Face to Face Confessions

[katiebelle08]

Hello all…

I know confession is one of the more popular topics and even though I myself am a junior Theology major I don’t know the answer to this question.

If someone chooses to Confess face to face, does in change the intent of the confession any if the person confessing is unable to keep or make eye contact at all with the priest?

-Sometimes what we are confessing is embarrassing and its hard to make eye contact with the priest, but for whatever reason we either don’t have to choice to go behind the screen to confess or maybe we don’t want to or can’t.

• I really would like to know the true teaching on this and not just opinions, I am a Theologian, that drives right to the truth of the matter!

Thanks,

KT

 

[teachccd]

Eye contact with the priest has no bearing on the validity of the Sacrament.This is not my opinion since we know that the Sacrament is very valid behind the screen. Face to face is an option and not mandatory. So you can sit in front of the priest and make no eye contact whatsoever and make a very valid confession.

 

[teachccd]

You are a theologian while concurrently studying as a junior theology major? Just curious how that works…

 

[JerrySeibert]

You do not have to make eye contact. By the Seal of Confession a Priest does not need to see you only tell that you are sincere in your confession. My spiritual director instructed me that once he is done with hearing confessions he prays before the blessed sacrament that all do a perfect act of contrition. Because he knows he can never speak of what was discussed.

 

[katiebelle08]

You are a theologian while concurrently studying as a junior theology major? Just curious how that works…

I guess the only way I can explain it is those who are studying, as Theology majors, are considered by many professors Theologians…you don’t necessarily have to have a degree or be famous to be a Theologian.

I hope this helps you to understand!

God Bless,

KT

 

[paperwight66]

I guess the only way I can explain it is those who are studying, as Theology majors, are considered by many professors Theologians…you don’t necessarily have to have a degree or be famous to be a Theologian. QUOTE

So a person studying medicine is a doctor, and a person studying history is an historian and a person studying nuclear physics is…

Hmmm… What’s that saying about painting the garden shed and calling it the Sistine Chapel?..

 

[laszlo]

I do not know what are the regulations now. The traditional regulation was that women should not make confession face to face to priest unless necessity (e.g. in hospital bed). This was considered as precaution against temptation from both side, and women only because on that time homosexuality was crime (against the civil law) and was not (considered) normal in sense of regular.

I myself for long while made confessions outside of the confessional just kneeling next to the priest who sat in a kitchen seat of his home.

 

[mercyangel]

Our pastor keeps his eyes closed and his head bowed when doing face to face confessions. I really don’t know if he does this all the time or just when someone goes face to face. I guess he feels it will make us feel less self conscious.

 

[thistle]

Hello all…

I know confession is one of the more popular topics and even though I myself am a junior Theology major I don’t know the answer to this question.

If someone chooses to Confess face to face, does in change the intent of the confession any if the person confessing is unable to keep or make eye contact at all with the priest?

-Sometimes what we are confessing is embarrassing and its hard to make eye contact with the priest, but for whatever reason we either don’t have to choice to go behind the screen to confess or maybe we don’t want to or can’t.

• I really would like to know the true teaching on this and not just opinions, I am a Theologian, that drives right to the truth of the matter!

Face to face Confession does not literally mean you have to stare into the eyes of the priest when confessing.
Thanks,

KT

 

[po18guy]

How then, would a blind person confess? God knows the heart and desires that it be purified. It is in the heart where sin originates, and it is a contrite heart which must be exposed to God’s mercy. I, too, find that many priests close their eyes, as they are in the spiritual realm, as is proper.

 

[Petergee]

-Sometimes what we are confessing is embarrassing and its hard to make eye contact with the priest, but for whatever reason we either **don’t have to choice to go behind the screen to confess **or maybe we don’t want to or can’t.

I’m pretty sure that Canon Law lays down that you ALWAYS have a choice to remain anonymous if you wish, and that the priest must provide you with this option, unless it is impracticable (e.g. if you are confined to bed).

If you choose to confess without a screen between you and the priest (where this option is provided) you are certainly not obliged to make eye contact. You don’t even have to look at the priest at all if you don’t want to; you can spend the whole time looking at the floor or out the window.

Conversely, the priest has no right to remain anonymous, and if his name is not displayed to you (above the door, etc) you have the right to demand his name and he has to give it to you. And you have the right to confess to any priest of your choice.

 

[dconklin]

Our pastor keeps his eyes closed and his head bowed when doing face to face confessions. I really don’t know if he does this all the time or just when someone goes face to face. I guess he feels it will make us feel less self conscious.

We are not confessing to the priest in as much as we are confessing to God. In looking at the sacrament with a child’s mind (I just prepared 180 little angels for their 1st Recon) the priest can be seen as a translator between us and God. Having his eyes closed and head bowed, may be the pastor’s way of his way of being open to both ends of the conversation.