I like going to confession ! it feels good! how about you?

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StGerardMajella said:
About a decade ago, I mustered up the courage to go to confession, even wrote out all my sins on a piece of paper. I spent a good deal of time preparing.

In the confessional, the priest peppered me aggressively with the actual number of times of each sin - couldn’t hear him that well. After answering, he then refused absolution, stating “he didn’t have time to go through all this”.

Stunned, I walked out, and the priest followed shortly thereafter as Mass would soon start. (And, no, these were not grievous sins like murder or the like, I assure you!)

I only regret not reporting him to the Archdiocese. I will never go back.
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You’ll never go back to confession?
 
You’ll never go back to confession?
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Correct. There is no point in subjecting myself to that kind of personal humiliation and embarrassment again.
 
Usually (not always), I go to weekday Mass after confession. It’s worth it because it’s worth having Jesus.
 
Lost_Sheep said:
Well I still hate going. Always have; always will.

Not because I think I don’t need it. I certainly do.

But I’ve got a bigger problem with what the Church believes about sin in general.

For example, if I subject to eternal damnation for eating a ham sandwich on Good Friday, what are to make of truly heinous things like rape and murder?
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Hmm, I think you may want to start another post on this topic.:mad:
 
Catherinabird said:
Go to another priest, but set up an appointment for Confession. Explain your concerns beforehand.
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Yes, this. St.Gerard, many of us have been going to confession for a very long time and never encountered what happened to you. I can totally understand why you would avoid going, but I think that was a one time occurence for you. It won’t happen again with a different priest. Why not give it one more try?
 
No I don’t. Thus I haven’t been to in years. I personally feel better confessing to one another as James talked about or to God as the words of The Lord’s Prayer have us doing and accepting the atoning grace from Christ’s death on the cross. But if confession to a priest brings people comfort, then I’m all for it as one of the ways to confess and receive forgiveness. But I don’t practice the Catholic faith.
 
Lost_Sheep said:
Well I still hate going. Always have; always will.

Not because I think I don’t need it. I certainly do.

But I’ve got a bigger problem with what the Church believes about sin in general.

For example, if I subject to eternal damnation for eating a ham sandwich on Good Friday, what are to make of truly heinous things like rape and murder?
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I get this.
 
StGerardMajella said:
About a decade ago, I mustered up the courage to go to confession, even wrote out all my sins on a piece of paper. I spent a good deal of time preparing.

In the confessional, the priest peppered me aggressively with the actual number of times of each sin - couldn’t hear him that well. After answering, he then refused absolution, stating “he didn’t have time to go through all this”.

Stunned, I walked out, and the priest followed shortly thereafter as Mass would soon start. (And, no, these were not grievous sins like murder or the like, I assure you!)

I only regret not reporting him to the Archdiocese. I will never go back.
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I get this too. But assuming you stayed for the Mass to be celebrated by the priest, I must say you are a better person than me. I’d probably have walked completely out of the door, not just the confessional after that experience. Peace.
 
StGerardMajella said:
About a decade ago, I mustered up the courage to go to confession, even wrote out all my sins on a piece of paper. I spent a good deal of time preparing.

In the confessional, the priest peppered me aggressively with the actual number of times of each sin - couldn’t hear him that well. After answering, he then refused absolution, stating “he didn’t have time to go through all this”.

Stunned, I walked out, and the priest followed shortly thereafter as Mass would soon start. (And, no, these were not grievous sins like murder or the like, I assure you!)

I only regret not reporting him to the Archdiocese. I will never go back.
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I have been to confession where my priest also wishes to hear the number of times i may have committed a particular sin. I think that he wishes to ensure that I receive absolution for each of the sins brought before him.

I hope that you will reach out to another priest and entrust your burdens to the care of Our Lord through this sacrament.
May God bless you.
Amen.
 
StGerardMajella said:
About a decade ago, I mustered up the courage to go to confession, even wrote out all my sins on a piece of paper. I spent a good deal of time preparing.

In the confessional, the priest peppered me aggressively with the actual number of times of each sin - couldn’t hear him that well. After answering, he then refused absolution, stating “he didn’t have time to go through all this”.

Stunned, I walked out, and the priest followed shortly thereafter as Mass would soon start. (And, no, these were not grievous sins like murder or the like, I assure you!)

I only regret not reporting him to the Archdiocese. I will never go back.
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I’ll pray that you reconsider. I agree with the other’s it is one incident and one priest, so sad you had to experience it though. Priests are human and prone to sin too. This is an example of his, I hope you can forgive him for it. He really should have come to you after the mass and apologised, but I guess this never happened and I am sure it harmful to you both. It is a huge strength to forgive someone who never asked for forgiveness. Perhaps start by praying for a desire to want to work toward forgiving him. Have you ever been stressed and rushed for time? probably, so while the priest did something shocking try understand where he came from… the old chestnut of loving your enemy. Anyway… enough babble from me. It’s just sad that happened and sad the effect it had on you.
 
Sy_Noe said:
I get this too. But assuming you stayed for the Mass to be celebrated by the priest, I must say you are a better person than me. I’d probably have walked completely out of the door, not just the confessional after that experience. Peace.
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As tempting as that may be, I’m reminded that I don’t go to Mass for who is in the person of Christ. I go for the person of Christ.
 
