No advice during confession?

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melvfe

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Hi all!

Today, I just went for confession. It’s the first time I encountered a priest who did not give me any advice at all. After I said my sins, he simply requested for the Act of Contrition, blessed me and absolved me of my sins.

The queue was not long; there was only one person left in the queue when I got out of the confessional.

This confession is definitely valid but I don’t know whether it’s the norm for you all to not receive any advice for confession.

Thank you for sharing your experiences!
 
It’s normal. It’s up to the priests whether to give advice or not. Sometimes it probably due to the nature of sins that you confessed which can be routine to them.

In any case, your sins are forgiven and that you are in a state of grace.

Have a blessed day.
 
The confession (believe it or not) is not really the place for counseling.
It’s to reconcile with God. You did. You were absolved of sins.
Perhaps your priest is one of those that prefers such conversations about details and advice take place in his office.
If you WANT advice, make an appointment. People do it all the time.
 
Confession is not really a counseling session. If you want advice from the priest, it would be good to make an appointment.

My priest explains it well, he says along the lines that confession is like that of ordering from a drive through. It is for us to tell the time and be absolved, not to ask what time is it.
 
Sorry, but I don’t understand what you meant by taking “a lot of grief” @hereiam
 
melvfe said:
Sorry, but I don’t understand what you meant by taking “a lot of grief” @hereiam
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Several people viamently objected to my claim that the Sacrament is not for counseling, but for absolution, and that counseling should be done outside the confessional.
 
Most of the priests to whom I have confessed have given some type of advice or counseling, but the last one did not. He didn’t even ask for an Act of Contrition, just absolved me, assigned a penance and sent me on my way. Although I was initially a little confused, I quickly realized that it was the most peaceful that I’ve felt after confession in a long time. Normally, because I have quite a bit of trouble with scrupulosity, the period after my confession but before the absolution is the most anxiety ridden part of the sacrament. It’s during this time that my mind begins twisting, wondering if I’ve somehow deliberately left out something serious or if I need to confess every doubtful sin that comes rushing into my mind (a thought process that the non-scrupulous do not understand). By skipping all that, the priest did not give my scrupulous mind a chance to know what was happening, and I was done before anything could kick in. The funny thing is that I typically avoid this priest because his “bedside manner” is less than appealing, and according to the chapel schedule he was not supposed to be in the confessional that day. Sometimes I wonder if God “tricked” me because He knew I would have more peace with this priest’s style…
 
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Most of the time I get advice. Sometimes it is long advice. Sometimes it is short. Sometimes it is none. Most often the advice is good. But sometimes it isn’t the best because it isn’t a counseling session and I can’t, or don’t want to out of respect for others, take time to thoroughly explain myself.
 
Counselling perhaps denotes a much wider form of consultation which would be probably better done outside of Confession. Not that I would object to that as the prerogative would be solely of the priest’s. But advice certainly are given in Confession, which is probably done most of the times. Yet, it is entirely up to the priest concerned whether advice is given or not on a particular confession, which either way, it is perfectly normal as far as absolution of sins is concerned. I am not a priest, therefore those are just my observation.
 
Agree…advice or even direction might be a better term than counselling.
 
I’ve found that most priests stop repeating the advice after about the 100th time I confess the same sin. Now I just say “It’s the usual stuff, Father.”
 
No need for advice always. Compared to having your sins forgiven, advice is what?
 
I have experienced both, sometimes advice is give, sometimes it’s not. I think it depends on the priest’s preference, circumstances, etc. So no, I would not say it’s unusual. I’d say it’s a 50/50 split with the priests I go to.
 
I would think that rather than advice, a priest would be more likely to say, “I absolve you of your sins. God bless you. Have a nice day, come back soon!”
 
You’re right, it is not essential to the validity of the sacrament that the priest gives you advice. It is helpful for the priest to give us some advice though.
 
To answer your question, you must first fined the biblical reference for confession. What does Jesus say about confession? What are the guidelines set forth in the Bible?
Once you find this, you will be one step closer to your answer.
 
I usually get advice, unless the priest is in a hurry, the line is long, or there is a language barrier.
Priests often give great advice, but I do agree that sometimes I feel rushed and would rather just talk to a priest outside of confession. Or maybe make an appointment for confession so I have more time to talk things through.
medwigel said:
To answer your question, you must first fined the biblical reference for confession. What does Jesus say about confession? What are the guidelines set forth in the Bible?

Once you find this, you will be one step closer to your answer.
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Agreed! Scripture is a great way to prepare for confession as well as seek advice. And if you are looking for a biblical reference for confession… that shouldn’t be difficult at all. There are many.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” - John 20:20-23

Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. James 5:16

Continued here: SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION & FORGIVENESS OF SINS - Scripture Catholic 😃
 
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Giving advice in a few words can be quite helpful. 

If I wanted some advice I would ask the priest, such as whether something is a mortal
sin.
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There have been cases where someone ahead of me was in the confessional a long time,
fifteen minutes or more. I didn’t know what was happening, but I wasn’t upset over waiting, because I presumed

the person needed the time what was spent there in the confessional.
 
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