General Confession in 3 minutes?

[PraiseChrist]

Hello,

If one were to write down the examen for a general confession, and just hand that packet to the priest, would that be sufficient as confessing sins, as long as one were to include number and kind (as well as factors that add to or take away guilt)?

God bless

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Hello,

If one were to write down the examen for a general confession, and just hand that packet to the priest, would that be sufficient as confessing sins, as long as one were to include number and kind (as well as factors that add to or take away guilt)?

God bless

Yes…one could certainly confess in that manner. It has happened to me, as a confessor, over the years. It is more normative, frankly, in a situation in which the person has, for whatever reason, lost (or never had) the power of speech but has the ability to write.

It is also a useful way for someone who is making a confession where priest and penitent do not share a language, provided that the examination of conscience list is identical in both languages and if they can be read easily enough in parallel.

It can also be used in situations of psychological/emotional issues where the penitent is too traumatised to actually verbalise what they desire to confess.

I am somewhat perplexed by the thread title “Confession in 3 minutes”. I would have the expectation that a confessor, in normal circumstance, would do more with the penitent making a general confession than receive and read such a list and then proceed to give a penance and absolve and dismiss the penitent in a span of three minutes.

Of course, if the penitent, for example, is deaf as well as mute the effort may be too much for both confessor and penitent to meaningfully attempt. Or if this occurred in a hospital ward, for example, there is little possibility for any exchange, as the seal would be in danger.

I can think of a few other situations that might envisage such a scenario but, let us say, they are predicated upon unusual, not to say unique, pastoral circumstances.

 

[PraiseChrist]

Dear Father,

Thank you for this answer. I understand that 3 minutes for a normal penitent confessing is an exaggerated amount of time to make a general confession, even if they simply hand over the examen.

Thank you for the reply, but, outside of mental, or physical barriers, can someone simply
confess this way for a regular general confession? I see that you said that it’s not a normal things, but can be done.

Have a good Sunday

 

[PraiseChrist]

Also, does anyone think that this is a good examen for a general confession?

sensustraditionis.org/ExaminationConscienceLong.pdf

 

[CB_Catholic]

Also, does anyone think that this is a good examen for a general confession?

sensustraditionis.org/ExaminationConscienceLong.pdf

It’s ok, except the Holy Day list needs updated-- we no longer celebrate Jan. 1 as the Circumcision. I know they did traditionally, but the Holy Days are universal to the Church.

 

[Bookcat]

Thank you for the reply, but, outside of mental, or physical barriers, can someone simply
confess this way for a regular general confession? y

The Church is clear that it is to be an oral confession (outside of exceptions of moral or or physical impossibility like unable to speak etc).

 

[PraiseChrist]

Thanks everyone, good replies

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Dear Father,

Thank you for this answer. I understand that 3 minutes for a normal penitent confessing is an exaggerated amount of time to make a general confession, even if they simply hand over the examen.

Thank you for the reply, but, outside of mental, or physical barriers, can someone simply
confess this way for a regular general confession? I see that you said that it’s not a normal things, but can be done.

Have a good Sunday

You are welcome for the first answer. I am sorry for the delay in responding to your subsequent follow up. Without question, the sacrament can be done in this way and is done in this way.

Since it is an atypical request, I would advise you to speak with – or consult with – the priest you are wishing to confess to ahead of time about his willingness to accede to the request…assuming the question you posed is not a pure hypothetical but something you want to do. I would expect that he would seek to understand why you want to confess through a written articulation rather than verbally or how it is beneficial for you to do your confession in this way.

If there is a valid reason, especially based on a necessity of some sort or another or some justification, for doing the manifestation of conscience in this fashion, then an accommodation is reasonable. On the other hand, if it is just for the sake of novelty, that would present a somewhat different issue.

As with a verbal confession, it would remain that if the confessor does not understand or needs clarification of what you are trying to communicate, he may need – on his side – to be able to ask you to clarify what you are confessing.

The examination of conscience you inquire about is not one I have seen before but it is basic and reasonable, by and large covering the main points in the questions it poses.

 

[TeilhardRocks]

The church I currently attend has “communal penance” services twice a year, one set before Christmas and one set before Easter. They have everyone write out their sins. Then basically in communion style lines the people hand their list to the priest. The priest does not even look at the list just puts it aside and gives absolution. After everyone is done all are given the same penance and the paper with the sins are burned in a metal rubbish bin.