Lost_Sheep said:
Well I still hate going. Always have; always will.

Not because I think I don’t need it. I certainly do.

But I’ve got a bigger problem with what the Church believes about sin in general.

For example, if I subject to eternal damnation for eating a ham sandwich on Good Friday, what are to make of truly heinous things like rape and murder?
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Dear friend you’re missing the point

ANY WILLFUL SERIOUS act that attacks GOD’S Sovereignty is precisely that… a direct and willful attack against God.

That my friend brings a measure of “equality” to OUR sins.

The kind of self-justification you seem to be engaging in is counter productive to YOU attaining your eternal reward of heaven, unless you repent, confess and convert:signofcross:

God Bless you!

Patrick
 
StGerardMajella said:
About a decade ago, I mustered up the courage to go to confession, even wrote out all my sins on a piece of paper. I spent a good deal of time preparing.

In the confessional, the priest peppered me aggressively with the actual number of times of each sin - couldn’t hear him that well. After answering, he then refused absolution, stating “he didn’t have time to go through all this”.

Stunned, I walked out, and the priest followed shortly thereafter as Mass would soon start. (And, no, these were not grievous sins like murder or the like, I assure you!)

I only regret not reporting him to the Archdiocese. I will never go back.
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First such an action COULD be detrimental to one’s Eternal salvation

Second if NONE of the sins were MORAL sins and this is mere moments before the start of MASS… the priest was correct in your acting scrupulously. … To hold THAT against the priest seems to ME [personally here] to liklely have been the greater of your confessed sins 🤷

Pray much and get BACK to confession! READ John 20:19-23 carefully and PRAYERFULLY

God Bless you
Patrick
 
Sy_Noe said:
No I don’t. Thus I haven’t been to in years. I personally feel better confessing to one another as James talked about or to God as the words of The Lord’s Prayer have us doing and accepting the atoning grace from Christ’s death on the cross. But if confession to a priest brings people comfort, then I’m all for it as one of the ways to confess and receive forgiveness. But I don’t practice the Catholic faith.
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for a reason… our convenience, our opinion is NOT that reason.

My friend have you ever been exposed to the One Infallible Rule for right understanding of the Bible?

**Never Ever; can, may or DOES
One verse, passage or teaching have the power or authority to
Invalidate, make void or override another Verse, passage or teaching:

Were this even the slightest possibility; [it’s NOT!] it would render the entire Bible useless to teach or learn Christ Faith”**

2Peter 1: 19-21
And we have the more firm prophetical word: whereunto you do well to attend, as to a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: [20] Understanding this first, that no prophecy of scripture is made by private interpretation. [21] For prophecy came not by the will of man at any time: but the holy men of God spoke, inspired by the Holy Ghost.

[Douay explanation]
[20] No prophecy of scripture is made by private interpretation: This shews plainly that the scriptures are not to be expounded by any one’s private judgment or private spirit, because every part of the holy scriptures were written by men inspired by the Holy Ghost, and declared as such by the Church; therefore they are not to be interpreted but by the Spirit of God, which he hath left, and promised to remain with his Church to guide her in all truth to the end of the world. Some may tell us, that many of our divines interpret the scriptures: they may do so, but they do it always with a submission to the judgment of the Church, and not otherwise. End Quotes

John.20 Verses 19 to 23
[19] On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
[20] When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
[21] Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.”
[22] And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
[23] If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

HUMILITY too is a grace, may I suggest that each of us NEEDS to pray for it

God Bless you

Patrick
 
StGerardMajella said:
Correct. There is no point in subjecting myself to that kind of personal humiliation and embarrassment again.
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I know from my own personal experience that a “bad confession experience” (and mine wasn’t even due to anything the priest did) can turn a person off of confession for years, but it’s pretty obvious that you got a dud of a priest who sounds like he had other problems - emotional, mental, maybe even a drug addiction or other serious disorder. What you experienced is not the normal way a priest in the confessional acts.

I pray you will go back because as bothersome as confession can be, it’s still (a) required by the Church at least once a year for Easter duty as far as I know, (b) a sacrament that provides us with God’s grace, and (c) we all should actually feel a bit humiliated and embarassed at being lousy sinners.
 
Yes, this. St.Gerard, many of us have been going to confession for a very long time and never encountered what happened to you. … It won’t happen again with a different priest. Why not give it one more try?
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Doubtful. My hearing is much worse than it was then. I would have a very difficult time communicating with the priest in a confessional booth where I can’t see the priest speaking. I am also an introvert, which is even less helpful.

They need to start doing anonymous e-mail confessions. I would sign up for that. For now, I have a certain set of prayers that I will say daily and at certain times of the year. It’s the best I can do at the time.
Priests are human and prone to sin too. This is an example of his, I hope you can forgive him for it.
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No ill will harbored.
I get this too. But assuming you stayed for the Mass to be celebrated by the priest, I must say you are a better person than me. I’d probably have walked completely out of the door, not just the confessional after that experience. Peace.
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I stayed for the Mass afterwards.
 
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