How often and for how long was confession offered traditionally?

[Lucky7]

Because I just came back from visiting Montreal where I visited the beautiful Basilica of Notre Dame. I needed to go to confession and it was only offered for **15 minutes **prior to Mass on Saturdays (which I could not make because of the schedule to return to the US).

Um, WHAT? Seriously, I can’t take this anymore. I’m scratching my head here over and over again every time I see stuff like this. This is pathetic. Where is the focus on the Sacrament of Reconciliation? What is happeninng in our Church? And why isn’t anything being done about it?

And please don’t tell me that I’m being arrogant over this.

 

[WingsOfEagles]

I think you are absolutely right. You know, sometimes, we now complain that too many people are receiving the Eucharist when they aren’t in a state of grace, but how often is it next to impossible to actually go to Confession?

 

[Oneofthewomen]

Before this thread turns into a rant about how too many people receive the Eucharist, yet no one confesses let me offer this for your consideration.

Pray for vocations!!
More priests=more confession times!

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I have no real idea how often it was offered in the past.

When I speak to people who grew up in the 40s and 50s in the US, they say they went to confession on Saturday afternoons somewhere between every week and once a month. That is still possible today. In fact many people say their parish only offers confession on Saturday afternoons, and they wish it were other times, but that does seem to be a very traditional time to hold confession.

Going back farther in time, when I read about Saints like St John Vianney (and others), it seems that confession wasn’t widely available everywhere and that people often delayed confession for years, just as they do today.

I’m not convienced the situation today is all that different than it ever has been. I do think that people’s piety over all ebbs and flows at different times. We had a high point after the excesses of the 20s and the terror of the 30s, then it ebbed, and now it seems to be going back up. Praise God.

 

[Dorothy]

Catechesis on the Sacrament of Reconciliation is needed.

I have learned that many Catholic children that go to CCD have parents that do not take them to Mass regularly.
Neither do they take them to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

This Sacrament is offered twice during the year during CCD class time, in my parish, and it really should be something a family goes to together fairly regularly.

Many are losing their sense of what sin is; hopefully something will be done about this. Much exhortation is needed.

 

[mymamamary]

**If I ever (GOD willing) became a Priest, I would give my parishioners and the church my emergency cell number. My policy would be:

If I’m available, please come in. I wouldn’t be concerned if it’s 2:00 in the afternoon, or 2:00 in the middle of the night. If I could give an opportunity to hear a confession (Provided I wouldn’t be saying MASS, on vacation, or on a sick call) then I’ll do it. If it bothered you enough to come to me at 2 in the middle of the night, there must be a good reason. If I were to judge there isn’t, then it’s a sacrifice I could make for The Holy Souls and Our LORD. **

 

[thomc1980]

I know my church only has confession on saturday from 4-5. But i can call and set up an appointment any other time and Father will hear my confession.

 

[gus]

I know my church only has confession on saturday from 4-5. But i can call and set up an appointment any other time and Father will hear my confession.

That’s been my experience in my last 4 parishes
Call the priest set up a time.
In my current parish
Before or after any mass
bump into him at Walmart or Dennys he will hear your confession.

 

[majorem]

Because I just came back from visiting Montreal where I visited the beautiful Basilica of Notre Dame. I needed to go to confession and it was only offered for **15 minutes **prior to Mass on Saturdays (which I could not make because of the schedule to return to the US).

Um, WHAT? Seriously, I can’t take this anymore. I’m scratching my head here over and over again every time I see stuff like this. This is pathetic. Where is the focus on the Sacrament of Reconciliation? What is happeninng in our Church? And why isn’t anything being done about it?

And please don’t tell me that I’m being arrogant over this.

Don’t get me started…I with you all the way here…this is what happened after V2…sorry…all that fresh air…I have had priest tell me that what I am confessing isn’t even a sin…when I know it is…I hve also been told tha it isn’t necessary to pray the Act of Contrition…(prbly don’t call it that any more)…I just make appointments…I can’t wait to relocate somewhere where the FSSP Mass is offered…and I can connect with this group…talking out loud before Mass…poor dress code…applauding in Mass…

 

[Saints_Alive]

We have a parish in town that has confessions an 45 minutes - an hour a day, six days a week. Followed by Mass at noon.

I’ve been told it has been this way for decades.

 

[Saints_Alive]

I know my church only has confession on saturday from 4-5. But i can call and set up an appointment any other time and Father will hear my confession.

Just a note of congratulations and encouragement for quitting smoking
Hang in there !

It’s been 16 months since I quit cold.

 

[johnmann]

I heard of one church where the number of people going to confession multiplied exponentially because of one simple change. They had a priest hear confession during Mass. People who rarely go to confession are already there for Mass and they see other people going to confession. It lowers the barrier to the point where even the most reluctant throw up their hands and say “I might as well.” Sure, it’s not ideal but it’s more important that people actually go to confession than go at the ideal time.