It seemed odd to me when I first heard about it but when I went at Easter this year the church was PACKED standing room only. More people were at the communal penance service than were at Christmas mass! Additional priests where on hand to help so there were six total but it still took a long time. I heard that both the morning and evening session were equally full.

Apparently some people have complained about it to the bishop because it was included in the church paper that the bishop was fully aware and approved of the methodology due to the shortage of priests.

Personally I prefer the individual confession and those are still available weekly. But this was amazing to see and in the service and talk Father really stressed the importance of regular confession, the standard confession times, and everyone was given nifty resources for examination of conscious and going to confession.

 

[PraiseChrist]

The church I currently attend has “communal penance” services twice a year, one set before Christmas and one set before Easter. They have everyone write out their sins. Then basically in communion style lines the people hand their list to the priest. The priest does not even look at the list just puts it aside and gives absolution. After everyone is done all are given the same penance and the paper with the sins are burned in a metal rubbish bin.

I never heard of this type of penance service before^^, but sacramental confession is the ordinary means of having serious sins forgiven. Has anyone heard of this type before??

 

[Graceful_Lamb]

I never heard of this type of penance service before^^, but sacramental confession is the ordinary means of having serious sins forgiven. Has anyone heard of this type before??

Yes, I have heard of communal penance services before this thread.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Yes, I have heard of communal penance services before this thread.

Communal Penance Services are not usually like the poster described. They usually consist of some sort of examination of Conscience, maybe some Scripture readings, and individual confessions–usually a number of priests will be there and hear confessions in different areas of the church. There may be music played. Our parish usually coordinates with the neighboring parishes so the priests are available maybe 3 evenings during the week they are held, usually during Advent and Lent.

I have been to a number of them in different parishes, and I must make clear, there is NO general absolution given, and individual auricular confessions are heard. At my daughter’s parish, they have something like 18 priests hearing Confessions and the church is packed. We usually have about 5 or 6 priests and the church is maybe 1/4 full. These services are very nice.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Hello,

If one were to write down the examen for a general confession, and just hand that packet to the priest, would that be sufficient as confessing sins, as long as one were to include number and kind (as well as factors that add to or take away guilt)?

God bless

I was tidying up from some of my previous postings, responding to questions such as yours, and I wanted to share with you something from one of my more illustrious colleagues of theology, Don José Antonio Fortea.

He favorably addresses the utility of written confessions from the perspective of penitents.

You may read about it here:
catholicnewsagency.com/news/what-do-to-if-youre-too-ashamed-to-go-to-confession-44201/

To my knowledge, his blog has no English component.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

The church I currently attend has “communal penance” services twice a year, one set before Christmas and one set before Easter. They have everyone write out their sins. Then basically in communion style lines the people hand their list to the priest. The priest does not even look at the list just puts it aside and gives absolution. After everyone is done all are given the same penance and the paper with the sins are burned in a metal rubbish bin.

It seemed odd to me when I first heard about it but when I went at Easter this year the church was PACKED standing room only. More people were at the communal penance service than were at Christmas mass! Additional priests where on hand to help so there were six total but it still took a long time. I heard that both the morning and evening session were equally full.

Apparently some people have complained about it to the bishop because it was included in the church paper that the bishop was fully aware and approved of the methodology due to the shortage of priests.

Personally I prefer the individual confession and those are still available weekly. But this was amazing to see and in the service and talk Father really stressed the importance of regular confession, the standard confession times, and everyone was given nifty resources for examination of conscious and going to confession.

This post brings back many memories. Yes, as a priest I assisted with penance services done in much the manner you describe. I never used it in one of my own parishes. I was not aware that using lists that are then put afire was still really being used; it is something I associate with decades ago and I have not encountered it now in many many years.

It is interesting that you relate that it was so very well attended. Those in which I was asked to participate were also very well attended. The bishop is quite correct that it is more efficient.

 

[Rosebud77]

Communal Penance Services are not usually like the poster described. They usually consist of some sort of examination of Conscience, maybe some Scripture readings, and individual confessions–usually a number of priests will be there and hear confessions in different areas of the church. There may be music played. Our parish usually coordinates with the neighboring parishes so the priests are available maybe 3 evenings during the week they are held, usually during Advent and Lent.

