Entitled to Confession? Someone was angrily shouting in Church, before Mass

[EasterJoy]

This makes me think of something I read on this site (with regard to the scrupulous, I believe) that said if a person were to die (even in a state of mortal sin) with the PLAN of going to confession, he will be forgiven.

Do you guys think that’s true?

Yes… it is enough to have given the need to confess a high priority, even if you had no way of acting on your desire before death.

There is also such a thing as hypochondria of the soul, which is its own affliction.

Priests can have legitimate reasons other than that for turning away penitents. Exhaustion can be one of them. I’m not defending sloth or attempting to excuse spiritual faults, but simply saying that priests who recognize their own real human limitations and respect them will keep no one out of heaven. They are supposed to do that. Jesus could never be everywhere that people wanted him to be. He did not heal every single person that wanted to come in his direction for healing. It is God’s intention that priests share Our Lord’s human limitations. Human limitation, when it is God-given, is a holy thing in a priest. It is wrong not to respect it.

Still, I know priests who do not want to go before the Judgment Seat as the guy who didn’t have time for a penitent, or didn’t try to convince sinners to avail themselves of the Sacrament of Penance. Calling sinners to repentance is one of the most vital parts of their call.

Having said that, I hope the poor man got over whatever it was that allowed him to yell in that manner. It could have been as simple as overreacting because he felt guilty and frustrated because his wife wanted to get there earlier and he assured her that there was never a line. They may have been delayed because they had gotten some terrible news, and he was not used to being so late. One can never tell. It is actually very odd for someone headed to confession to be so abrasive, so I would guess that there is much more than meets the eye.

 

[BriarRose]

Just wanted to thank you all again for the words of wisdom, experience & encouragement. Not only did you take the time to read my original post, but also provided such thoughtful inspiring replies. Some of you even shared your own questions.

I have since learned that the very next day, this couple received our Lord in Holy Communion. So, our priests followed through… and so did the fellow & his wife!

 

[aspirant]

I have since learned that the very next day, this couple received our Lord in Holy Communion. So, our priests followed through… and so did the fellow & his wife!

Awesome. Thank you for sharing that!

 

[Middleman]

The man described in the opening post sounded mentally ill. His outburst just didn’t make any sense, either religiously or logically.

My guess is that he is having marriage problems and is a tyrant to his wife and family, The OP says that his WIFE needed confession, according this the words of this very troubled man.

Why would any husband do something so mortifying to his wife? Did he drag her to confession after an argument, to punish her like a naughty child? The described scene sounds like the tip of the iceberg to a very disturbing situation that the wife, unfortunately, finds herself in.

I hope someone can throw a life boat to that poor woman.

 

[pollylodges]

Whoops! Wrong thread, sorry.

 

[englishredrose]

Hi everyone. Not sure if this very long post should go here, in Liturgy and Sacraments, or perhaps somewhere in Catholic Living. I witnessed an altercation today, just before Mass. It’s weighing on my heart & I don’t shock easy. Some elderly & handicapped folks, who often sit at the back of our Church, were very upset by this. Turning to you for some answers.

First- some background. Our Pastor came from another country, learned English & has accomplished so much. In just a few years, he’s managed to sell the original church building, construct a new, much larger one, start all sorts of ministries… the list goes on & on. So many Catholics have come Home! Still, he’s only 1 person & can only do so much. Our local population skyrocketed. It’s estimated that in our Diocese, there are nearly 2,500 Catholics per Priest. 3 retired Priests volunteer to assist, but the work load for Father must be tremendous. Even so, he remains ever cheerful & compassionate.

Now for today- Normal hours for Reconciliation are 3-3:30 PM Saturdays, with evening hours added during Advent & Lent. Reconciliation is followed by 4 PM Mass. After that, there’s Divine Mercy in the Chapel. There are Saturday weddings, too. Today, 2 priests were hearing Confession. For privacy, I’ll call our Pastor Father A & the visiting Priest Father B.

Father A couldn’t stay the entire time. About 10 minutes before Reconciliation was to end, he was called out on an emergency. Those of us waiting by his room were asked to go to the other Confessional, which had about 5 people waiting. By 3:30, when Reconciliation ends, there were about 15 people waiting. Reconciliation was technically over, but by 3:45, dear Father B was still hearing Confessions. He was scheduled for Mass in 15 minutes.

At 3:50, I was in a back pew, silently praying the Rosary. A disgruntled man entered the Church with his wife & 2-3 year old child. He stood outside Father B’s Confessional door, near the Font. An elderly volunteer did his best to explain that Reconciliation was over @ 3:30. When questioned more, he explained Father B was hearing the Confessions of those who had arrived by 3:30 & was covering for Father A, but also had to say Mass in 10 mintues. He advised the man to make an appointment for Confession at any time, tried to console him etc, but the guy grew louder & more frustrated. He began shouting at this older fellow, there in Church:

"… Don’t care what time it is! This is Lent & that Priest pointing to Confessional is going to stay in there until my wife’s Confession is heard! If she can’t have hers, I refuse mine! I’m staying right here & he will hear my wife’s Confession! If he refuses now, well he’d better do it after Mass. By not letting her in, he is denying my wife her absolution & today’s Communion! We are owed & entitled to this! I have a right… "

Father B wasn’t refusing anything. He had remained in the Confessional since 3 PM. One lady sitting nearby is the elderly sister of a deceased Priest. She was just so upset, her face was all red. I patted her hand, motioned to my Rosary. She nodded, then took out hers, silently praying for the man.

I just felt… so bad… for Father B, for whoever was in Confession with him, for Father A (who will probably get an earful), for the parishioners who were upset & for this yelling man, his wife & child.

After finishing the Rosary, I went for a quick trip to the ladies’ room. In my path, standing in the hall outside the doors, was the man with his arms crossed in front of him. I was thinking maybe a warm smile & hello might help soothe him. So, I softly smiled, nodding in greeting & said, “Hi.” He gave me such a hateful look.

Father B did say 4 PM Mass. Don’t know what happened after that- if the man & his wife’s Confessions were heard. He had complained that Lenten Confessions should begin earlier. But there are other things going on before 3 (weddings, etc.) & even if Reconciliation were scheduled earlier, this fellow would still have arrived late.

Thanks for reading all this & if you can, help me out.

Was it stupid to smile & greet the guy? He was in my path. Should I have ignored him? Do you think my greeting made him feel worse, rather than better?

More importantly, if the man complains, which is likely, will Father A or Father B get in some kind of trouble? Were he & his wife, as he said,* entitled* to Confession (& absolution) by Father B today, no matter the date or time?

I understand you guys have different rules but its a pity you can’t go any time. ie arrange an appoinment with the priest and that is all that is needed and then everyone be seen each week. If people were that bothered about getting their confession heard there lots of time through the week but of course you guys like it specifically before Mass don’t you and this puts pressure on all. Unlike us, we go via appointed time whenever we feel the need if we choose to use confession. Much less stress on the priest of hearing long queues and more commitment on us to decide to actually make the appointment as well as turning up. The priest wouldn’t be in this sticky situation on/off per se if people made their own appointments and can be seen any time the priest is available etc and not just before a mass.