How many receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

[JeshurunPetrus]

Hi, I’ve just become a Catholic at Pentecost of this year, which means I’ve been a Catholic for less than a month, and I’ve since twice gone to Confession which I was at first a bit mortified to do (I’ve always been a reserved person so telling someone else my sins frightened me quite a bit) but I felt a great deal better after both times.

Yet, both times I’ve gone I noticed almost nobody else coming to Confession. The first time I came by myself and it seemed like no one else had partaken of it after I had finished (I came right as it was available, I try to be punctual) and the second time I took my fiancee with me (who converted with me) who also was afraid of doing it but realized it was quite nice but I’m almost 100% positive that no one else came after we had finished.

Now my parish is fairly small and, of course, I can’t account for when I wasn’t there, but it seems like not a lot of people take advantage of this great gift we have been given. Does anyone else have similar experiences and know why?

 

[ccmcmg]

Hi, I’ve just become a Catholic at Pentecost of this year, which means I’ve been a Catholic for less than a month, and I’ve since twice gone to Confession which I was at first a bit mortified to do (I’ve always been a reserved person so telling someone else my sins frightened me quite a bit) but I felt a great deal better after both times.

Yet, both times I’ve gone I noticed almost nobody else coming to Confession. The first time I came by myself and it seemed like no one else had partaken of it after I had finished (I came right as it was available, I try to be punctual) and the second time I took my fiancee with me (who converted with me) who also was afraid of doing it but realized it was quite nice but I’m almost 100% positive that no one else came after we had finished.

Now my parish is fairly small and, of course, I can’t account for when I wasn’t there, but it seems like not a lot of people take advantage of this great gift we have been given. Does anyone else have similar experiences and know why?

My home parish (maybe 500 families??) has Confession one weeknight and on Saturday afternoon. I have attended on the weeknights there many times. Last week, there were 15 people ahead of me at 20 minutes before it started, and probably 10 after me. More may have come in after I was in Confession and then left. Two priests.

On the week before Easter, there were 4 priests, and 100+ in line, easily, with more arriving.

On the week of First Fridays/Saturdays, when I attend two older but well populated parishes, it’s not uncommon to have 10-15 people in line before weekday noon Mass, as well as after Mass. In regular weeks, it’s anywhere from 5-15/per Mass. While they are not Latin Mass parishes, they are more ‘old school’ than the newer ones in my area. More of the families have large families and home school.

However, I attended one local parish shortly before closing time and I was the only one there. When I visited New Mexico last year, the small mission parish in a small town (Grants?), I was the only one that I know of.

One thing I’ve adopted: While waiting, I pray for God’s Mercy not only for me, but for all there to know His Love and Mercy, and for the priests hearing Confession, that they may share God’s Love, Mercy and Wisdom with us. I need also to start praying for those who are not at Confession, that they may come.

Don’t let what others are doing influence your relationship with God. Keep coming to Confession.

WELCOME to the Faith and Church!!

 

[Marie5890]

Any time I go there has always been at least 8-10 people in line.

I do expect it may differ from parish to parish…

 

[Jon_S_1]

Hi, I’ve just become a Catholic at Pentecost of this year, which means I’ve been a Catholic for less than a month, and I’ve since twice gone to Confession which I was at first a bit mortified to do (I’ve always been a reserved person so telling someone else my sins frightened me quite a bit) but I felt a great deal better after both times.

Yet, both times I’ve gone I noticed almost nobody else coming to Confession. The first time I came by myself and it seemed like no one else had partaken of it after I had finished (I came right as it was available, I try to be punctual) and the second time I took my fiancee with me (who converted with me) who also was afraid of doing it but realized it was quite nice but I’m almost 100% positive that no one else came after we had finished.

Now my parish is fairly small and, of course, I can’t account for when I wasn’t there, but it seems like not a lot of people take advantage of this great gift we have been given. Does anyone else have similar experiences and know why?

Don’t worry about who is or who isn’t going. You have experienced God’s real mercy and power in the sacrament and you know when you should go. Keep it up. And encourage others to do the same.

Many parishioners do not use the sacrament as often as they should, but the more who do and talk about the great peace they receive, the more our fellow parishioners will see that and want it too.

 

[pianistclare]

Not near as many that should. But in truth, we don’t know that everyone is walking around in a state of mortal sin…It’s great to avail oneself of Reconciliation often, even when confessing venial sins though. Keep being a good example to all.
Pray for those who are in need of God’s mercy.
Take care of yourself. God bless you.

 

[esieffe]

I usually go three times a month. I get there right when it starts, so I usually have little waiting time. The priests keep things moving fast so to speak, but not at my expense.

I have wondered about it myself. I think it is a shame that people don’t take advantage of it. Confession keeps me on the straight and narrow, so to speak.