 

[MarkThompson]

Because I just came back from visiting Montreal where I visited the beautiful Basilica of Notre Dame. I needed to go to confession and it was only offered for **15 minutes **prior to Mass on Saturdays (which I could not make because of the schedule to return to the US).

Um, WHAT? Seriously, I can’t take this anymore. I’m scratching my head here over and over again every time I see stuff like this. This is pathetic. Where is the focus on the Sacrament of Reconciliation? What is happeninng in our Church? And why isn’t anything being done about it?

And please don’t tell me that I’m being arrogant over this.

According to the Basilica website, confession is offered “[f]ifteen minutes before every Mass on weekdays or weekends” (emphasis added). Since they have fifteen Masses every week, this adds up to nearly four hours of confession offered weekly, with availability seven days a week. Is that really so “pathetic”?

 

[WingsOfEagles]

According to the Basilica website, confession is offered “[f]ifteen minutes before every Mass on weekdays or weekends” (emphasis added). Since they have fifteen Masses every week, this adds up to nearly four hours of confession offered weekly, with availability seven days a week. Is that really so “pathetic”?

It adds up, but I think most people would prefer an hour offered on a Saturday or Sunday. Most people who are not retired cannot get to daily Mass.

 

[LilyM]

I heard of one church where the number of people going to confession multiplied exponentially because of one simple change. They had a priest hear confession during Mass. People who rarely go to confession are already there for Mass and they see other people going to confession. It lowers the barrier to the point where even the most reluctant throw up their hands and say “I might as well.” Sure, it’s not ideal but it’s more important that people actually go to confession than go at the ideal time.

Absolutely. I was inspired to return to the sacrament after years away when I came across a parish that offered confession during each of its 11 Sunday Masses (Big inner-city parish, hence the many Masses). Of course I would, whenever possible, go during the Mass prior to the one I wanted to attend, but Sunday confessions are such a blessing.

I suppose one could always ask the priest to hear your confession before Sunday Mass anyway, if you arrive early enough, or afterwards if he hasn’t the time before.

 

[suissemissed]

I mentioned this post to my wife (because we both dislike the lack of confession times too), and she brought up another point (clever theologian that she is) that hasn’t been mentioned on this thread so far… isn’t anyone in the Church concerned anymore about the identity of penitents being withheld from the priest? If a penitent has a sin they wish to confess anonymously, which is perfectly lawful under Latin Canon law I believe, how can they do so if there’s only a fifteen-minute public confession time every Saturday?

I thought there used to be serious concern about this?

 

[LilyM]

I mentioned this post to my wife (because we both dislike the lack of confession times too), and she brought up another point (clever theologian that she is) that hasn’t been mentioned on this thread so far… isn’t anyone in the Church concerned anymore about the identity of penitents being withheld from the priest? If a penitent has a sin they wish to confess anonymously, which is perfectly lawful under Latin Canon law I believe, how can they do so if there’s only a fifteen-minute public confession time every Saturday?

I thought there used to be serious concern about this?

I’ve never had to arrange an appointment for confession, but I’d imagine it can be done anonymously - you could call, explain that you need an appointment for confession but would like it to remain anonymous, and organise for the priest to be in the confessional on a particular day at at particular time without giving your details to him.

 

[suissemissed]

I’ve never had to arrange an appointment for confession, but I’d imagine it can be done anonymously - you could call, explain that you need an appointment for confession but would like it to remain anonymous, and organise for the priest to be in the confessional on a particular day at at particular time without giving your details to him.

You’re right, that does sound like a good solution

 

[Lucky7]

It adds up, but I think most people would prefer an hour offered on a Saturday or Sunday. Most people who are not retired cannot get to daily Mass.

Exactly. And when talking about this type of church with hundreds of visitors, giving them 15 minutes before mass is ridiculous. I would venture to guess that a number of the visitors on the weekend are fallen away/not regular confession-goers. The potential of this beautiful, inspiring church to bring many home is palpable. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if there was a priest there to hear those confessions regardless of the time?

And then there are those of us who are on a schedule and may not be able to stick around for mass.

so, yeah…15 minutes before mass for the amount of people that walk through those doors on the weekend? Really? C’mon now.

Now I’m curious what the situation is at St Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC…off to check.

OK, this is more like it:

saintpatrickscathedral.org/masses_reconciliation.php

 

[Lucky7]

In fact many people say their parish only offers confession on Saturday afternoons, and they wish it were other times, but that does seem to be a very traditional time to hold confession.

I was actually expecting at least an hour prior to mass. That is what I am used to. I was flabberghasted when the receptionist told me 15 minutes. I have never heard of such a thing. Maybe that’s how they do it in Canada.