Is it time............

[michael_quinlan]

to consider putting time limits on Confession? I went to a beautiful Advent Penance Service recently at my parish. The reflection and readings were apt and moving. They lasted 20 minutes. When I went to the Confession lines with 2 young children, it took an hour and a half. I want the children to respect the Sacrament of Reconciliation and its appropriateness in our lives. While waiting I began thinking about the procedure. Couldn’t families, especially with young children, go first? At the most our Confession took from 5 to 10 minutes each. Then when all the families have gone, then all the extremely sinful old ladies can go who must go on and on for 20-25 minutes.

Couldn’t the Church install an egg-timer? This would force people to be succinct within 5 minutes, especially in parishes where Confession is only offered for one hour.

Private Confessions can be arranged through the parish office for extremely sinful people

All kidding aside, I think that time must be a respected component, especially when large groups are involved.

 

[Timothysis]

I agree. Sometimes people like to use the confessional as an opportunity to just “talk” to the priest. Sometimes the priest will go way overboard trying to convince the penitent that they aren’t a bad person. I mean, really, unless you’re confessing that you murdered someone or something equally serious your sins are probably not outside of the box of everyone else. I read somewhere where a priest said he would be very hard pressed to be able to tell you what a person confessed right after they left the confessional. Get in there, do your thing and give the next guy a chance; that’s how I like it!

 

[Joannm]

I agree. Sometimes people like to use the confessional as an opportunity to just “talk” to the priest. Sometimes the priest will go way overboard trying to convince the penitent that they aren’t a bad person. I mean, really, unless you’re confessing that you murdered someone or something equally serious your sins are probably not outside of the box of everyone else. I read somewhere where a priest said he would be very hard pressed to be able to tell you what a person confessed right after they left the confessional. Get in there, do your thing and give the next guy a chance; that’s how I like it!

last month I went to confession to a priest I used to work with. We hadn’t seen each other in awhile and he took this opportunty to reminese about old times and to catch up on things. I kept interupting with my confession. When I went in there was no one on line…when I got out 15 minutes later…there were about 8 people waiting. I was so embarassed, first that it took so long and they had to wait, and second because they were probably thinking I had a lot of sins. BTW I only got a Hail Mary for penance so I was out of the church in about a minute. They must have thought…“gee she was in there all this time and only got a slight penance, I am going to go to this guy all the time.”

 

[Elizabeth502]

On the Days of Reconciliation that our parishes have, the individual confessions are heard standing up, & the stations + the lines are very visible. Penitent & priest are out there in the open, with only space separating them from the line. Most people do not want to stand for 20 minutes, so that arrangement is kind of self-limiting for each person. People get the idea immediately that efficiency is the theme.

An add’l advantage is that, since you see the length of the line, you can sit in the pews until that line becomes a lot shorter. Whether seated or standing, lots of people will wait for/in the longest one, because that is generally where the best confessors are. It’s often evident by the body language – or if you happen to know the priest personally or by reputation.

I guess if I were bringing young children, I would go at the very beginning – to an open or a closed confessional – or at the end (if open).

Even I often wait until the end because I neither want to delay others nor to feel rushed myself. I don’t need 20 minutes, but I need to gather my thoughts & mood enough to be in the present moment exclusively & not feel as if I’m in a fast-food restaurant.

As to the closed confessionals in my “other” local church, the priest knocks on the screen/window as a signal that “we’re done now.” These priests hear confessions daily, before several daily Masses, and want to make sure that the opportunity is available for all.

Alternatively, one can always make an app’t for oneself to avoid long lines.

 

[MusicMan]

If people would take advantage of the regularly scheduled confession times in their parish, then Lent/Advent Penance Services would be unnecessary, and perhaps your desire to reduce the time per penitent would fade.

 

[Elizabeth502]

If people would take advantage of the regularly scheduled confession times in their parish, then Lent/Advent Penance Services would be unnecessary, and perhaps your desire to reduce the time per penitent would fade.

I also agree with this.
Of course, some people attend those penance services because they can be powerful & inspirational in themselves. I used to deliberately wait for those, for that reason; I felt that my confessions were more honest. And/or I was looking for particular confessors who attended only those. Sometimes they bring in the newly ordained priests who are really On Fire & very sincere, and that can be a great experience, too.

But point taken.

 

[wynd]

I agree. Sometimes people like to use the confessional as an opportunity to just “talk” to the priest.

At a church I used to attend, a few people, the same every time, would frequently use confession as a way to “sneak in” some spiritual direction with the priest. While I have nothing against spiritual direction, the fact that the scheduled daily confession time was 45 minutes long and they would be in there a half hour or more kind of got on my nerves. Perhaps that’s what’s going on here.

 

[melissa09]

to consider putting time limits on Confession? I went to a beautiful Advent Penance Service recently at my parish. The reflection and readings were apt and moving. They lasted 20 minutes. When I went to the Confession lines with 2 young children, it took an hour and a half. I want the children to respect the Sacrament of Reconciliation and its appropriateness in our lives. While waiting I began thinking about the procedure. Couldn’t families, especially with young children, go first? At the most our Confession took from 5 to 10 minutes each. Then when all the families have gone, then all the extremely sinful old ladies can go who must go on and on for 20-25 minutes.