I have been to a number of them in different parishes, and I must make clear, there is NO general absolution given, and individual auricular confessions are heard. At my daughter’s parish, they have something like 18 priests hearing Confessions and the church is packed. We usually have about 5 or 6 priests and the church is maybe 1/4 full. These services are very nice.

This is how it is done here in Ireland too.

At Knock shrine there is a round chapel, the outer walls lined with confessionals. The whole chapel is just for confessions , Seats in the centre for waiting…

 

[Rosebud77]

Hello,

If one were to write down the examen for a general confession, and just hand that packet to the priest, would that be sufficient as confessing sins, as long as one were to include number and kind (as well as factors that add to or take away guilt)?

God bless

Your 3 minute header reminded me of some Saturday morning massed when I was first in Ireland. Some lasted only 10 minutes.

 

[Monica4316]

Hello,

If one were to write down the examen for a general confession, and just hand that packet to the priest, would that be sufficient as confessing sins, as long as one were to include number and kind (as well as factors that add to or take away guilt)?

God bless

I read somewhere that this is only if the person is not physically able to speak

 

[Monica4316]

The church I currently attend has “communal penance” services twice a year, one set before Christmas and one set before Easter. They have everyone write out their sins. Then basically in communion style lines the people hand their list to the priest. The priest does not even look at the list just puts it aside and gives absolution. After everyone is done all are given the same penance and the paper with the sins are burned in a metal rubbish bin.

It seemed odd to me when I first heard about it but when I went at Easter this year the church was PACKED standing room only. More people were at the communal penance service than were at Christmas mass! Additional priests where on hand to help so there were six total but it still took a long time. I heard that both the morning and evening session were equally full.

Apparently some people have complained about it to the bishop because it was included in the church paper that the bishop was fully aware and approved of the methodology due to the shortage of priests.

Personally I prefer the individual confession and those are still available weekly. But this was amazing to see and in the service and talk Father really stressed the importance of regular confession, the standard confession times, and everyone was given nifty resources for examination of conscious and going to confession.

My understanding is that this sort of Confession is actually invalid unless the people are in immediate danger of death, like on a plane that’s about to crash, or some other impossibility. And even in that case, the people must go to normal Confession if they end up surviving.

In usual circumstances, individual Confession needs to be done in order for the absolution to be valid. What my parish does on big holidays is offer Confession more often during the time leading up to the holiday, so that everyone would be able to go. Then Confession is also offered before Mass as well.

Other parishes I’ve been to have a day for the Sacrament of Penance like for example during Lent, and they invite a number of priests to help out, but it’s still individual Confession. That’s the only way to do it unless there’s a plane crash, soldiers right before a battle, etc.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

My understanding is that this sort of Confession is actually invalid unless the people are in immediate danger of death, like on a plane that’s about to crash, or some other impossibility. And even in that case, the people must go to normal Confession if they end up surviving.

In usual circumstances, individual Confession needs to be done in order for the absolution to be valid. What my parish does on big holidays is offer Confession more often during the time leading up to the holiday, so that everyone would be able to go. Then Confession is also offered before Mass as well.

Other parishes I’ve been to have a day for the Sacrament of Penance like for example during Lent, and they invite a number of priests to help out, but it’s still individual Confession. That’s the only way to do it unless there’s a plane crash, soldiers right before a battle, etc.

You are not, in fact, making the distinction between form 2 and form 3 for the Rite of Penance.

What the poster that you have written this about is referring to is, in fact, form 2. You are describing form 3.

Individual confession apart from a penance service, as most people reading this would experience it, is form 1. The lone priest in the confessional on Saturday afternoon being the classic scenario.

A penance service with multiple confessors hearing confessions in the context of the penance service is form 2. (As would be this where the confession is written and not auricular.) In my part of the world, we see these most in Advent and Lent and often, if warranted, preceding children’s First Holy Communion.

One priest giving absolution to a group simultaneously is form 3.

While danger of multiple death or a mass casualty event is certainly an occasion a priest would legitimately use form 3, it is not the only one. It is however governed by relatively stringent norms and requirements, the application of which can be somewhat moderated by the diocesan bishop, who is the supreme moderator of the liturgy within his diocese, and of course according to the norm of law.