General Confession Anyone?

[Myangel]

I hope that you are a little confused about what is offered at Easter and Christmas. Some parishes have Penance Services, where people gather for a prayer service which directs the heart towards making a good confession. Priests are usually brought in from the outside in addition to the home boys. The drill includes handing out a brief form for examination of conscience, which you review privately during a period of silence. People go to confession individually to one of the priests and receive absolution, just they way you would if you showed up on Saturday afternoond during the regular hours for confession.

Unfortunately I dont think this is the case. My sister asked about it once and it sounded more like:

There have been abuses in some parishes, where general absolution has been given to whole congregations without requiring confession. Those absolutions are not valid. This is absolutely and utterly nothing but a rank abuse and a disservice to the faithful. If the bishop is not part of the problem, it needs to be reported to him. If he IS part of the problem you need to kick it up to the next level.

This is what I thought it was but not sure. Thanks for the clarification between “General Absolution” and “General Confessions”, I will have to look into whether the Bishop is aware, I would think he is. Sorry guys for going off topic

 

[LilyM]

A professor of mine once made a suggestion that I really like. He said after confession, go outside and light it on fire. Then imagine that as the paper burns up and floats away that all of your sins are floating away with it.

I’ve done the burning thing - just make sure you don’t try to burn stuff indoors is all

 

[mercygate]

Unfortunately I dont think this is the case. My sister asked about it once and it sounded more like:

This is what I thought it was but not sure. Thanks for the clarification between “General Absolution” and “General Confessions”, I will have to look into whether the Bishop is aware, I would think he is. Sorry guys for going off topic

If you can name the diocese, we might be able to get you an answer about general absolution.

 

[Myangel]

If you can name the diocese, we might be able to get you an answer about general absolution.

Australia Are you still able to do this??? To be honest (and I Cant believe I am admitting this) I dont know the diocese I will find out.

 

[mercygate]

Australia Are you still able to do this??? To be honest (and I Cant believe I am admitting this) I dont know the diocese I will find out.

Ah. This HAS been a problem. Can’t name the diocese, but if I googled it for 5 minutes, I would come up with it. It is widely known.

 

[canadianlife]

My mom (major cafeteria dweller) said she went to an absolution mass and doesn’t want to go to ocnfession because absolution masses “Feel so much better”. Are these kind of masses licit?

 

[mercygate]

My mom (major cafeteria dweller) said she went to an absolution mass and doesn’t want to go to ocnfession because absolution masses “Feel so much better”. Are these kind of masses licit?

The Mass is valid – even licit if all else is done properly – but general absolution is not valid under such circumstances. Even in those life-and-death emergencies, such as before a battle, the penitent must make a proper sacramental confession in the presence of a priest should he make it through the crisis.

 

[Myangel]

Ah. This HAS been a problem. Can’t name the diocese, but if I googled it for 5 minutes, I would come up with it. It is widely known.

The name of the church is “St Gertrude” Smithfield.

 

[Marian_Carroll]

GENTLE REMINDER:

**It may be be helpful to give a “look-see” to: Post 5
Banned Topics re the following:

Banned topics
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=17511
(Item 9) (Item 16)

They are self-explanatory.

Additionally, please refrain from requesting on the public boards, that others provide you with personal data. You may if you wish, contact them by private mail understanding that the other poster may or may not choose to provide you with the information.
**

 

[Vincention]

Hey Nick,
A general confession is when one takes the opportunity to confess all of his/her sins from his/her entire life. It would be the same as a regular confession, but probably MUCH longer since one is confessing all of one’s sins. That’s all I know about it.

I’m genuinely confused on a general confession, is it sacramental or just therapy? it seems if one has already confessed their sins through many confessions and received absolution it seems a general confession is denying the absolution or sacramentality of the prior confessions. why is is necessary to re-confess sins you already have-and once you do this general confession -do you re-do that general confession? e.g have another general confession each month or each year? And finally how do you even remember the number of times you may have done a certain sin, e.g. 1,595 times I lost my temper or ?

 

[PrayPsalm51]

I’m genuinely confused on a general confession, is it sacramental or just therapy? it seems if one has already confessed their sins through many confessions and received absolution it seems a general confession is denying the absolution or sacramentality of the prior confessions. why is is necessary to re-confess sins you already have-and once you do this general confession -do you re-do that general confession? e.g have another general confession each month or each year? And finally how do you even remember the number of times you may have done a certain sin, e.g. 1,595 times I lost my temper or ?

Oftentimes one makes a general confession at a major crossroads in their life. As others have noted, some do it when they return to the Sacrament after being away for a long time. Others, like myself, make a general confession when their conscience becomes better formed and they realize that perhaps they have made some bad confessions and/or omitted sins in the past either due to a poorly formed conscience or whatever reason. I made a general confession year or so ago. I prepared for a few months until I was ready and able to confess to a very trusted priest. It was difficult but wonderful to dig deep and I feel confident that I don’t have any old “stuff” unconfessed. I can’t think of a reason or desire to do it again any time soon though.

 

[larsont7]

I’ve made 2 general Confessions, once when I converted to the faith (which was really just my first Confession), and another one when I got a new spiritual advisor. I think doing a general Confession is great when getting a new spiritual advisor because it will give the priest a better view on who you are and how to help you through your struggles.

General Confessions are never required, but you can still gain many graces from them and they can give you an even greater peace of mind if past sins still haunt you.