Couldn’t the Church install an egg-timer? This would force people to be succinct within 5 minutes, especially in parishes where Confession is only offered for one hour.

Private Confessions can be arranged through the parish office for extremely sinful people

All kidding aside, I think that time must be a respected component, especially when large groups are involved.

I really don’t think a sacrament should be put on a time limit and just because a person is in there for longer than five minutes doesn’t mean they are more sinful - it might mean they are closer to God and recognize their sins more. And some people go to confession with sins on their soul that are hard to confess, don’t put more pressure on them by telling them how fast they should do it. Also, many priests have good things to tell the penitent - things that they might **need **to hear. If your worried about not having the time to confess - arrange a private confession with your priest or see if your parish could offer it more than an hour a week.

 

[Blade_and_Blood]

We need priests, not a timer.

Ironically Yours, Blade and Blood

 

[zab]

At a church I used to attend, a few people, the same every time, would frequently use confession as a way to “sneak in” some spiritual direction with the priest. While I have nothing against spiritual direction, the fact that the scheduled daily confession time was 45 minutes long and they would be in there a half hour or more kind of got on my nerves. Perhaps that’s what’s going on here.

It is not very considerate of the priest nor the penitent to take up so much time when they may be preventing someone who really is in need of the sacrament from entering. In my opinion, if they know they are going to need more than 10 or 15 minutes (and that is stretching it) they should make an appointment. I am referring only to those who go regularly and/or want spiritual direction.

 

[melissa09]

It is not very considerate of the priest nor the penitent to take up so much time when they may be preventing someone who really is in need of the sacrament from entering. In my opinion, if they know they are going to need more than 10 or 15 minutes (and that is stretching it) they should make an appointment.

yes…maybe, but if you go to confession and all you can think about is how long the other person takes then you need to focus on something else

 

[zab]

yes…maybe, but if you go to confession and all you can think about is how long the other person takes then you need to focus on something else

Go to confession? What if several were turned away and never got the chance to go?

 

[Ghoti]

I read somewhere where a priest said he would be very hard pressed to be able to tell you what a person confessed right after they left the confessional!

Given the Seal of the Confessional, I should hope so!

 

[Solomon_Wisdom]

We have confession at the same time as exposition of the blessed sacrament so no “waiting time” seems wasted. Having said that we don’t have queues as only a few people go to confession (which is pretty typical).

Personally I wouldn’t take young children to wait for confession, but I don’t pretend there is a perfect answer to this.

 

[Simon_X]

Just a little tip, but maybe go to Confession a couple weeks into or at the start of Advent when nobody else is there. We’re lucky here to have many Catholic Churches and Saturday Confessions available all year long. Also, try to be concise and to the point when in Confession. If a line is outside, maybe let Father know and he’ll realize he needs to keep things moving along too.

God Bless and Merry Christmas

ps, the egg timer bit very funny, but we got your point. Maybe like the old pay phones that would chime in and tell you how much time you had left would work too…

 

[zab]

We have confession at the same time as exposition of the blessed sacrament so no “waiting time” seems wasted. Having said that we don’t have queues as only a few people go to confession (which is pretty typical).

Personally I wouldn’t take young children to wait for confession, but I don’t pretend there is a perfect answer to this.

There are always long lines at our parish- and one priest except on nights of the Penance Service twice a year.

 

[melissa09]

Go to confession? What if several were turned away and never got the chance to go?

maybe I didn’t explain it so well - but there are a lot of posts talking about how long people take and how they shouldnt be in there that long - and that isnt the point of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I do realize that some people might not get to go, but there are appointments you can set up and if its really bad, talk to your priest about having more times.

 

[zab]

maybe I didn’t explain it so well - but there are a lot of posts talking about how long people take and how they shouldnt be in there that long - and that isnt the point of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I do realize that some people might not get to go, but there are appointments you can set up and if its really bad, talk to your priest about having more times.

I disagree with you in implying that those who are quick should be the ones to make the appointments.

 

[melissa09]

im not saying that the quick ones should make appointments, im saying that if you dont get the chance to go you can make one, slow or quick alike. I am saying that yes its a problem that people arent getting the chance to confess, but that talking about how long one person takes isnt going to solve anything.

 

[AHapka]

If a line is outside, maybe let Father know and he’ll realize he needs to keep things moving along too.

I’ve done that quite a bit. Like if Mass is starting in 30 minutes, and there are still eight people waiting I’ll say “you have eight waiting.” Conversely, if Mass is coming up and I’m the last one, I’ll let him know that too.

I think that they really like having a general idea of how many people are waiting as it gets closer to Mass. I know my priest occasionally likes to have “chats” at times not related to confession, and if he knows that many are waiting and time is short he’ll stick to what needs to be done and save the chat for later.