Odd Confession

[HorseJumperCTS]

I went to a nearby church last week for confession, and neither I nor my mom had ever had an experience like it before.

Normally, you go in, and say “Bless me Fr. for I have sinned…”, and he says a few things, then you confess. You say an Act of Contrition, he absolves you, gives you a penance, and you leave.

So, at this church, you walk in, say “Bless me Fr…”, and go right to confessing. The Priest then absolves you and gives you a penance. When I asked for “help” on one of my sins, all he said was “Well, you shouldn’t be doing that, should you?”. When my mother was in, he didn’t tell her to say an Act of Contrition, and when she asked if she should, he said she should just do it out there.

The whole experience was odd, because the priest seemed so cold. It seemed as if he rushed through the absolvation (not a word… haha), and he was pretty monotone.

Is this new limited-interference-by-the-priest and different format common? Thanks

 

[dbacks5439]

I went to a nearby church last week for confession, and neither I nor my mom had ever had an experience like it before.

Normally, you go in, and say “Bless me Fr. for I have sinned…”, and he says a few things, then you confess. You say an Act of Contrition, he absolves you, gives you a penance, and you leave.

So, at this church, you walk in, say “Bless me Fr…”, and go right to confessing. The Priest then absolves you and gives you a penance. When I asked for “help” on one of my sins, all he said was “Well, you shouldn’t be doing that, should you?”. When my mother was in, he didn’t tell her to say an Act of Contrition, and when she asked if she should, he said she should just do it out there.

The whole experience was odd, because the priest seemed so cold. It seemed as if he rushed through the absolvation (not a word… haha), and he was pretty monotone.

Is this new limited-interference-by-the-priest and different format common? Thanks

Were there a lot of people in line? It could possibly be that the priest is trying to minister to as many people as possible before Mass starts.

 

[HorseJumperCTS]

Were there a lot of people in line? It could possibly be that the priest is trying to minister to as many people as possible before Mass starts.

There were three people there (including myself and my mother), and he ran out (not really ran, but you know) as soon as we left the confessional.

 

[cecilia97]

There were three people there (including myself and my mother), and he ran out (not really ran, but you know) as soon as we left the confessional.

Sounds like maybe he had an appointment or energency he was trying to get to?

I’m pretty sure that the Act of Contrition can be skipped. It’s definately OK for the priest to ask you to say it outside the confessional, either before or after your confession.

And some priests are probably just not gifted with the “advice in the confessional” gene.

 

[dbacks5439]

Kinda reminds me of the Madtv sketch where Mo Collins sees a psychiatrist who tells her that in order to stop being afraid of things, she should just stop it.

 

[HorseJumperCTS]

Kinda reminds me of the Madtv sketch where Mo Collins sees a psychiatrist who tells her that in order to stop being afraid of things, she should just stop it.

Haha, because that’s helpful, right?

 

[dbacks5439]

more comical than helpful.

 

[lak611]

Saying the Act of Contrition outside of the confessional after confession is fine. I went to confession today. The priest asked me if I knew the Act of Contrition. I answered that I did. Then he told me to say it after confession and gave me my penance and absolution.

 

[ElizabethPH]

I went to a nearby church last week for confession, and neither I nor my mom had ever had an experience like it before.

Normally, you go in, and say “Bless me Fr. for I have sinned…”, and he says a few things, then you confess. You say an Act of Contrition, he absolves you, gives you a penance, and you leave.

So, at this church, you walk in, say “Bless me Fr…”, and go right to confessing. The Priest then absolves you and gives you a penance. When I asked for “help” on one of my sins, all he said was “Well, you shouldn’t be doing that, should you?”. When my mother was in, he didn’t tell her to say an Act of Contrition, and when she asked if she should, he said she should just do it out there.

The whole experience was odd, because the priest seemed so cold. It seemed as if he rushed through the absolvation (not a word… haha), and he was pretty monotone.

Is this new limited-interference-by-the-priest and different format common? Thanks

Not all priest council and if asked they don’t always tell us what we want to hear? I’ve been asked to say the Act of Contrition outside as well. With all the responsibilities a priest has these days with often times very little help, they are overwhelmed and always very busy I can understand that he probably needed to be someplace else fast.

 

[pray4peace]

When I went to confession during lent it was similar to that, except you make the sign of the cross saying In the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen., then say your sins, priest gives penance, then he may or may not ask you to say Act of Contrition. I just say it immediately after priest gives penance.
Our church gives out little sheets on the format with the Act of Contrition on it so when people who have not been in a long time know how things are done and have the words for them to read. I have heard if one does not know it, that saying it in one’s own words will be just fine.

I always say an Act of Contrition before I go in to confessional, and after, as one time I waited for the priest to tell me to say it and he didn’t and I missed the time to say it. I have found out since, that if something happens and you don’t say it in the confessional, that you can say it right after and it is still good confession.
I think it matters what is in your heart, which is repentance.