'I'll make it quick", said the woman ahead of me on the confession line

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TrueLight said:
But your statement below seems to say you must go to confession before you receive.
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In the old school thinking and even now in some cultures, yes, they believe you must go to confession before receiving, just to be sure. They even had a second absolution (some still do in the EF) right before communion just to ensure you were totally “clean” of all sin.
 
I do very much pity those in areas where Confessions are not frequently available, even though I cannot relate. My particular parish offers 12 opportunities for Confession per week (every day and twice on some days), and my diocese – the Arlington Diocese of Northern Virginia has always stressed frequent Confession, especially during Lent. The Bishop has even run radio ads exhorting both practicing and non-practicing Catholics to make use of the sacrament during the Easter season. I don’t say this to brag, but just to show that there are dioceses and parishes that really are giving their flock ample opportunity to be forgiven. Hopefully others around the country and world follow in suit.

For those in low-frequency/low-availability areas, it is important to speak up. I myself am sinful enough that high availability has not been wasted on me, and the only thing better than a parish where no one sins is one where those who sin have access to forgiveness! As others have said, a good priest will find it hard to refuse a pitiful plea for more Confessions. St. Therese of Lisieux said that “Jesus trembles with joy” for those who ask his forgiveness. I can’t help but think that priests tremble a bit with joy when a member of the flock asks him to administer the Sacrament that will heal them.

I think the post by Chatter was also a great one – culturally it is never anyone’s fault anymore. I have experienced priests telling me not to beat myself up about this or that sin, which, while well-meaning, is almost the opposite of what I want to hear. I fear that wanting to always tell someone “it’s ok” will get in the way of their true penitence.
 
TrueLight said:
Confession is supposed to be about 30 minutes before mass at that Church, but the times I have been there, it hasn’t started until about 15 minutes before.
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If it’s before every mass, that’s ok. I’ve been to parishes that have only 30 min. on Saturday afternoon for a parish of over 1000 people. There are three priests there. I don’t understand this at all. I so appreciate a parish with confession before every mass.
 
TimothyH said:
TL, I don’t know if you work near midtown but just a thought…

I wonder if the Franciscan Friars on 31st St. might be an option for you.

How about the Opus Dei center, I think it is on Lex and 34th?

A priest of Opus Dei was my regular confessor for a while at the monthly Evening of Recollection here in Atlanta. I should really make an effort to get back there.

-Tim-
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I was just there this morning, finally returning home after 20 years out of the confessional.
Went looking for a Church with better Confession than the Saturday afternoon 4-5 or by appt.

The Franciscans have confession every day… Mon-Fri 7:30-9:00, 11-2, 4-6
 
Sadly, in the our modern world, with many liberal priests, confession is not preached. Many Catholics do not even realise that to receive without confessing serious sins is a serious sin and leads to damnation. As someone said “They eat and drink their own damnation.” However, I have been a member of a parish where the priest never mentions confessing sins and only a handful ever go to confession but most go up to receive Holy Communion, which is extremely worrying. There is a wonderful sermon given by St Leonard of Port Maurice called “The Little Number of Those That Are Saved” which must be extremely worrying for liberal priests to read; it is also a good lesson for all of us, lest we are complacent about confession. I highly recommend it!
 
Jerome_Fan said:
Sadly, in the our modern world, with many liberal priests, confession is not preached. Many Catholics do not even realise that to receive without confessing serious sins is a serious sin and leads to damnation. As someone said “They eat and drink their own damnation.” However, I have been a member of a parish where the priest never mentions confessing sins and only a handful ever go to confession but most go up to receive Holy Communion, which is extremely worrying. There is a wonderful sermon given by St Leonard of Port Maurice called “The Little Number of Those That Are Saved” which must be extremely worrying for liberal priests to read; it is also a good lesson for all of us, lest we are complacent about confession. I highly recommend it!
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Umm, if they don’t realize it, how could it be a mortal sin? Objectively, it’s grave matter. But you must understand that what you are doing is grave matter, and you must freely decide to do it. If they don’t realize it’s a serious sin, they have not committed a mortal sin.

Now as for the priests who fail to lead their flocks with appropriate teaching–certainly they know better.
 
Priests should take an opportunity to preach about the necessity of Confession to be received by all those over the age of reason. Yes, the precept of the Church is once a year. But the times I go to Confession, the lines do not seem to be that long no matter if I am an early arrival before Confession starts or I get there right when the priest is ready.

Also, there seem to be limited chances on weekends to receive the Sacrament which is hard for working people like me who have to work Saturdays then go to Mass after work with very little time between work & Mass. It would be nice to have once a week, with 1 evening session & perhaps a morning session for people to go so those who have unusual schedules due to work and/or family obligations can go. Not all are comfortable with making appointments to confess either, I know I’d much rather line up and go inside the confessional when its my turn.
 
Actually, as we have discussed before, it is not a blanker requirement, although recommended.

See Canon Law 989 (I believe) where it says the requirement is ‘for those conscious of grave sin’. This means mortal sin in context, as it goes on to say that confession of venial sins is recommended.
 
TrueLight said:
“That woman ahead of us takes so long,” she whispered to me, conspiratorially. “Confession is for only 15 minutes, today. I’ll make it quick.”

And quick she made it and smiled at me as she left.

I smiled back, went inside the confessional and confessed my sins in a hurried whisper. I did ask the priest one question and he started answering me in a gentle voice then realized the time and said he had to go. It was time for mass. He seemed sorry. So I was asked to say the Act of Contrition outside, before my penance, although he did absolve me.

