Hard time confessing?

[Canadian]

Are you picky about the priest you confess to? Does his age matter to you? Are you able to walk into a confessional without knowing who the priest is? I sure can’t! Is that normal? Is it a lack of understanding of the sacrament?

 

[The_Confused_1]

Welcome to the forums! It would feel ackward for me to confess to another priest I don’t know seing that I have never done so, well exept that confession I did back in mexico when I was 9 years old. But Other than that one time back in mexico, I have always confessed to the same priest.

 

[Like]

I hear ya! I find it a lot easier to confess to a older priest around my age (late 60’s). But no matter what age, I always have to ask for a big penance never gotten one though. Here in Kauai, seems like we have a visiting priest at least once a month, well would you believe 2 months, & they are usually older. For the most part they are really easy to go to. And except for calling for an appointment, our Church publish in the weekly bulletin confessions held 30 minutes before Saturday Vigil Mass & then only when requested. So at least you know which priest is saying the Mass, but he also knows who you are. I’m getting better as far as going to any priest as I try to go at least once a month. My fellow parishioners must think I’m a very, very big sinner (and rightly so), as I hardly ever see anyone else going to confession.

 

[LilyM]

Are you picky about the priest you confess to? Does his age matter to you? Are you able to walk into a confessional without knowing who the priest is? I sure can’t! Is that normal? Is it a lack of understanding of the sacrament?

I think you’re fine. It’s totally horses for courses - different people have different needs and wants as far as confession goes.

I’ve moved around often enough (and had to confess often enough ) that I’ve been exposed to many different ‘styles’ as far as priests go. And heard some pretty funny and downright horrifying things by way of so-called advice or counselling too. So not a lot of things throw me.

Sometimes it’s actually good to get a different perspective on your spiritual life too - especially those pesky recurring sins that I sometimes have trouble dealing with.

And to be honest, occasionally I’d seriously rather confess to a priest I DON’T know - just so I won’t have to spend time wondering what he must think of me or if he remembers what I’ve confessed and so on.

 

[puzzleannie]

Are you picky about the priest you confess to? Does his age matter to you? Are you able to walk into a confessional without knowing who the priest is? I sure can’t! Is that normal? Is it a lack of understanding of the sacrament?

I’m sure it is a normal human reaction, and yes it would be great if we all had a perfect understanding of the sacrament, but maybe that is why every 100 years or so Christ sends a message to someone about his Sacred Heart and his Divine Mercy, because we still don’t get it. The priest is in the person of Christ. He may or may not have a warm manner, give great advice, speak my language, or have bad breath, but the fact remains he is administering the sacrament acting as Christ, and therefore his own personality should not matter. I wonder if on those occasions when I have avoided confession because of some issue about the priest, I have not really been avoiding the sacrament itself, like a child who knows perfectly well his parent is aware of what he has done wrong, but is afraid to come home.

 

[baltobetsy]

I have my favorite confessor among the priests at my parish, and always try to go to him. He takes his time with everyone and gives good advice. He’s only been a priest for two years and is very young. The first time I went to him, I chose him for that reason, thinking that he would not be relying on his own wisdom and experience, but let the Holy Spirit take over. It was a good move.

One of the other priests doesn’t talk at all, according to DH. I avoid him, although he’s a really nice guy otherwise.

The pastor is a real man’s man. Not being a man, I don’t quite click with him. In a pinch, I’ll go to him.

Last week, I really wanted to go, but my priest was not hearing. I did not know who was in the confessional, but threw caution to the wind and went anyway. It turned out to be one of the priests in residence, the vocation director for the archdiocese. He was very kind and engaging, and I ended up pouring my heart out to him. It was a wonderful experience.

Also, I’ll go to a priest I don’t know when we make a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in DC. They have two or three priests hearing for a several hours a day. You just get in line and you get whoever is free first when you’re up next. I just pray that I’ll get the one God has chosen for me and that he’ll tell me what God wants to tell me. One day I got a guy who kept saying, “Don’t worry about it,” so I went along with that, although it was a little weird.

Betsy