 

[Elizium23]

The fact tends to be that the more a parish offers Confessions, the more people show up to partake in them.

My parish has long offered four separate opportunities for Confession, each lasting 45 minutes. In reality, the priests will hear Confessions anytime and anywhere, and any time there is a line too long to be served in the allotted time, the priests stay until every single person has been served. If one needs to take a break in order to say Mass, he processes right back into the confessional to continue hearing them. Needless to say, they both are very amenable to making appointments for special cases, and both are known to frequently hear confessions in their offices.

Such is the case that our Confession opportunities attract people from all over the region. I do see many unfamiliar faces in the lines, people who come here for Confession and no other reason. I would assume that many are frustrated by the lack of Confession opportunities in their own parishes or areas. However, I am praying that is a temporary situation. Some time ago, our bishop promulgated a letter exhorting all priests to make ample opportunities for Confession at all their parishes, explaining the need and importance of this great sacrament. So I think there has been some expansion of schedules in recent times, at least among those priests who are faithfully obedient to our holy bishop’s wishes.

Since I do live in the USA, I do see a disproportionate amount of people approaching the Holy Communion line to receive as opposed to those in line for the confessional week after week. But I try not to judge. And I try to take it as a great sign of God’s mercy when there are huge lines for Confession, especially during Lent and in particular on Good Friday (when we offered over three hours of Confession) when people are most strongly reminded of the need to repent.

 

[SuperLuigi]

Now my parish is fairly small and, of course, I can’t account for when I wasn’t there, but it seems like not a lot of people take advantage of this great gift we have been given. Does anyone else have similar experiences and know why?

This is not unusual, especially for a small parish.

A lot of people are simply not properly catechized. When the focus is making posters that say “Jesus Loves Me” versus learning about the hard, boring stuff, this is the result.

Also, some people know better but just refuse to acknowledge or practice particular tenets of the Faith and do so at the risk of their own souls in many cases.

I’ve also noticed some Catholics don’t want to deal with it. They want to show up for Mass 5 minutes beforehand, awkwardly muddle through the ushers, serves and priest at the back of Church, and have to sit up front because everyone else sits in the back.

It’s really quite amazing at how much common sense and logic gets checked at the door when it comes to God. This kind of nonsense would not be tolerated at the places people go to during the regular work week.

Believe me, you’ll find all kinds of lousy excuses why Catholics don’t go to Confession. I really don’t know how they plan to get away with it on Judgement Day if they can’t even get them past me!

The big issue here is that almost no one goes to Confession, as you can see, but pretty much everyone goes to Communion.

A priest once told me that when his father came to America, and he saw everyone going to Communion, he thought everyone was a saint, because they all went to Communion.

He also said that in the 1950s, they would sit and do Confession for 3 hours at a time.

So it really wasn’t always like that.

But the smaller parishes, yeah, I’ve been there too and there’s almost never a line.

On the other hand, at some of the larger parishes I’ve been too, there can be quite a bit of waiting time, but I highly suspect that’s because there’s just more people and in the case of cathedrals, some faithful visitors from outside the parish or the diocese.

 

[SuperLuigi]

Since I do live in the USA, I do see a disproportionate amount of people approaching the Holy Communion line to receive as opposed to those in line for the confessional week after week. But I try not to judge

I think we can have an honest conversation about this without judging individual souls.

Priests notice this kind of stuff, too. It’s what they do for a living.

Don’t EVER let someone silence you on this issue with a big, deep, breath followed the 101 excuse of all excuses “YOU CAN’T JUDGE ME!!!”

It’s a problem, a BIG problem and I suspect a cause of major layovers in Purgatory.

 

[ccmcmg]

I often share with fellow Catholics my love of Confession, and they look at me like I’ve grown two heads. Do I love my ‘need’ for Confession? No. Do I love God’s Mercy and Forgiveness, in addition to Him understanding that I’m a mere human, a fallen soul, a sinner? He knows me better than I know myself, and already knows my sins before I confess them, even the ones I forget.

Reconciliation is a true Gift from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I figure if He can take the pain, the humiliation, all that He suffered for my own sake, I can take a few minutes to ask His Forgiveness.

So share share share this great Gift you receive over and over.

 

[Stillsosola]

Back in the USA the parish I converted and rcia in no one except the elderly ever went to confession unless it was 2 weeks before Christmas or easter I even remember my instructor telling me she only confessed once a year!!! And refusing to discuss sins or what was mortal or venial or grave matter they just sugar coated it all in mexico I see more people in line from teens to 20 something like myself to the elderly I suppose due to it being a catholic country? But trust me priests notice this and I’m sure pray for us to come back to confession

 

[Petersmate]

The thing I notice going to confession is that there are very few women waiting in the line. Easily 90% are men. But that could just be a problem in my country where women seem to have bought the feminist lie.

