I have been to the same priest three times for Confession and I am confused.

[FishyPete]

Ok, so I just had (literally 20 minutes ago) confession and the same Priest I had for the last three confessions over the last year did not, and I repeat DID NOT say “I absolve you of your sins”. Not a single mention of it, not a single syllable of it was spoken. When he told me to go in peace, I asked him if my sins were absolved, he said yes.

Why is this happening. This is a large Catholic Church. Are my sins not forgiven?

I am not being scrupulous here, I just don’t understand? Are Priest not trained? Has my last three confessions been for not?

Do I simply go to a different church?

Have my sins not been forgiven for an entire year?

In my 40 years this has never happened, and I just returned to the Church last year.

I’m sorry but this is upsetting to me.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Dear friend,

Don’t go back to him. It doesn’t sound like the Confession was valid. If he said, “I forgive you” or something like that, then it could be valid. The fault is with the priest. The Lord is well aware of your good intentions and will not hold this against you.

Go to another priest from now on and tell him you situation. If you need to discuss this with me privately, just click on my name above.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.