Face to face Confession?

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JMJ

Face to face Confession?

Reconciliation is one of the most awesome gifts given to the Mother Church. I went to confession recently and was reminded of the personal nature of confession. I like confession face to face with the priest. Priests are our comforters and spiritual counselors. There isn’t too many situations were you can, on a one on one basis, meet with a priest. I know you can call and schedule an appointment with the parish to see a priest but for me, that seems more business like and is not the same experience.

Absolution is great but so is the needed comfort, support and advice that priests often times provide. I know a lot of people who don’t like to sit next to a priest during confession. I do it to take full advantage of the of the experience. I also like the personal closeness that I feel when a representative of our Church places his hand on my head while blessing me and granting absolution. I spoke to my mother about this and she finds it comforting when the priest holds her hand during confession…

Reconcile with God your Father often. Take advantage of one of many different and unique aspects of Catholicism that adds to the richness of our faith.

Yours in Christ,

Jimmy B
 
I think face to face confession is a great thing, and it better conveys the fullness of the sign/symbol of reconciliation. In that sense, I would compare it to receiving Holy Communion under both species. It is not required, nor is it necessary to validly and completely receive the sacrament, but it does add to the richness of the sign.

That being said, it should be emphasized that the Church does not require face to face confession. The Church does require the opportunity for penitents to confess anonymously. No one should be made to feel bad for confessing behind the screen. What is important is that they are there at all! What a tragedy it would be if someone were driven away from this great sacrament because they were to afraid to reveal themselves to the priest and were made to believe that anonymous confession was unacceptable.
 
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is not a confession of a laundry list of sins (kind and number) as was the general experience of penance in a dark confessional from which it sprang. I view it more as a sacramental counseling session where both Jesus and the Church are met face to face.
 
I understand that the option of confessing face to face or in private rests on the penitent. I know of a small church where no option is given. One is forced to go face to face. Can sombody provide me as to where it is written that the Church says there should be an option? Is it Canon Law?

Thanks
 
Funny, our parish, also in TX only offers the confessional. Face-to-face is only by appointment. Canon law says that a confessional must be made available and that the penitent always has the right to an anonymous confession. There is no corresponding “right” to a face-to-face confession although most priests will oblige you if you ask. Priests can also chose only to hear confessions in the confessional if they want to.

In the 70s many churches did away with the confessional. I tried face-to-face a few times and then didn’t go back for 24 years.

The applicable Canon is 964.

It is great that there is an option in most places.
 
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TobyLue:
I understand that the option of confessing face to face or in private rests on the penitent. I know of a small church where no option is given. One is forced to go face to face. Can sombody provide me as to where it is written that the Church says there should be an option? Is it Canon Law?

Thanks
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Can. 964 §1 The proper place for hearing sacramental confessions is a church or oratory.

§2 As far as the confessional is concerned, norms are to be issued by the Episcopal Conference, with the proviso however that confessionals, which the faithful who so wish may freely use, are located in an open place, and fitted with a fixed grille between the penitent and the confessor.
 
In the two parishes I frequent both face-to-face and behind the grille are available. I choose face-to-face when I really need to have a deeper discussion with the priest about my sins and when I really feel I need to experience the blessing of his hands upon my head during absolution. There is nothing like that behind the grille! It is very powerful and has a profound effect on my penance as well. It is very healing, going face-to-face. At first it is somewhat unnerving, but it is worth it, by all means. Face-to-face also causes me to feel the depth of my sin much more completely than behind the grille so I tend to show myself more often than remain anonymous. Thanks for the interesting question, jimmy b!
 
I don’t feel any different either way. I know it’s the same Jesus I am confessing to and He is there no matter which way I approach Him.
No preference- I am fine with either.
 
I could never see myself in face-to-face confession. My first time was behind the screen, and that is how I have done it since. I suppose I don’t want to see the priests face…I would rather imagine seeing God’s face. My daughter is a second grader and is making her first Reconciliation and Communion this year. She said she thinks they will be behind a screen too.
 
After 5 years as a catholic, I am finally becoming more comfortable in the confessional. My discomfort never kept me away from confession - but now, I spend more time in examination of conscience, and try to especially focus on confessing to JESUS. This makes either face to face or grille equal to me.

On the occasions that I want counsel I seek my spiritual advisor. The Holy Spirit works through them too.

Peace and all good ~
Ridesawhitehorse
 
I have done confession both ways, pre- and post- vatican two. One thing I learned from childhood…confession takes courage, and for some, face to face is even more daunting. A tradition in my family was to go to confession at another parish, that way if you were shy you were confessing to a stranger. Some folks like it that way and find it easier. I like doing it face to face with my current pastor, but if not, I would do the cross-parish-confession thing. Confession in any form is a much under-rated sacrament, and anything that can be done to encourage the practice is something I am in favor of. Ah, the sweet consolation of the forgivness of sins! What is not to like?
 
My parish offer both types of confession. I choose face to face.
 
4 marks:
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is not a confession of a laundry list of sins (kind and number) as was the general experience of penance in a dark confessional from which it sprang. I view it more as a sacramental counseling session where both Jesus and the Church are met face to face.
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Actually, mortal sins must be listed in kind and number.
 
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fix:
Actually, mortal sins must be listed in kind and number.
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I was imagining that 4 Marks meant that it is now so much more than the laundry list…
 
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Timidity:
I was imagining that 4 Marks meant that it is now so much more than the laundry list…
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I guess, but I have heard this remark before from “progressive” priests where no distinction is made and the priest clearly was bashing the “old rite”. It seems disingenuous at best.
 
JMJ
I know there are some who do not like “face-to-face” confession and I also know it is not by any means required. However; considering the following Canon Law, could there be instances where it might be helpful to the priest hearing ones confession?
The Code of Canon Law

Can. 959 In the sacrament of penance the faithful who confess their sins to a lawful minister, are sorry for those sins and have a purpose of amendment, receive from God, through the absolution given by that minister, forgiveness of sins they have committed after baptism, and at the same time they are reconciled with the Church, which by sinning they wounded.

**

Can. 978 §1 In hearing confessions the priest is to remember that he is at once both judge and healer, and that he is constituted by God as a minister of both divine justice and divine mercy, so that he may contribute to the honor of God and the salvation of souls

**

Can. 980 If the confessor is in no doubt about the penitent’s disposition and the penitent asks for absolution, it is not to be denied or delayed

Additionally; I would think situations described below, are usually “face-to-face” confessions.

Can.* 986 §2 In an urgent necessity, every confessor is bound to hear the confessions of Christ’s faithful, and in danger of death every priest is so obliged.*

**

Just food for thought.
Yours in Christ
 
4 marks:
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is not a confession of a laundry list of sins (kind and number) as was the general experience of penance in a dark confessional from which it sprang. I view it more as a sacramental counseling session where both Jesus and the Church are met face to face.
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Be careful, “The Sacrament of Reconciliation is not a confession of a laundry list of sins (kind and number) as was the general experience of penance in a dark confessional …”

That is not what the Church says about the manner of confessing in the current Rite of Reconciliation.
 
I like to go to Confession both ways….

For many years I went face-to-face and was fine w/ that. Then, for some reason or another, I started to go into the confessional…. I think I was on a retreat or something and that was the only option…don’t quite remember. Anyway, I found this to be awesome! No distraction …Just Me with my Lord…. In this quiet and darkness the true mystery of the Sacrament came alive for me!

Also, it is worth noting that I am phobic and find small spaces somewhat anxiety producing so this is a “special grace” for me to be able to find it so comfortable.

When I need further counseling, I go to my spiritual director.
 
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