(I’ve always been a reserved person so telling someone else my sins frightened me quite a bit) but I felt a great deal better after both times.

most of us feel this way just keep going to confession

The big issue here is that almost no one goes to Confession, as you can see, but pretty much everyone goes to Communion.

Anyone who does this please read Corinthians 1 chapter 11 verses 27-28. Go to confession please do not drink judgement on yourself.

 

[Dorothy]

One needn’t have mortal sins to confess in order to make use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

This Sacrament is a great source of grace for us!

We are all on a spiritual journey and should accept the graces available for us in confession.

Good catechesis can help Catholics who are not aware of the great help of this sacrament.

Also, prayer and good spiritual reading can help us to recognize areas that we are not yet considering as sin in our lives.

 

[ManyFaces]

I go once or twice a year, there are usually only five or six others in line.

 

[Blessedwithfive]

I have been Catholic for more then 40 years and I have heard many excuses for skipping confession. Many people feel that since they disagree with an “official” church teaching and are not planning to change the behavior that they are not eligible to confess.(which might be true) Others feel/worry the priest might not offer absolution. Still others feel that if they know they will commit the same sin again, what’s the point?
Very few people at my parish attend confession. I would love to know what the other church’s are doing to get people thru the door? Please share…
I personally hate going to confession, but I try to go once a year. Maybe I just don’t understand the sacrament enough yet. (I always tell people I’m a practicing Cathoilic because I’m not very good at it yet

 

[TimothyH]

I waited in line over an hour for confession this weekend. It is like that all over suburban Atlanta.

-Tim-

 

[Brendan]

Our parish has confessions heard a half hour before every Mass, 7 days a week. Plus 2 hours on Sundays. So probably about 16 hours of confession time, usually by multiple priests

Even then, you have to get there early to be assured of getting in.

 

[babochka]

Very few people at my parish attend confession. I would love to know what the other church’s are doing to get people thru the door? Please share…

We have a very small parish (attendance is about 70 souls, with half of them being children). Our priest offers confession on Sunday morning before Divine Liturgy, and other times by “appointment”. I say appointment, but it is actually more like “Father, do you have a minute for confession”, at a convenient time. We are a commuter parish, so it makes it difficult to have scheduled times other than Sunday morning. On any given Sunday, there will be 5-7 people confessing, and it isn’t just the same people confessing every week; rather, there seems to be a bit of a rotation throughout the parish. We also get non-parishioners who stop in just for confession on the way to Mass at their own parish, presumably because we are one of the few parishes offering Sunday morning confession.

Our “secret” to getting people to confession is that we have a priest who loves confession, who preaches about confession, who goes frequently himself, and encourages others to do the same. He finds a way to work confession, its benefits and necessity, into most of his homilies. It becomes hard to ignore after a while. You’d think in such a small parish that we all know each other just a little too well to go to our own pastor, but he is an excellent confessor.

 

[UpUpAndAway]

It varies greatly here. In my opinion we don’t have enough scheduled confession times (three hours total per week, in two sessions…on the same day), but the retired priests are usually accommodating with spontaneous requests and confession by appointment is always an option with any of our priests.

I’m a sacristan and serve a minimum of six Masses each week (except right now because I’m on vacation—wheee! But I digress). I’d say around twice during the week at least one person who has attended Mass will ask the celebrant priest to hear his/her confession afterward. Not much, but better than nothing.

During the scheduled times, there is also Eucharistic Adoration. Since I’m always present for Adoration, I’m always present during confession. Sometimes the priest hears confessions nonstop, sometimes no one confesses. It’s usually busier during Lent and Advent and gets progressively more so the closer we get to Easter and Christmas respectively.

I do think more should be done to encourage people to go to confession, but in the end you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink.

I wish I could say I’m an example to the parish in this regard, but I’m not…at least not in any visible (and thus useful) manner. People see me receive Communion daily but no one ever sees me confess…because my confessor, whom I see every two weeks, is outside the parish. I know I’m not alone in this, so in the end I don’t preoccupy myself with making comparisons between the number of people I see confessing vs. the number I see receiving Communion. To paraphrase JonS: confess regularly, encourage others to do the same, but otherwise don’t worry about it.

God bless!

 

[Oneofthewomen]

I could make a fortune if I designed a little “punch card” for parishes to buy so that people could have the priest sign off that they have been to confession.

I would hate to think what some of my fellow parishioners think of me- I have never been to confession at my “regular” parish, and don’t plan on it anytime soon, so to them I am probably just some uneducated, unworthy, cafeteria Catholic.

I agree that we need to educate more, but this constant “comparing” and questioning of others motives really does not paint us Catholics in a very good light.