My private Confession

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kayla

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I am a fallen away Catholic and recently retruned to the church…my spiritual jouney has been wonderfull:yup:
when I was a young girl, I remember going to confession in my hometown Catholic chruch, it was a very private confessional ( a small darken room that was divided with two doors) when you entered, you would kneel and slide a small wooden window open and there was still a small mesh divider between you and the priest.
Imagine my surprise when I went to confession after being gone for 25 years…I walked into a confessional to find the the priest in one chair and another empty chair in front of him…he smiled warmly and said, please come in and have a seat.:confused:
Are all confessionals like this now days? I feel so out of the loop.
Would a person feel more comfortable confessing their sins in a more private surrounding?
I just want some (name removed by moderator)ut from different ways this is done, thanks for all your help with this;)
Kayla
 
The general rule for confessionals is now that there be the option to either sit face-to-face with the priest, or behind a curtain or other barrier. Perhaps in some smaller churches there is not room for the barrier, which is why you had to sit face-to-face. Both ways are acceptable, and it is left up to the penitent to decide how they want to confess.

I myself wish they still had the confessional boxes. Many churches today (mine included) have confessionals that look no different than broom closets, if not for the kneeler and crucifix.
 
i too was gone from confession for about 20 years… thank God I woke up… i was always aware of the choice of behind the screen or face-to-face, and we have a kneeler with a screen attached if you wish to avail yourself that choice, but the face-to-face method has become my favorite… after all, he sees me come in anyway, i’m not hiding either, so why not?. 👍
 
I’d like to make some comments on both posts so far. First is that the Screen, which must be set up in such a way the the priest cannot see who enters is required by Canon Law. The priest can offer the option of face-to-face if he wishes. The person confessing can choose if the priest allows the option of face-to-face. The option of face-to-face is not required but the screen is.
 
Bro.Rich,

Would you please tell me where I can find that in writting, my parish has only face to face, and even then I cannot even get into our “reconciliation” room. It is in a chapel my wheelchair has no hope of getting into, which by the way is where they hold the daily mass. All but one of my confessions has been outside the church, literally, visable to all who walk or drive by our church.
Linda H.
 
Hopefully Br. Rich can give a more complete answer, but in the meantime, here’s the Canon that refers to it:
Can. 964 §1. The proper place to hear sacramental confessions is a church or oratory.
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§2. The conference of bishops is to establish norms regarding the confessional; it is to take care, however, that there are always confessionals with a fixed grate between the penitent and the confessor in an open place so that the faithful who wish to can use them freely.
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Here is also the architectural guidline

states :
“…The Code of Canon Law designates a church or an oratory as “the proper place for the sacrament of Penance,” and requires a screen or fixed grille between penitent and confessor to ensure the anonymity of those who wish it…” *Art, Architecture and Worship, Built of Living Stones * {page 37}
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I would like to point out that Canon 964 has been interperetd so that a screen is there for ANY who would wish it; that includes the priest. No one has a right to a ‘face to face’ confession, but they do have a right to anonymity.
 
My parish is under construction … we have no confessionals … yet.

Of the two neighboring parishes, one has “broom closet” confessionals arranged so that the penitent can *walk past *the screen and confess face-to-face if he so desires. The other has more traditional screen-only confessionals.
 
Under construction! Have you looked at the plans? If not ask to.
 
Dr.Colossus and Brendan,

Thanks for your replies to my question. I have come to the conclusion that I am going to have to find a new confesser anyhow, I just don’t believe my confesser takes me seriously. I always am the last in line Saturday afternoon due to the lack of access, and then he is rushing to prepare for the vigil mass. All this and the lack of true privacy, I’m always afraid someone will walk up thinking that we’re just talking, he’s had to wave off people a couple of times. All this tends to inhibit a person. Luckly there is a monastary within a reasonable drive of my home.
Linda H.
 
I am still looking forward (and I mean that) to my first ever confession, and I have no problems with it being face to face. The priest is going to know who I am anyway, and I am going to know who he is. To each his/her own, but face-to-face just isn’t a problem for me.

DaveBj
 
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