If you confess face to face, my hat's off to you!

[JReducation]

I hate enclosed spaces, so I can’t stand the booth. I always go face to face or as they do in Europe, with the kneeler and screen out in the open. When we were students in Rome, many of the Churches didn’t have booths. I was quite surprised. I thought it was a common thing all around the world. I found out that it’s not. That many places in Europe use a kneeler with a screen or the priest is in the booth and you kneel outside the booth at a window with a screen. They had very few of the booths that we have in the USA. For me, this was heaven. I’m the guy who gets uncomfortable in an elevator.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[dzheremi]

I greatly prefer face-to-face to the box. I have waited, no kidding, five hours for face-to-face confession because I dislike the box (this is what I get for not setting up an appointment beforehand). My favorite mode of confession was among the Ukrainians at the local Ukrainian Catholic Church (where it is done before the icon of Christ, as someone mentioned earlier) back in Oregon. It was a very powerful experience.

 

[Tsuwano]

Face to face is my prefered way of confessing as well. I became used to confessing face to face with my spiritual director when I was in the seminary. After leaving the seminary, it just seemed natural for me to continue confessing in this way, so I always have.

 

[JReducation]

Face to face is my prefered way of confessing as well. I became used to confessing face to face with my spiritual director when I was in the seminary. After leaving the seminary, it just seemed natural for me to continue confessing in this way, so I always have.

My spiritual director is not a priest. So I go to a priest for confession and to a brother theologian for spiritual direction. We usually do spiritual direction in the chapter. Religioius have restrictions on confession and spiritual direction that the laity does not have. We cannot use our superiors, even if they are the only priest in the house. You have to go find one somewhere else. Usually, there are no confessionals in religious houses, at least not in our houses.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[nsper7]

I have never been to Confession ‘behind the screen’. In my parish, the Confessional, which is built into the wall, basically has two doors: one is if you want face-to-face and the other is if you want to confess from behind the screen. I always use the face-to-face door. Prior to being Catholic, I was Anglican/Episcopalian and their Confession (technically called ‘Reconciliation of a Penitent’) is almost always face-to-face.

For me, it might feel kind of weird doing Confession behind the screen. Besides, with my Scrupulosity and frequent Confession, the Priests would probably all recognize my voice and, especially, my sins.

 

[JReducation]

I have never been to Confession ‘behind the screen’. In my parish, the Confessional, which is built into the wall, basically has two doors: one is if you want face-to-face and the other is if you want to confess from behind the screen. I always use the face-to-face door. Prior to being Catholic, I was Anglican/Episcopalian and their Confession (technically called ‘Reconciliation of a Penitent’) is almost always face-to-face.

For me, it might feel kind of weird doing Confession behind the screen. Besides, with my Scrupulosity and frequent Confession, the Priests would probably all recognize my voice and, especially, my sins.

I’ve been a spiritual director since the early 1970s. Trust me, after a while, sins are just reruns. There are only so many people can commit. When you’re a confessor, spiritual director, therapist or anyone who deals with the inner life of people, you hear it all so often, that you can’t recall who said what. That’s a blessing. So you don’t have to worry about the confessor recognizing by your list of sins. I’m sure that you don’t have a copyright on any of them, do you?

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[tomjoans]

I’m 58 and always went to confession behind the screen. I felt as others have said that the priest is ’ in persona Christi ’ and I wanted it to be a sacred thing.
However, about 8 months ago we had a new assistant priest and I new him quite well. I just decided to go face to face and told him it was my first time doing so. He was a late vocation and is 55 ish and only been ordained 15months or so. I found it great! I was able to talk and ask questions. Also I have started going every 3-4 weeks because of that.

What happens between the 3-4 weeks that you may sin and haven’t been to confession, and you were to die? Don’t you know according to the Word of God in 1 John 1:8 If we say we are withour sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. v9 If we acknowledge our sins, He (Jesus) is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from every wrong doing. v10 If we say, we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us. Just read this out of the Saint Joseph’s New American Bible According to God’s Word, we can be safe by confessing straight to Jesus, than to be sorry and wait to go to confession.

Love in Christ Jesus,
tomjoans(Joan)