Odd confession experience--was it valid?

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Colorad007

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I need to know whether or not my confession was valid. Here’s what happened:

The priest–not my regular confessor–was hearing confessions with neither his roman collar nor any sort of vestment. Fine. But he was also chewing gum. Fine, again. Then he answered his phone in the middle of my confession. Less fine. Finally–and here’s where it gets iffy–he didn’t give me the usual absolution. Instead, he ad libbed the absolution and sent me away with no penance.

I asked another priest and he said that I could do my own penance and offer it up since I never received one, and that as long as the confessor said “I absolve you in the…” then it was a valid absolution. I’m about 60% sure that he said those words, though I was so shocked that I wasn’t really listening.

Do I need to re-confess? I would simply re-confess everything but it was such a lengthy (and scrupulous) confession that I really don’t want to bombard the next priest with a supersized confession. Any thoughts?
 
Colorad007 said:
I need to know whether or not my confession was valid. Here’s what happened:

The priest–not my regular confessor–was hearing confessions with neither his roman collar nor any sort of vestment. Fine. But he was also chewing gum. Fine, again. Then he answered his phone in the middle of my confession. Less fine. Finally–and here’s where it gets iffy–he didn’t give me the usual absolution. Instead, he ad libbed the absolution and sent me away with no penance.

I asked another priest and he said that I could do my own penance and offer it up since I never received one, and that as long as the confessor said “I absolve you in the…” then it was a valid absolution. I’m about 60% sure that he said those words, though I was so shocked that I wasn’t really listening.

Do I need to re-confess? I would simply re-confess everything but it was such a lengthy (and scrupulous) confession that I really don’t want to bombard the next priest with a supersized confession. Any thoughts?
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go to a holy, levelheaded, faithful, orthodox priest, and tell him what you told us.
 
Dear Colorad007,

I understand your confusion, but rest assured. Despite the shortcomings of this minister, it was Jesus Christ in the confessional with you and he forgave your sins.

By the way, I also have a confessor whom I always go to and this is a huge comfort to me. He is aware of the issues that I wrestle with- Bipolar Disorder- and is able to give very pertinent advice as well as absolution.
 
FatHead said:
go to a holy, levelheaded, faithful, orthodox priest, and tell him what you told us.
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Your priest is exceptional. Why would he have a phone in the confessional> Don’t worry about absolution because w hat ever he mumbbled he was still valid in giving absolution.

I went to a priest face to face and I made him so angry, lhe left the confessional amd my sins were never absolved

Well. he will have to answer to that childish action

JESUS I TRUST IN YOU

jr
 
You have already talked to another priest. If he felt you needed to re-confess, he would have told you. You went to confession with repentance and a firm purpose of amendment (we assume). You said your confession. The priest absolved you (even if it wasn’t in the form you are used to). You are good to go.

I would try to avoid priest #1 as a confessor again. Since you have a tendency to scrupulosity, it is best for you to pick one confessor (priest #2 sounds good) and always go to him for confession. He will tell you how often and in what format to do your confessions. You should also (all of us should) refrain from “Monday morning quarterbacking” your confessions. If you go through the three steps above (1. contrition, 2. confession, 3. absolution) your confession is good even if it didn’t include advice, counseling, or assigned penance.
 
Jim Roberts -

Can we know what made the priest that angry? I’ve never heard of such a thing.

Jennifer
 
Jim_Roberts said:
whatever he mumbbled he was still valid in giving absolution.
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This is just not true, and is not good advice for this penitent. We cannot possibly comment on the validity of the sacrament, without knowing exactly what was said.

The intent of the priest is not sufficient to validate the sacrament; every sacrament has a proper matter and form. The priest must use the words, ego te absolvo (“I absolve your sins”) in order for the sacrament to be valid, along with the proper intent of the penitent.

I would advise this penitent to be sure about the words that were said; in any event, if there is any doubt, you should go again to confession and report this incident to the bishop.
 
Hello Colorad 007,
if your confession was said with a contrite heart and genuine sorrow for your sin then I’m sure you have been forgiven. As regards to the priest whom heard your confession
" shame on him " he is unworthy of hearing confession. It also troubles me somewhat that a priest would bring a recording device such as a mobile phone into the confessional!
Blessings Richard.
 
Yeah, the mobile phone in the confessional probably has a recording device in its applications, and that would bother me as well. The gum? Hardly professional, reverent, or even in good taste, but maybe Father is an inveterate smoker and is chewing nicotine gum in an effort to quit (I’ve known a few priests who are or were chain smokers.) I’ve seen priests hear confessions in mufti, but they always wear a purple stole when doing so, but NOT wearing one wouldn’t invalidate a confession. As long as he said “I absolve you in the Name of…,” you’re covered. Don’t overthink it, and next time, find a priest who acts a little more like a priest!
 
Another question, then, assuming that the confession was valid:

I confessed lying, even though I couldn’t recall the instance where I lied. I just vaguely remembered earlier in the week telling myself to make a mental note to confess dishonesty. So, to be on the safe side, I confessed it anyway. That’s not sacrilege, is it?
 
Jim_Roberts said:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Your priest is exceptional. Why would he have a phone in the confessional> Don’t worry about absolution because w hat ever he mumbbled he was still valid in giving absolution.

I went to a priest face to face and I made him so angry, lhe left the confessional amd my sins were never absolved

Well. he will have to answer to that childish action

JESUS I TRUST IN YOU

jr
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If you don’t mind me asking, why was he angry? I too had a bit of this going on with my latest confession. It was very discomforting and I felt very uneasy the entire time. I still couldn’t imagine a Priest leaving the confessional though.
 
Colorad007 said:
Another question, then, assuming that the confession was valid:

I confessed lying, even though I couldn’t recall the instance where I lied. I just vaguely remembered earlier in the week telling myself to make a mental note to confess dishonesty. So, to be on the safe side, I confessed it anyway. That’s not sacrilege, is it?
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You sound as if you are struggling with scrupulosity. Please decide on one confessor and only see him. Explain that you have a tendency to scrupulosity and ask him to be your regular confessor. Follow his advice about how often to go to confession, how to determine if a sin is venial or mortal (or if you committed a sin at all). Please don’t come here or to other people (IRL or on other forums) to ask questions about your confessions. Scrupulosity is a difficult issue and can lead you in circles.
 
As long as the priest said “I absolve you from your sins…” in the name of the Holy Trinity, then you are absolved, but maybe it would be a good idea for you to speak to another priest about this and ask him what he thinks.
 
Colorad007 said:
I need to know whether or not my confession was valid. Here’s what happened:

The priest–not my regular confessor–was hearing confessions with neither his roman collar nor any sort of vestment. Fine. But he was also chewing gum. Fine, again. Then he answered his phone in the middle of my confession. Less fine. Finally–and here’s where it gets iffy–he didn’t give me the usual absolution. Instead, he ad libbed the absolution and sent me away with no penance.

?
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none of this makes the sacrament invalid, although it does display some rudeness that should be reported to somebody, and would make me immediately question if this guy was a priest or a frat dude playing a sacrilegious prank. In general unless you know for an absolute fact what the priest actually said, and that it was not the words of absolution, you should assume it was valid. In a case like this where I already had concerns I would raise them with whoever is in charge in that church. Many priests don’t assign penance any more, expect to you DIY on this and the act of contrition.
 
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