early church, after all, the use of the sacrament was rare and reserved for grave sins. People might never go to confession in their entire lifetimes.

I asked one of my relatives (my mom’s age) if she went to confession. She said, “Oh, no, dear, I don’t think anybody goes to confession anymore.” I said, “Oh, sure we do. You ought to come back.”

If people don’t go to confession at our parish, it is not for lack of encouragement. The homily is used often to issue invitations.