No advice given by the priest in Confession

[Dominique1234]

At this time in my life I find myself without a regular confessor. I go to the sacrament frequently, never letting the time between exceed two weeks. Today, (first Saturday), we had confessions offered after mass. I had matter to confess and waited with a long line of others for the sacrament. I confessed my sins since my last confession - which was last week. The priest, who I have never confessed to before, did grant me absolution, but had no advice for me. When I had a regular confessor, I always got advice, the priest that I see on a semi regular basis always has some kind of direction or advice as well. Does anyone have a similar experience with a confessor? I have to say, while I know it is not necessary part of the sacrament, I will avoid him in the future. Is that a bad attitude? Pray for me that the Holy Spirit provides me with a regular confessor to aid me on my spiritual journey

Confession is for confessing sins and getting absolution. If you want spiritual direction, I suggest you find a spiritual director who can help direct you. That is what they are for. It’s important to know the difference. I will pray you find a spiritual director who will help you towards Sanctity.

God bless.

Dom

 

[Joy2day]

There was a time in my life, before I fully appreciated what benefits the sacrament offered me, that I preferred this sort of confession. I even sought out the priest who was known for an in and out sort of confession. He was half deaf and never really heard you anyway. As I’ve matured, I’ve come to really appreciate good spiritual counsel given in the confessional. I recently went to confession other than to my regular confessor and had a similar experience to that which you have described. I was struggling with whether one item was a sin or not, and told the priest that I didn’t really know if it was a sin, hoping for some guidance. He didn’t even acknowledge the question. I brought the same sin up to my regular confessor the next time, and received some good counsel about it. At the end of the day, I was forgiven, but I have really come to value the “full experience” in confession.

There is a reason that some confessors are sought after, Padre Pio and St. John Vianney being two who come to mind. In any given church where there is more than one priest who is hearing confessions, one line is often going to be longer than the others. This is usually the priest who takes his time and gives good counsel. People are willing to wait in his line, even while the others move at a good clip. I thank God for those priests who have helped me in my spiritual growth, while I don’t fault those priests who approach things differently. I’m grateful for them, even if I don’t seek them out.

St Padre Pio was good cause he would tell you your sins, saving you the trouble of having to scratch that conscience and wonder whether something was a sin or not etc. That would be helpful to have a priest like that.

 

[Joy2day]

I also had a priest who rarely/never gave advice in confession. Sometimes I was having the impression that I was talking to a wall, because he had no reaction to whatever you said. But somewhat I appreciated this way of acting, because it really helped me not to be so scrupulous, he encouraged me to skip the details. It is alway better that to be stuck in the confessional for 15+ min and to pray that the priest will finish with the advice. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate all the help recieved in confession, but is very humiliating to go out and to see people waiting in line who look at you like this or like this
Well…what can I do:shrug:

Actually they (the other brothers in christ) put a microphone in St Padre Pio’s confessional - possibly resulting in the penitents receiving those looks upon exiting that you describe here. Just goes to show, you can’t ever find a perfect confessor.