Discuss: Confession Face to Face: Bad Idea?

[maltmom]

Several priests (or one) will do a para-liturgical event where readings are done and there might be a short homily, then there is made time for private confessions after a public “confession.” Only the private confession is sacramental, however.

Thank you

 

[MSSheBear]

YoungTradCath: Thank you for the explanation you gave. I couldn’t have said it that well myself. Yes, I find the Reconciliation Services convenient but they are only twice a year. Unfortunately, our one priest is very busy and a very reliable source said he is hard to get a hold of. The whole thing makes me very nervous so I would hesitate to try and set up an appointment without a pressing need. I have considered trying another parish but I am reluctant to do that.

 

[catholicanne]

The church I work at (a progressive church) only offers reconciliation from 4-4:30 on Saturdays and usually no one shows up. When they do show up they are taken to a small room right off the main church where there are two white plush arm chairs and a small coffee table in between. I was told that they believe reconciliation should feel like a conversation with a good friend so they have nothing traditional in that room.

The church I attend (a traditional church) has reconciliation daily from 11am-12pm. They have the “old school” confessionals where you have to kneel and slide a partition back to speak to the priest. People show up every single day of the week and there is usually a long line on Saturdays.

 

[Irishgal49]

wdtprs.com/blog/2012/10/quaeritur-face-to-face-confession-fr-z-rants/

Go read the article and let’s discuss it here. He takes a very interesting point with the problems of face to face confession:

Let’s have at it?

I have a priest that after you make your act of contrition lays his hands on your head and gives you absolution. I really wasn’t sure how I would feel about it but I found I like it. I feel like the absolution is more direct–not sure how to verbalize it but I liked it better. Our priest has been a priest for 37 years so he’s been doing this for quite some time.

 

[anilorak13ska]

I grew up with the private confession box and I prefer it that way. The priest is to represent Jesus, and I can remember that more easily when I’m not looking at a human being talking to me. At a retreat once, I had no choice but to confess in a room, with the set up being like counseling, two chairs. I couldn’t do it, it didn’t feel like confession. I asked the priest if I could kneel and I did, closed my eyes, and ignored the totally un-sacramental feel of the set-up.

 

[EasterJoy]

The parish where I go has confessionals in which either is possible, and no one but the priest would know which you chose. He’s behind a screen, with the screen on his left and a kneeler for the penitent beyond that (nearest to the door), but he also has an empty chair for the pentitent placed directly in front of him, but not behind the screen. You come in and choose, and if you choose not to go face-to-face, he’d never see you.

I’ve gone face-to-face many times, and I’ve never had a priest touch me during confession.

 

[g_ncl]

I’ll put a different “spiel” on all this:

Confession for me is a profound and very special encounter, in which I meet the merciful God, with whom I reconcile by confessing my sins, with the help of a priest who accompanies me and helps me during this encounter. I look forward to these occasions and experience them as joyful. I am not afraid, nervous or humiliated. I receive it as a gift from God. I confess face to face. If you confess in a confessional and have the same experience then it’s the right way for you. I never have this kind of experience in a confessional, so I only use it in an emergency.