Is this how confession is supposed to be?

I don’t expect priests to wait in empty confessionals for an hour, with nary a visitor, but do people not confess because of modernism or don’t they because there aren’t enough confession times?

Surely, if we build it, they will come?

There must be a solution besides “make an appointment”.
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Look to the churches of the Religious Communities in your areas. Often they will hear confessions during mass. To expect your confession to be heard in a fifteen minute window is unreasonable. All it takes is one that drones on and on.
We go often to confession, every two weeks is recommended, to make reperation for those who neglect to go and to stay as close to the state of grace as possible.
When I was young confessions were an all day affair. The priest waited until the six or eight hour schedule was over. Attitudes change , teaching and personal, we should not get caught in the minimizing of sin or in the new “modern philosphy” of feeling good after mass at all costs. If the priest builds it they will come, until then expect more of the same.
It is not required to say the act in his presence.
 
I took a quick break from work to go to confession, as is my habit. Confession at that parish is for about 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the afternoon.

The person in front of me took so long that I had to also confess lack of charity in my thoughts.
 
TrueLight said:
I took a quick break from work to go to confession, as is my habit. Confession at that parish is for about 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the afternoon.

The person in front of me took so long that I had to also confess** lack of charity in my thoughts**.
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I’ve had to do that once or twice. Ish. 😊

I’m fortunate in that my parish has 6:30a daily Masses with confession before and after. I almost always go after the Monday 6:30a Mass. No lines at all. It’s quite nice. Plus I don’t feel too guilty when I need to take a few extra minutes getting spiritual direction from my confessor, which I never do when I confess before a Mass. I don’t want my desire for an extra bit of help to keep someone in a state of mortal sin from receiving absolution before Mass.

Also, because I confess every week, my confessions usually revolve a certain virtue that I’m working on for the month. The last few months I’ve been focusing on the Spiritual Vices in the first few chapters of “Dark Night of the Soul.” This month has been Spiritual Anger … which brings us back to the original issue quoted above. 👍
 
I am surprised there are so many here who have to wait in lines for the confessional. I go before Sat. eve. Mass every week or two and I’m usually the only one there!
Castello said:
Sadly, many Catholics think they do not need confession if they have not killed someone or robbed a bank. 😦
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It’s funny one Saturday the kids were there for there 1st confession, so I was waiting in line, and chatting with the Lady next to me. I remarked how much I dread confession, looking for some commiseration, and she replied, “oh, I’m just here with my son. I haven’t robbed a bank or anything lately.” lol
 
I usually go to any of of three parishes in my diocese that are closer to my house and I usually find a line even if I get there before the scheduled time.
 
ChiRho said:
My particular parish offers 12 opportunities for Confession per week (every day and twice on some days)
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Wow! Do you have a large parish? Mine is about 3000 and only has it for an hour on Saturday. The only time I have to wait in line is the week before Easter. Then it’s packed!
 
constantconvert said:
I am surprised there are so many here who have to wait in lines for the confessional. I go before Sat. eve. Mass every week or two and I’m usually the only one there!
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Usually at this parish, I am either the first one there or at maximum there might be two people waiting. Today I was third, but the person who was first took about 12 minutes out of the 20 minutes. The next one took about 3 minutes, I took about 3 and before I left I told the priest there was one more person, because he was about to close shop.
 
TrueLight said:
The person in front of me took so long that I had to also confess lack of charity in my thoughts.
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TL, please don’t take this as me “picking on” you, but it’s statements like this that leave me scratching my head.:ehh:

I can only imagine how I would feel if I was that person ahead of you, knowing that I was making you frustrated because I was taking too long.

Confession takes as long as it takes. Shouldn’t we just be happy that people are availing themselves of the sacrament?🤷
 
Oneofthewomen said:
TL, please don’t take this as me “picking on” you, but it’s statements like this that leave me scratching my head.:ehh:

I can only imagine how I would feel if I was that person ahead of you, knowing that I was making you frustrated because I was taking too long.

Confession takes as long as it takes. Shouldn’t we just be happy that people are availing themselves of the sacrament?🤷
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Do you need me to help you with that itch?😃

You’re not picking on me, but a couple of points:
  • the person ahead of me didn’t know.
  • In the flesh, I knew that I had a limited amount of time and did not want to go back to work, with the same unconfessed sin that I had when I walked into the Church. Is that really hard to understand? If it is, then you have much greater sanctity than I do.
  • I acknowledged that it was wrong to think that way and thus the confession of that sin.
 
TrueLight, I can sympathize entirely. One time when I took my daughters to Confession, the older family in front of my one daughter took over 45 minutes between the three of them. The ones who weren’t in the confessional spent the entire time talking and laughing, which wasn’t conducive to the rest of us who were trying to pray quietly. When they were done they walked past and said to me, “I guess we should have let her go in front of us.” They all got a big laugh out of it. I somehow managed to avoid any really uncharitable thoughts, which took a great deal of effort and is a bit out of character for me.
 
Gordon_Sims said:
When they were done they walked past and said to me, “I guess we should have let her go in front of us.” They all got a big laugh out of it. I somehow managed to avoid any really uncharitable thoughts, which took a great deal of effort and is a bit out of character for me.
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:rotfl:

Good for you on avoiding uncharitable thoughts!
 
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