Is the General Reconciliation Mass all we need?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jebojora
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
40.png
mikew262:
I was making an observation.
Click to expand...
…and therefore, a good one in my opinion. Sorry to cast any doubt :o .
However, I wouldn’t be surprised that sometime in the future, something isn’t done to alter the confession ritual. Either doing away with the Pentitenial (sp?) Rite in the Liturgy to force more folks to go to confession, or putting more “forgiveness” power into the Rite (possibly making it the actual sacrament); leaving individual confession as an option.
Click to expand...
In some parishes, the latter is already regarded as true. As has been pointed out, many priests (maybe even Bishops) have either an agenda or grave misunderstanding of this Sacrament. With some of the more recent indications from the Holy Father (tightening the reigns on some groups: Neocatechumenal Way, etc.) I pray that there is soon to be affirmation of what the Church actually teaches regarding Reconciliation.
 
40.png
jebojora:
Hi

I converted to Catholicism 9 years ago. I’m still learning! 😉

My friend who was raised Catholic told me that we do not need to go to individual confession anymore. She said at her Parish (which I use to go to and left because it’s too liberal) they hold a general reconciliation Mass and that is all we need to do to be absolved. Is this true? It doesn’t sound right to me. I’d like to know what to tell her.

She told me that her two teenage daughters only went to confession before First Holy Communion and they’ve never been again. She also said she doesn’t break any of the 10 Commandments, therefore she doesn’t need to go anyway!! :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Individual confession is required when one is aware of serious sinis and able to receive the Sacrament.

“She also said she doesn’t break any of the 10 Commandments, therefore she doesn’t need to go anyway!!” It is true that if one leads a PERFECT life and never sins, confession is not required. However one must always heed the words of St. Paul to those who think they do not sin.
 
40.png
mikew262:
Its sad to see, but if things don’t change, the number of priests will continue to decline, till we don’t hardly have any left. The old ones will eventually die, with no replacements.

Sometimes reality is tough to accept.
Click to expand...
I hear conflicting information on this. I hear that compared to pre-vatican II numbers, that vocations have declined at an alarming rate. But I also hear that there is a upswing in conservative Catholics, and among them there is a rise in vocations. I know that at my Parish, we have two relatively young priests and our monsignor is in his mid 50’s. We just had two young men from our parish begin the road to the priesthood and we’ve had several young seminarians work with our parish.

Our Parish (which seems to be largely conservative) has large RCIA classes (they now have two a year), we have 3 priests, many many parishioners and more joining every month. On the other hand, the Parish I used to attend is very liberal…and their numbers seem to have declined. They had 3 priests, now they have two and both of them are elderly.

So…I wonder if what I hear is true? In the last…15 or 20 years have vocations started to rise? Does anyone know?

Thanks
 
Yes…it certainly looks that way. I found this quote:
What has caused the decline in vocations?

This is the million dollar question and finding a definitive answer does not seem possible. It can be noted, however, that:
  • men and women can minister in today’s Church without choosing the life style of priesthood or religious life;
  • Dramatic changes have taken place both in society and the Catholic Church in the last thirty years, many of which mitigate against vocations, e.g., increased consumerism, decreased family size;
  • People do not respect and trust institutions and authority as much as they once did;
  • The family system has been weakened to an extent most never dreamed possible;
  • Success has become more narrowly defined in terms of earning power;
  • Few seem to invite young men and women to consider these vocations;
  • Within the Church, the role of the priest in relating to the faith community has changed radically, and there has been some confusion about the identity of priests, sisters, and brothers;
  • The Church changed in many ways after Vatican II and some expected that priests would be able to marry and that women would be ordained;
  • The perceived value of priesthood and consecrated life has decreased;
  • People are afraid to make lifetime commitments
Click to expand...
I think several of these points are true. Priests come from the Catholic community as a whole. More and more people do not value faith and family…and they raise their children in a very worldly manner.

All we can do is continue to pray for vocations! Pray that those that are called will hear His voice and do His will.
 
There is a parish in the Cleveland Diocese that holds a General Reconciliation service at least twice a year. The reason I know is because I attended one with my sister. The priest gives absolution to everyone in the pews after a general examination of consience. The church is filled with people standing in the aisles when he has this service. The Bishop has given him permission to do this because of a shortage of priests. This parish does hold weekly Confession and if you go I suspect you might be the only one there. I attended this service once and will never go again. I didn’t feel like I made a good Confession.
 
