Is my confession valid?

[Pimpsta]

I am a Maronite Catholic in South Africa and Lebanese priests are sent from overseas to the parishes here. Some of the priests can’t speak a word of English when they arrive but they are assigned to hear confessions. Is the confession valid if the priest can’t understand the language of those who confess?

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

Yes, a priest can tell by the person’s familiarity with the sacrament that the person is Catholic and repentant even if he can’t understand the language. So such absolutions are valid.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.