My first confession in the early 1970’s was face-to-face, on the alter in front of the whole congregation. I suppose my youthful shyness played a part, but I found the experience absolutely terrifying. And therefore, like the sensitive soul quoted above, my second confession was almost decades later (around 1988), and my first experience in an actual confessional was only recently, and it was face-to-face at my option. I am almost ashamed to admit that as a man of 43 years old I have only received the sacrament of reconciliation three times.
I completely disagree. We are talking about first confessions. In my parish, that means kids are about 7-8 years old. I don’t know of any child that age who would prefer to talk to a screen (mysterious and scary) rather than a person (normal and comfortable).
Can you provide me with proof of what you are saying? I’m not doubting you but would like something that I can present to the DRE because she is going to be issuing “certificates” to those that have gone to confession.
There is no rule that they must make their first confessions with a class. Find an orthodox priest, ask him to do it and have him provide a letter that it was done.
My granddaughter is 7 (and a half) and wants her first confession in January in “the closet” (traditional confessional).And she shall have it!I completely disagree. We are talking about first confessions. In my parish, that means kids are about 7-8 years old. I don’t know of any child that age who would prefer to talk to a screen (mysterious and scary) rather than a person (normal and comfortable).
Obviously, our respective positions are based on our individual experiences as children. We’ll have to agree to disagree.
I used to teach the sacrament prep class and it didn’t have any thing to do with embarrassment. We really stressed the fact that the priest was acting in persona Christi during Confession. The books even show a picture of Jesus superimposed over the priest who is hearing the confession. It was just easier for the kids to picture Jesus instead of Father Bob if they can’t see Father Bob’s face. We do not have the face-to-face option for kids or adults at our parish.
At my former parish they replaced the traditional confessionals, which had a curtain and worked both ways, with glass confessionals. The same thing happened. You used to have to get there right at 4 pm to get any chance of getting a turn before Confession time ended at 5. Now you can walk in almost anytime between 4 and 5 and there is no waiting.And, just recently he has removed the screen in the confessional all together - now the only option for everyone is face-to-face. The saddest part - in our very huge parish he commented that he averages one or two people a week. So in the end, this probably doesn’t matter much to most people, but for the wrong reason.
How would that fulfill the canon law requirements of a fixed grille and the penitent’s right to an anonymous confession?
This is what we do. All the kids see the inside of the confessional and get to scope out where the Act of Contrition is posted. We even open the dividing door and show them where Father will be sitting. Most of the kids have never seen this until a few weeks before the scheduled date and they really enjoy being “in” on it as a sign of their being more grown up.
in your first post you said you got a letter.
I was definitely one who always preferred an anonymous confession, even as a child of 7 or 8 (I think I said as much in my earlier post).I completely disagree. We are talking about first confessions. In my parish, that means kids are about 7-8 years old. I don’t know of any child that age who would prefer to talk to a screen (mysterious and scary) rather than a person (normal and comfortable).
Obviously, our respective positions are based on our individual experiences as children. We’ll have to agree to disagree.
I don’t know if you have ever obtained a Baptism certificate from a parish. All the Sacraments received are listed on the back with their dates, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Ordination, and even at the bottom Religious Profession.
My daughters prefer anonymity as well. My old parish made them do face-to face for first confession. My daughter didn’t want to, I thought it was stupid, but I didn’t know then what I do now. I also didn’t realize the setup until that day. Taht also didn’t let them choose their priest.
I remember similar words when I made my first confession in the early 80s…we were told “your confession WILL be with Msgr. X and you WILL sit in a chair in front of him.” I didn’t know churches actually still had confessionals with screens until years later.
I’d cause a ruckus and go over to the office waving my documentation.My first confession was at about age 7 and I probably confessed not listening to my mom and not doing my homework on time…and maybe stepping on ants. I was ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED. It was not a positive experience to do it face to face.I completely disagree. We are talking about first confessions. In my parish, that means kids are about 7-8 years old. I don’t know of any child that age who would prefer to talk to a screen (mysterious and scary) rather than a person (normal and comfortable).
Obviously, our respective positions are based on our individual experiences as children. We’ll have to agree to disagree.
Puzzleannie, I would love this to be true but I’m not sure. I did my first confession in the Houston diocese relatively near you, and there is still a record of it in that parish to this day. In fact I had to have that record printed before my wedding, and again for my annulment paperwork. There is a certificate at the church showing the celebrant of the sacrament and the date, and for my marriage and annulment it had to be typed onto the back of my babtismal certificate.
Good grief. If accurate, that seems outrageous to me. There should be no record of first confessions, second confessions, or 5,387th confessions.