How Often are Priests Going to Confession?

[mrsarchieleach]

Dear forum,
In light of the recent discussions on the laity’s lack of availing themselves of the Sacrament of Confession and some of what is being told to us by priests (them deemphasizing the need for the sacrament, lack of preaching on it in Mass, lack of sceduled confession times and overall impression of it being unimportant, etc) it makes me wonder how often are all the priests going to regular confession??? I shutter to think of the many priests that might very well be in a state of mortal sin and celebrating Mass! This cannot be a good thing, surely.

Are there any priests out there that could shed light on this? Please tell us priests are going to regular confession! I read somewhere online (I unfortunately cannot remember where) that many priests are only going once or twice a year!

Thanks!

 

[Jacob]

I would just like to say that I see that your intention of posting your question is good, it is truly none of your bussiness how often priests go to confession. I understand that priest should go often and I am sure that they realize this too, but how would you like it if someone asked you, “You know your person of God, yet I don’t know if you’re holy and knowlegable in the faith.” (That would be insulting) We can only pray for GOOD priests, and pray for the priests who aren’t always faithful to God.

I think it would also be wise to take in consideration that WE are ALL humans. God made us this way.

May God Bless us

 

[mrsarchieleach]

Dear Jacob,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, it is not anyone’s business how often other’s avail themselves of Confession - I only raised the question out of concern from an article that I had read on-line that mentioned a current trend among the clergy - that they are only going to confession once or twice a year (according to an anonymous poll of priests). Reading that information was not encouraging and raises concerns (if accurate) that I think might call for awareness not only in seminary training but religious education beginning at young ages that would emphasise the importance of Confession. It seems to be an overall trend among current day Catholics to not go to Confession often or even not at all, more so than in past decades, at least. Of course there are Catholics who go to Confession very regularly, and that includes priests and religious. My reason for posting the concern was a hope that perhaps a priest or two might be able to “say it ain’t so” and that as a trend/rule, priests, in general, are availing themselves of this sacrament regularly and are faithful to thier calling and that perhaps this article was an isolated situation. My post was never to attack the priesthood in any way, but rather I hoped to gain some contrary information that could refute the article that I initially read.

I hope this helps to clear up any fog if I didn’t present my question well.

Thanks

 

[Shoshana]

I know my parish priest goes to confession once a week and tells us parishioners to do as well. He encourages the sacrament big time in his homilies. He also calls sin, sin. He pulls no punches. How many priests can you say that when they deliver their homilies, one is able to make an examination of conscience every week? Most tip toe through the tulips and give us Barney style Christianity.

It does not matter if a priest is in sin, even in mortal sin, while he gifts us with the sacraments. I think it is called ex opero operandi…the sacraments are still valid no matter the state of the priest’s soul. Otherwise, this is between him and his God. Even we, as lay people, can still love our family when we are in mortal sin. But with the mercy of God, hopefully, we come to our senses.

Blessings,
Shoshana

 

[philjane]

Just because a priest doesn’t go to confession often, doesn’t mean that he is in mortal sin—a priest that has Mass every day, says his breviary & rosary and other prayers may be guilty of venial sins but probably doesn’t have time to commit mortal sin. My priest has a spiritual director which he talked about in a homily recently & that usually involves confession. i think that we have to “take the plank out of our own eye, before we look for the speck in our priest’s eye.” Our duty is to pray for our priests—they have given up a lot to be priests & they need our prayers, not our condemnation.

 

[mrsarchieleach]

Philjane,
I appreciate your thoughts and I just want to make sure that I’m not being misunderstood about my original post - I was not out to condem priests at all - I highly respect them - I was just not sure what to think when I came across the article about priests themselves saying how often they go to confession. I suppose my initial shock is refelctive of our culture and climate today with sex scandals, secularism and God being pushed out of our laws and public lives to some extent. I am also a convert and am always learning - Sacramental Confession is a foreign thing that is not believed in most Protestant circles and I am trying to familiarize myself with becoming a Catholic on the inside with a Catholic mind-set, if that make sense. I did not even realize until very recently that priests are supposed to say certain prayers every day! Forever learning…

 

[philjane]

the priests that are involved in scandals are not going to go to confession often & probably don’t have a spiritual director. They may not say mass everyday & probably don’t pray their breviary or rosary or say other prayers. These priests need extra prayers to make up for the ones that they are not saying.

Raising doubt or fear that priests are in mortal sin, when they are not only makes it harder for the people to confide in them & go to confession to them (allowing the evil one to get his way). By removing the fear & doubt, we are removing evil.(let’s not invite evil into our lives.)

 

[Shoshana]

May I share a story here? I am parapharasing here of course and if I miss something please let me know.

It was in Italy. St Francis was alive. People from a small village approached him and complained that their pastor was living in sin by having a mistress and whatever. The people were distressed, very distressed. They asked him to help them resolve the scandal.

St Francis approached the rectory and knocked at the door. The priest himself answered. St Francis knelt down and took the priest’s hands and kissed them. He kissed the hands that brought him the Body and Blood of Jesus from heaven.

From then on, the priest renounced his life of debauchery and led a very holy life until he died.

Blessings,
Shoshana

 

[mrsarchieleach]

Thanks for all of your thoughts everyone! As a convert to Catholicism I still have many things to learn and have yet to fully understand. I am aware that St. Augustine said that the morality of a priest does not effect the sacraments - that is the power of God, so a priest’s moral life or state does in no way effect the Mass, Confession, etc. Of course we should always look for the good in everyone and praying is vital. Yes, we must pray for that good leadership and for holy and faithful priests!

 

[mrsarchieleach]

Can. 916 Anyone who is conscious of grave sin may not celebrate Mass or receive the Body of the Lord without previously having been to sacramental confession, unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, which includes the resolve to go to confession as soon as possible.

This canon speaks to my initial question and concern - “Anyone who is conscious of grave sin may not celebrate Mass or receive the Body of the Lord without previously having been to sacramental confession…” Yes, we must trust our priests and pray that they are holy and faithful men, even when scandal comes to your town.

 

[mercygate]

mrsarchieleach:

Thanks for all of your thoughts everyone! As a convert to Catholicism I still have many things to learn and have yet to fully understand. I am aware that St. Augustine said that the morality of a priest does not effect the sacraments - that is the power of God, so a priest’s moral life or state does in no way effect the Mass, Confession, etc. Of course we should always look for the good in everyone and praying is vital. Yes, we must pray for that good leadership and for holy and faithful priests!

Priests are not required to confess more often than the laity. That said, I know truly holy priests who tell me they confess weekly or bi-weekly, and truly holy priests who tell me they confess only 2-4 times a year.