"My Side of the Confessional": A Priest Tells How Giving Confessions Has Been Life Changing for Himself

[mdgspencer]

see lifeteen.com/blog/my-side-of-the-confessional-what-is-it-like-for-a-priest/

I get to regularly come face to face with the overwhelming, life-transforming power of God’s love. I get to see God’s love up-close and it reminds me of how good God is.

Not many folks get to see the way in which God’s sacrifice on the Cross is constantly breaking into people’s lives and melting the hardest hearts…

Archbishop Fulton Sheen once told priests that we don’t realize that the very Blood of Christ is dripping from our fingers onto their heads, washing the penitent clean.

 

[PelagiathePenit]

see lifeteen.com/blog/my-side-of-the-confessional-what-is-it-like-for-a-priest/

I get to regularly come face to face with the overwhelming, life-transforming power of God’s love. I get to see God’s love up-close and it reminds me of how good God is.

Not many folks get to see the way in which God’s sacrifice on the Cross is constantly breaking into people’s lives and melting the hardest hearts…

Archbishop Fulton Sheen once told priests that we don’t realize that the very Blood of Christ is dripping from our fingers onto their heads, washing the penitent clean.

I always thought a priest would lose their faith in humanity after hearing all those horrid confessions. Humans are so selfish, ignorant and petty.

 

[Vera_Ljuba]

It was an interesting blog. I have a question. What happens if an infidel (like me) goes to a church and wishes to talk to a priest in the confessional booth? Is it a requirement to be Catholic?

 

[TK421]

In ordinary circumstances you have to be Catholic to receive the sacrament, but anybody can informally talk to a priest. I’m sure he would be more than welcome to talk to you.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Generally speaking, non-Christians cannot receive other Sacraments before Baptism. The Sacrament of Penance is one of the seven Sacraments instituted by Christ. If you want to talk to a priest, approach him outside the confessional.

 

[adamhovey1988]

Anyone read that in his voice like from his videos?

 

[Vera_Ljuba]

Generally speaking, non-Christians cannot receive other Sacraments before Baptism. The Sacrament of Penance is one of the seven Sacraments instituted by Christ. If you want to talk to a priest, approach him outside the confessional.

In ordinary circumstances you have to be Catholic to receive the sacrament, but anybody can informally talk to a priest. I’m sure he would be more than welcome to talk to you.

Thanks, that is fine. I would not want to waste the priest’s time. Though I wonder if a non-Catholic would feel the urge to confess something, AND repent, how could a priest refuse to listen and seeing a sincere repentance - still refuse to give absolution.

But reading the blog I had to wonder if it would not be a welcome change to talk to someone, who is without “sin”. He would not have to do penance on my behalf. After all I would NEVER do something that I would consider “sinful”, so there would be nothing to confess. I am always wondering why would anyone commit a “sin”? Makes no sense to me.