40.png
Holland:
There is a parish in the Cleveland Diocese that holds a General Reconciliation service at least twice a year. The reason I know is because I attended one with my sister. The priest gives absolution to everyone in the pews after a general examination of consience. The church is filled with people standing in the aisles when he has this service. The Bishop has given him permission to do this because of a shortage of priests. This parish does hold weekly Confession and if you go I suspect you might be the only one there. I attended this service once and will never go again. I didn’t feel like I made a good Confession.
Click to expand...
IMO, if you truly confessed and asked God for forgiveness, it was a good confession, but again, that’s just me.
 
40.png
Holland:
There is a parish in the Cleveland Diocese that holds a General Reconciliation service at least twice a year. The reason I know is because I attended one with my sister. The priest gives absolution to everyone in the pews after a general examination of consience. The church is filled with people standing in the aisles when he has this service. The Bishop has given him permission to do this because of a shortage of priests. This parish does hold weekly Confession and if you go I suspect you might be the only one there. I attended this service once and will never go again. I didn’t feel like I made a good Confession.
Click to expand...
That’s really interesting. But what I don’t understand is if there is a shortage of priests, but no one comes to individual confession…then in reality there are plenty of priests because there are only a few people even seeking to make a good confession in the first place.

I do not think it’s a good confession in this situation. I think it lacks the humility factor that is so good for our souls. Speaking your sins out loud is difficult and requires you to really examine your conscience. Plus, I think it makes me all the more aware of my sins.

Having been a Protestant I am very comfortable with going to God and saying…sorry…I won’t do that again. It’s so easy and of course it lacks perfect contrition. It’s just more laziness. The Catholics who participate in this type of thing, deny themselves the full grace of God. Why would anyone want to do that? There is much grace to be received in just being obedient. We are to do what God has asked of us. What He asks is so small compared to what He offers us in return.

These things that we are supposed to do have a far greater effect…it helps shape us spiritually to be more in tune with the Holy Spirit and the will of God. It’s like the obedience fine tunes us for receiving the grace of God. When you reject this, you may not even realize what you are missing…things just start to unravel…children stop going to Mass, vocations decline…etc. etc.

I hope this makes sense, it’s a little difficult to put in to words exactly what I’m trying to say. I guess it’s that being lax in our faith has led to a lack of graces bestowed on us, this in turn continues our worldly trend. We cannot keep faithful without the grace of God. So, we are obedient out of our love for Him and He in return gives us His grace which keeps us strong.
 
This is a fairly large parish with one priest. Before Christmas and Easter people would wait till the last minute to go to Confession and the priest would be completely overwhelmed with the number of people wanting confession. The Diocese could not help because of a lack of Priests so they gave him permission to hold this Reconciliation Service. I think the result has been people depending on this Service to fulfill their requirement to go to Confession. I think there are better answers to this problem. In our Diocese we have a Reconciliation Service with all the available priests from surrounding parishes giving individual confessions after the service. There is no general absolution given during the service. They do this 4 or 5 times during the year and it is very well attended. And yes, we do have a shortage of Priests in our Diocese.
 
40.png
Holland:
This is a fairly large parish with one priest. Before Christmas and Easter people would wait till the last minute to go to Confession and the priest would be completely overwhelmed with the number of people wanting confession. The Diocese could not help because of a lack of Priests so they gave him permission to hold this Reconciliation Service. I think the result has been people depending on this Service to fulfill their requirement to go to Confession. I think there are better answers to this problem. In our Diocese we have a Reconciliation Service with all the available priests from surrounding parishes giving individual confessions after the service. There is no general absolution given during the service. They do this 4 or 5 times during the year and it is very well attended. And yes, we do have a shortage of Priests in our Diocese.
Click to expand...
That just doesn’t seem right. I realize he’s gotten the Bishop’s approval and I understand why. I agree with you, there should be better answers to the problem. I belong to a large parish…7000+ registered families…and we do have 3 priests. They offer confession 1 hour before every Mass. They end it 15 minutes before Mass is to begin. There is always a line and there are always people turned away. But we all know this. If you want to go to confession you need to get there early. They provide extra opportunities at Easter and Christmas and of course you can always make an appointment with any of the priests.

I don’t think procrastination should be catered to in this way. Catholic’s know they are to go to confession and confess and grave/mortal sins. If they do not, they cannot receive Eucharist. I think they should have to work at it, arrange their schedules, make time for something so important. As always, I think some people miss the point…there is something to be gained in making that sacrifice. Something to be learned. Children need to see their parents making this effort, that’s how they learn that it’s important.

I think if this type of Mass was acceptable, everyone would rather do it. It’s easier, it’s less humiliating, it’s less personal.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top