My first Reconciliation?

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Peace and Blessings of Our Saviour to all CAF Members.

I’m not sure if this is where i should ask, but I figured i’d ask anyway. I beg first, for a loving and understanding heart, as i find my situation difficult. I would describe myself as Anglo-Catholic ( I am Baptized Anglican, but I pray the Holy Rosary, I believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist), in the Anglican Church of Canada, Confessions are very rarely done, if at all, and the closest i would come to an actual sit down/kneeling confessional would be at select few Anglo-Catholic parishes in our Diocese.

I guess what I’m asking is if a Catholic Priest would deny me the Sacrament of Reconciliation with the knowledge that I belong to a completely different church. Would he still listen if I asked with real intention? This will be my first time. I spend most of my time attending RC Masses, and I almost always go and visit our LORD in the Adoration chapel after i finish work.

it’s been pretty rough in the past while. And i feel that God is telling me to do this for him. I want to run back to him, to receive him in all of his goodness, but i know i have to wait until i confess before i can offer God my cleanest self.

Thank you for taking the time to read. I appreciate any advice given. I Pray our Saviour and our Lady will keep all of you!

Peter
 
I’m sure most priests would listen and counsel you, but sacramental confession and absolution is generally for Catholics or those about to enter the Church. I’m not aware of exceptions (that aren’t pending an immediate presumption of death), but it never hurts to ask a priest.
 
OP, I am sure that a Catholic priest would hear your confession and offer counsel. I cannot say whether he would be willing or able to grant you sacramental absolution.

Perhaps the obvious question is why don’t you enter communion with the Catholic Church?

Catholic Code of Canon Law:

vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_P2T.HTM
Can. 844 §1. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments licitly to Catholic members of the Christian faithful alone, who likewise receive them licitly from Catholic ministers alone, without prejudice to the prescripts of §§2, 3, and 4 of this canon, and ⇒ can. 861, §2.
§2. Whenever necessity requires it or true spiritual advantage suggests it, and provided that danger of error or of indifferentism is avoided, the Christian faithful for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister are permitted to receive the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick from non-Catholic ministers in whose Churches these sacraments are valid.
§3. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick licitly to members of Eastern Churches which do not have full communion with the Catholic Church if they seek such on their own accord and are properly disposed. This is also valid for members of other Churches which in the judgment of the Apostolic See are in the same condition in regard to the sacraments as these Eastern Churches.
§4. If the danger of death is present or if, in the judgment of the diocesan bishop or conference of bishops, some other grave necessity urges it, Catholic ministers administer these same sacraments licitly also to other Christians not having full communion with the Catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and who seek such on their own accord, provided that they manifest Catholic faith in respect to these sacraments and are properly disposed.
§5. For the cases mentioned in §§2, 3, and 4, the diocesan bishop or conference of bishops is not to issue general norms except after consultation at least with the local competent authority of the interested non-Catholic Church or community.
 
The longing for the Sacrament of Confession was one of the main reasons I became Catholic.

Maybe God is trying to tell you something?🙂

:blessyou:
 
Peace and Blessings of Our Saviour to all CAF Members.

I’m not sure if this is where i should ask, but I figured i’d ask anyway. I beg first, for a loving and understanding heart, as i find my situation difficult. I would describe myself as Anglo-Catholic ( I am Baptized Anglican, but I pray the Holy Rosary, I believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist), in the Anglican Church of Canada, Confessions are very rarely done, if at all, and the closest i would come to an actual sit down/kneeling confessional would be at select few Anglo-Catholic parishes in our Diocese.

I guess what I’m asking is if a Catholic Priest would deny me the Sacrament of Reconciliation with the knowledge that I belong to a completely different church. Would he still listen if I asked with real intention? This will be my first time. I spend most of my time attending RC Masses, and I almost always go and visit our LORD in the Adoration chapel after i finish work.

it’s been pretty rough in the past while. And i feel that God is telling me to do this for him. I want to run back to him, to receive him in all of his goodness, but i know i have to wait until i confess before i can offer God my cleanest self.

Thank you for taking the time to read. I appreciate any advice given. I Pray our Saviour and our Lady will keep all of you!

Peter
vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_P2T.HTM
Quote:
Can. 844 §1. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments licitly to Catholic members of the Christian faithful alone, who likewise receive them licitly from Catholic ministers alone, without prejudice to the prescripts of §§2, 3, and 4 of this canon, and ⇒ can. 861, §2.

§2. Whenever necessity requires it or true spiritual advantage suggests it, and provided that danger of error or of indifferentism is avoided, the Christian faithful for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister are permitted to receive the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick from non-Catholic ministers in whose Churches these sacraments are valid.

§3. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick licitly to members of Eastern Churches which do not have full communion with the Catholic Church if they seek such on their own accord and are properly disposed. This is also valid for members of other Churches which in the judgment of the Apostolic See are in the same condition in regard to the sacraments as these Eastern Churches.

§4. If the danger of death is present or if, in the judgment of the diocesan bishop or conference of bishops, some other grave necessity urges it, Catholic ministers administer these same sacraments licitly also to other Christians not having full communion with the Catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and who seek such on their own accord, provided that they manifest Catholic faith in respect to these sacraments and are properly disposed.

§5. For the cases mentioned in §§2, 3, and 4, the diocesan bishop or conference of bishops is not to issue general norms except after consultation at least with the local competent authority of the interested non-Catholic Church or community.

In light of the above I would suggest that you approach the priest and ask him.
 
If you are able to enter the confessional and carry on as expected (there is a script to follow and some parishes have the script posted) the priest would not deny you the sacrament as they would not know if you are Catholic or not. I cannot answer as to the validity of the sacrament and thus if you would receive any of the sanctifying graces.
 
I was an Anglo-Catholic in a similar situation back in the early eighties. I went to confession with priests of the Episcopal Church whenever I could fine one who heard confessions. Once I could not locate one and went to a RC church, telling the priest in the confessional that I was an Anglican who believed in the seven sacraments, etc. He was very nice and listened to me, then explained that since I was not a Catholic, he was unable to celebrate the sacrament formally and pronounce absolution. He then said a prayer aloud for me.

Eighteen months later I returned to the same parish and ended up with a different priest (the assistant pastor), and told him that I wanted to become Catholic. He had his appointment book with him and we arranged to meet at his office. But regarding my confession, he did exactly what the first priest–who was the pastor–had done eighteen months earlier. But shortly after I was received into the Church and confirmed by the pastor. That was 35 years ago, and the same priest is still the pastor of that same parish!

Consider the journey across the Tiber.
 
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