Kneeling or sitting for confession

[LiamQ]

No awareness of other eyes… just the trusted priest and your trusting self…

I agree with Francesca, in that this is very beautiful sentiment. My wife is certainly like this, in that she wants privacy when she goes to Confession.

But let’s not forget that Confession is about forgiveness, but it’s not necessarily about emotions. We can have an intimate encounter with Jesus Christ in the privacy of our own hearts, especially after receiving Holy Communion, but even during Confession. I don’t think that someone possibly seeing us during Confession can take away from that.

But I don’t disagree with what you say, I’m just mentioning some of my own thoughts.

 

[babochka]

Surprised at your questions…

Maybe in your more rushed world…

But here; to sit face to face in quiet, sacred privacy, with a priest you have known years,who has seen you through thick and thin, … to smile and , yes, weep. Apart from the outside world, with no inhibitions… to face all done and undone quietly and in trust, , and he knowing that in painful old age you can no longer even kneel… and seldom be there

No awareness of other eyes… just the trusted priest and your trusting self…

rare for me as rare I can get there. And treasured is the apartness that the closed door affords…

Over and out from me as I find the … responses… puzzling and a little sad.

We are after all individual children of loving God… I knew someone who spoke of cookie cutter Christianity… We do have needs and choices

As the mother of six young children, I do live in a somewhat rushed world. It is my season in life and for now, I embrace it as well as I am able. I would certainly prefer a different pace, but that is not what God has called me to right now. But I do find a haven from the hustle in certain moments and confession is one of them. Like you, I confess to a priest whom I have known for years. I am most comfortable with this. Yes, sometimes there are even tears. In the tradition of the Eastern Churches, confession is always out in the open, visible to others in the church. Others respectfully keep their distance, allowing for privacy even if we are not completely blocked from their view.

Even in the west, the “traditional” confessional is only about 500 years old. The completely enclosed box is even more recent in origin and not common everywhere. In Rome, you won’t generally find completely enclosed confessionals; the penitent is visible to those waiting or walking by.

I can understand your preference for more privacy and your preference for that which you have become accustomed to. What I don’t understand is your insistence that to do it another way is wrong. It might not something that you are comfortable with and it might not be the norm in your country, but there are other legitimate ways of doing things and those who do them differently are not wrong.

 

[rondirect]

I remember a VIRTUS video showed a window in a confessional. It took up half the door. I understand both sides to this issue. We have no window in ours, but if it were ever mandated, I think a small window, say 8X12 , might serve to all allow both privacy and as a protection for the priest.

We have such a door with a small window in it. In today’s world, it is sad to say that all doors, where privacy with another person might happen, should have a glass insert.

 

[rondirect]

Surprised at your questions…

Maybe in your more rushed world…

But here; to sit face to face in quiet, sacred privacy, with a priest you have known years,who has seen you through thick and thin, … to smile and , yes, weep. Apart from the outside world, with no inhibitions… to face all done and undone quietly and in trust, , and he knowing that in painful old age you can no longer even kneel… and seldom be there

No awareness of other eyes… just the trusted priest and your trusting self…

rare for me as rare I can get there. And treasured is the apartness that the closed door affords…

Over and out from me as I find the … responses… puzzling and a little sad.

We are after all individual children of loving God… I knew someone who spoke of cookie cutter Christianity… We do have needs and choices

Rose…
At first, I agreed with everyone else. But, as you explained the issue more, I agree with you. First, I agree that all closed spaces should have a small window at least in the door. However, you describe a full view scenario. I would feel uncomfortable also. Sure, people will see you waiting in line, but during confession, your emotions may be seen by everyone. I get it. Can you tell your priest or pastor of your concern and have a private confession elsewhere? Is there another church you can go to? Our confessional is in the back corner of the chapel. The small glass window is at stand up height. People waiting face another direction and cannot see through the window while sitting. The room is large enough that you cannot be seen unless someone deliberately goes up to the door and peers in.