Nobody at Confession

[TraderTif]

I’m very familiar with the “where is everybody?” situation. (It makes me feel like I must be a terrible person, when I’m the only one there for Confession!!)

But, the priest always seems so happy that I’m there. And the last time I went, the regular priest must have been on vacation or sick or something, because an elderly, retired priest was filling in. He came out and looked around the church (which was dark, and probably looked empty, because I was sitting very still…trying to get some courage ) Anyway, he looked sort of sad, probably thinking that no one was there. He went in to the Confession room, and turned the light on…and then he came to the door and looked out again. (And his face just lit up when he saw that I was there, lol)

I’ve noticed a lot of the local priests starting to urge people to come to Confession more. It must be disheartening for them, when no one shows up!

 

[EasterJoy]

I was at confession last saturday and sure the church had people in it. Most were preparing for the 5:00pm mass and were practicing in the choir. Some were praying with rosaries in the pews… I sat alone by the confessional.

The priest was not in there. I waited and waited… and then thought this was almost a cruel joke that I made the effort to go to church and seek the sacrament of reconciliation. I needed it badly. I wanted to cry sitting there listening to people chatting and tuning instruments.

Finally Fr. came by and looked at me and said “are you here for confession?” I nodded. He took another 10 minutes before heading into the booth.

I have only been to him once before about 5 months ago… and he remembered me. ! ! Does that mean nobody else goes? I am not saying this in a sense that I am judging people who don’t go to confession. In fact, I know I am a sinner and perhaps the other people in church are just doing a better job at keeping temptations at bay.

I feel like confession is now… so obsolete. The priest also had nothing to say to my sins. He just asked me to say three Hail Mary’s. No clarification on my sins or any advise.

I just feel alone there. I know Jesus is with me, but I still feel alone and … I feel like I am doing something “old school” by going to confession as nobody seems to go anymore.

What do you guys think? I am sure you experience much of the same. Do I need to go to a Latin Mass church to find a good confessional?

I don’t think it is a mystery why this particular priest doesn’t have penitents lined up out the door.

Confessions start at 4 pm at our parish. Sometimes he’s done before five, but it isn’t that unusual for our pastor to have to come back after 5:30 Mass to finish with the penitents who had not seen him by the time he had to leave to get ready for Mass. He’s a very good priest, but Latin isn’t his long suit. Encouraging people to come to confession is, though.

The people who care about confession look for confessors who care about confession. Find a good confessor, and trust me, you’ll find you want get there at least five minutes early, unless you like a good long time to repeat your examination of conscience.

 

[JPUSC]

Hm.
I guess it really depends on where you are and when… I have made different experiences.
At the church I have often gone to in San Francisco, confession was very “popular”, for lack of a better word right now. There is usually a line, or more than one if more than one priest is available for confession.

A church I sometimes go to here in Switzerland offers confession on three afternoons, and usually there are a few people there too.

Another church offers scheduled confessions only every three weeks. I don’t know if that means that there is not a big demand, or if most people just call for appointments.

Kathrin

You must be talking about Our Lady of Peace Church in Silicon Valley near San Francisco. They always have long lines. And on special feasts, like Divine Mercy Sunday, they have a ton of priests seated on the outside lawn and a large crowd waiting in line for Confession.

 

[jamesneiman]

I think it would help to make an appointment with the priest the next time you would like confession, or at least to confirm directly with the priest a particular parish-wide confession time that you have chosen to attend. Once you set up a routine with your priest the issue will be resolved. If you have other friends who would also like to go to confession, you could encourage them to contact the priest as well. Once the priest hears enough of a demand for confession the schedule may become more consistent.

I work in a company located 2 blocks from a cathedral that has confessions every day right before lunchtime, followed immediately by daily mass. I go there every 2-3 weeks as I feel I need, even though it is not my parish. Perhaps that is something you could look into for your own circumstance if necessary.

 

[JimG]

The “nobody at confession” title reminded of a time I went to confession at a different parish. There was not nobody. Actually there was a growing line. But after reciting my sins, I was a little startled when the priest thanked me for coming to confession! He asked me to pray for those in the parish who needed to come but did not realize it.

 

[losh14]

What do you guys think? I am sure you experience much of the same. Do I need to go to a Latin Mass church to find a good confessional?

I’ve only once been to a parish for confession when the priest wasn’t present - and he apologized at Mass the next day, saying that he had to urgently give Last Rites to a dying parishoner.

At our parish, we have a “Confession marathon” twice a year, in addition to Saturday confessions. At the marathon, we have five or six priests in different rooms in the building (no confessional booths, per se), and as one penitent returns they drop off a placard that the next penitent can pick up whenever he or she is ready. The first year it was fantastic, worked very well. The second year, it was a little more frustrating. Newly arrived penitents would intercept the returning penitent on the way back, so the rest of us would be sitting in the pews for quite a long time. My wife and I actually gave up after about three hours and went the following Saturday. Hopefully they’ll post something this year about waiting one’s turn…

 

[baltobetsy]

This morning, I heard our wonderful Archbishop Edwin O’Brien doing a ***RADIO AD ***for this year’s Lenten Confession initiative called, “The Light Is On For You.” Every Wednesday night during Lent from 7:00 to 8:30, every single Catholic parish church is to be open with a priest available for Confession.

They did this in Washington, DC last year. I’m so glad it’s being done here in Baltimore. I hope many people take this opportunity to receive this wonderful Sacrament.

You can hear the ad at the Archdiocese of Baltimore website.

Betsy

 

[losh14]

I’ve noticed a lot of the local priests starting to urge people to come to Confession more. It must be disheartening for them, when no one shows up!

I think there’s a real fear that we’re losing a sense of sin as a society. Catholics are becoming more secular, and that popular celebrities have espoused a once-saved-always-saved theology doesn’t help. When I was younger I used to get in a lot of trouble, and it was only the atheists that got in more trouble with me than the so-called “Bible-believing” fundamentalists, and it was definitely related to “I’ve been baptized, I’m therefore saved.” And I reject Kirk Cameron’s ministry simply because it’s Kirk Cameron leading it, regardless of the theology he proselytizes.

Confession is a real need, and as much as there’s talk of a personal Jesus there’s no discussion of a personal sense of sin.