Face to face confession

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I went to a retreat this weekend and had a chance to have a face-to-face confession for the first time.

For a long time, I had thought it was tough to do face-to-face confession…I think I was wrong; I now want to have face-to-face confession instead of kneeling behind a curtain. I wish I could’ve talked with the priest all about my life but there were many people waiting in line.

At one point, the priest and I were laughing and happy about one issue - it was something that we both knew for sure God had wanted something from me. 🙂

It was such a great experience for me.
PS: this was also my first retreat in the U.S. as well. The last time I went to was when I was still a little kid. I am ready for the next retreat. 🙂
 
You know I thought it was scary also, until I did it and when I did I made one of the best confessions I have ever made. I came clean about mortal sin I had been carrying around for years, right there face to face…no where to hide anymore:eek: . It was one of the best experiences of my life:extrahappy: :signofcross: all glory to God.

I fell in love with the sacrament of reconciliation after that:love: ❤️ , no fear just great love and appreciation that I am able to receive forgiveness and be cleansed of my sins!!!
 
I thought it would be scary too. But my 1st confession was face to face and I thought it was wonderful. Our priest is a wonderful confesor and to be honest I love going!
 
I like going face to face, too. I think I was a little kid last time I went behind the curtain.

The last time I went, I opened the door to see my pastor sitting there, welcoming me with a smile. It was not difficult to feel the presence of Jesus there. 👍

Like Lexee, one of the best experiences in my life - a real turning point - was a face to face confession where I had several mortal sins to confess. (It had been quite a while).

Confession is awesome!
 
I’ve always confessed face-to-face. 🙂
How awesome to be part of a retreat! I haven’t been to one in a long time.
 
I liked face to face until I got a priest who would not look at me. I realized then how hard it must be on a priest. It should be the priest choice too.
 
adrift said:
I liked face to face until I got a priest who would not look at me. I realized then how hard it must be on a priest. It should be the priest choice too.
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You know, I never thought about that, but thinking back to my 1st confession in March, my priest did look down several times. I’m sure its hard on them, too.
 
It is the priest who has the right to decide whether or not to offer face-to-face confession. According to canon law, confession behind the screen must always be available (sorry, I don’t have a citation). I’m sure you can understand the need for the priest to protect himself from accusations of impropriety that might arise from the situation of face-to-face confession.

Betsy
 
I go face-to-face exclusively, and it’s been my experience that a priest will almost always look down while the penitent is confessing. So I don’t think it’s personal thing against you. I have speculated to myself that they are taught to do this because it gives a feeling of the priest’s humility. Also, we all know how difficult confession can be sometimes, and it helps if we are not being “looked at” while baring our soul.
 
I do prefer face-to-face myself, though there have been some experiences in the past where I felt like it was more of a psycho-babble counseling session than the confessional. One priest in particular was extremely chatty, and would not even allow me to begin with “bless me Father, for I have sinned”. It was most disturbing. He said, “oh, just tell me what’s bothering you, no pressure.” :rolleyes:

That being said, I still do prefer face-to-face. Especially if you have a priest who will place his hands on your head when reciting the (oh, darn it, what is it called!!!???) when he forgives your sins at the end. Duh - this cold has my brain frozen today. 😊

Anyway, I always am broken down to tears when they do that. Something about that human touch that just brings me to tears.

~Liza
 
jpjd said:
I go face-to-face exclusively, and it’s been my experience that a priest will almost always look down while the penitent is confessing. So I don’t think it’s personal thing against you. I have speculated to myself that they are taught to do this because it gives a feeling of the priest’s humility. Also, we all know how difficult confession can be sometimes, and it helps if we are not being “looked at” while baring our soul.
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It wasn’t that he looked down he never looked at me even when he gave absolution. It was very uncomfortable. He is the only priest that ever did this and it left an impression. Although the penitent has the right to a screen I do not know if the priest has the right to only this way.
 
ABSOLUTION!!! :newidea: That’s the word my brain would not come up with !!!:blushing:

~Liza
 
AngelRose81 said:
I thought it would be scary too. But my 1st confession was face to face and I thought it was wonderful. Our priest is a wonderful confesor and to be honest I love going!
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Ditto, and for the same reason. Our pastor does face-to-face in his office by appointment, and behind a screen on Saturday afternoons. I’ve done both, but my first several confessions were face-to-face.

I also go to confession at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, and there it’s always in the booth. But that’s cool, too, 'cause the Fathers there are all great.

DaveBj
 
I have gone face to face with my confessor for about 8-9 years now. However since we have become very good friends I think it is time to find a new confessor. He will always be there to hear my confession but I have found a spiritual director many miles away that I will meet with now. I think it is for the best.
 
I grew up going to confession behind a screen, in a confessional, and prefer it still. With all the “lay involvement” now, parishioners’ relationships to pastors can be different from what they once were, particularly in a small parish. If, say, I am a member of a parish council or committee and, in effect, “do business” for and with the pastor, I just think it’s uncomfortable to go to confession to him face-to-face.

A retreat where you don’t know the priests personally, that’s different.

I know this next thing is off topic, but I really don’t like it when the lack of confessionals results in being able to hear others giving their confessions. Some people just talk loudly, and, I guess, don’t realize people can hear them. That just makes my skin crawl. I try to keep the line back as far as possible, which opens a gap between me and the persons in front of me. I just don’t like that whole experience at all, but it happens a lot.

I think the old confessionals were a good model. I do. Maybe people ought to have the option to pull the curtain back or something if they want face-to-face. But they wouldn’t have to do it.
 
baltobetsy said:
It is the priest who has the right to decide whether or not to offer face-to-face confession. According to canon law, confession behind the screen must always be available (sorry, I don’t have a citation).
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Canon 964
§1. The proper place to hear sacramental confessions is a church or oratory.
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§2. The conference of bishops is to establish norms regarding the confessional; it is to take care, however, that there are always confessionals with a fixed grate between the penitent and the confessor in an open place so that the faithful who wish to can use them freely.
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§3. Confessions are not to be heard outside a confessional without a just cause.
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Code of Canon Law

The Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts send this clarification in 1998,
If, according to Canon 964, paragraph 2, of the Code of Canon Law, the minister of the sacrament, for a just cause and excluding cases of necessity, can legitimately decide, even in the eventuality that the penitent ask for the contrary, that sacramental confession be received in a confessional with a fixed grille.
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From Adoremus.org So even if someone asks for it, face to face is the option of the priest.

It is interesting to note that the longest lines are for behind the grille confessional, in my experience, at least.
 
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