How important is the place where a confession is heard?

[JDHallKY]

I regularly meet with a priest for spiritual direction. We meet in his office. At the conclusion of each of our meetings, I ask him to hear my confession. In light of Can. 964(3), is it licit for him to hear my confession there in his office? Should I not ask him to do so? Does the law require us to actually walk next door to the church for five minutes so he can hear my confession? Or, is the situation a “just cause”?

My impression is that the purpose of the canon is to prevent confessors from routinely offering confessions in their office, or another place outside a church, so that hearing an occasional confession upon request in his office is fine. Is that a correct reading?

Thank you.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

Certainly, the Confessional is the proper place for the confessions to be heard, just as the Church is the proper place for Mass to be celebrated. But there are other contexts that are also appropriate.
On the battle field it is appropriate for such things to take place. The context of spiritual direction is quite appropriate for the sacrament of Penance (Confession) to be administered.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.