Only an act of contrition?

[whizkid43]

I was talking to my mom today and we were discussing the faith, specifically confession. She’s 80 and my dad is 83 and not in the best of health and they are nervous about “what’s next” after life so I keep trying to reassure them.

Anyway, she was told by her neighbor, who is a Eucharistic Minister, that confession is not necessary only a sincere Act of Contrition will suffice. I told her that was NOT the case but I didn’t have the specifics from the CCC. I understand this comes directly from the parish priest. Is this normal?

TIA.

 

[LilyM]

Canon Law may be more helpful than the CCC -

"Canon 960 - Individual and integral confession and absolution constitute the sole ordinary means by which a member of the faithful who is conscious of grave sin is reconciled with God and with the Church. Physical or moral impossibility alone excuses from such confession, in which case reconciliation may be attained by other means also.

Canon 965 Only a priest is the minister of the sacrament of penance.

Canon 988 1 The faithful are bound to confess, in kind and in number, all grave sins committed after baptism, of which after careful examination of conscience they are aware, which have not yet been directly pardoned by the keys of the Church, and which have not been confessed in an individual confession.

Canon 989 All the faithful who have reached the age of discretion are bound faithfully to confess their grave sins at least once a year. "

So it seems clear that at least yearly confession to a priest IS required.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I was talking to my mom today and we were discussing the faith, specifically confession. She’s 80 and my dad is 83 and not in the best of health and they are nervous about “what’s next” after life so I keep trying to reassure them.

Anyway, she was told by her neighbor, who is a Eucharistic Minister, that confession is not necessary only a sincere Act of Contrition will suffice. I told her that was NOT the case but I didn’t have the specifics from the CCC. I understand this comes directly from the parish priest. Is this normal?

TIA.

It’s not only not normal, it’s outright wrong, and dangerous to their souls. You should call the parish and ask to speak to the priest yourself about coming by to hear their confessions, and Anoint them with the Sacrament of the sick and alsp tell hin what the EMHC said. If you get the same line, call the diocese right away.

 

[whizkid43]

Thank you for your responses.

 

[FlatAffect]

There seems to be a misperception among a lot of practicing Catholics who believe you can do a “perfect” Act of Contrition and not have to go to Confession. I know a lot of Catholics who believe this and what they really mean is “I can just say I am sorry to the Lord in person and not go to Confession.” Well if you don’t believe in this sacrament why would you believe in any other one? Doing this is akin to not believing in transubstantiation at the Eucharist because you don’t believe in the Sacrament or the power of God within it.
As what constitutes perfect, I do not know but the fact that your parents are having misgivings about the next life indicates that they haven’t received the grace that comes with going to Confession.

 

[benedictgal]

I was talking to my mom today and we were discussing the faith, specifically confession. She’s 80 and my dad is 83 and not in the best of health and they are nervous about “what’s next” after life so I keep trying to reassure them.

Anyway, she was told by her neighbor, who is a Eucharistic Minister, that confession is not necessary only a sincere Act of Contrition will suffice. I told her that was NOT the case but I didn’t have the specifics from the CCC. I understand this comes directly from the parish priest. Is this normal?

TIA.

My father and his former pastor got into a serious argument regarding this very situation. My father served as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (by the way, Eucharistic Minister is a term reserved only for the priest and bishop, as they are the only ones who can confect the Holy Eucharist) to the homebound, elderly and infirmed.

There is a senior citizens home across the street from his former parish. The residents repeatedly asked my father to tell the pastor that they wanted to go to Confession. These folks are in the same boat as your parents. The priest refused to go and was very billigerent with my father. Unfortunately, the people died without having had their confessions heard nor did they receive the last rites. The families were upset, although my father told him that he did everything he could. He then wrote a letter to the bishop (certified, returned receipt), but, his letter was never acknowledged. About a month later, he wrote to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments and received a reply of acknowledgment.

Now, the pastor wound up sending two priests to hear confessions; however, he, himself, did not go, nor does he want to go. He told my father that he didn’t have time to hold the hands of the residents and sit with them.

If your parents’ pastor does not want to go hear your parents’ confession, you need to remind him of his moral obligation. If he still refuses, then, you have the right to write to the bishop.

 

[quiet52]

My father and his former pastor got into a serious argument regarding this very situation…

There is a senior citizens home across the street from his former parish. The residents repeatedly asked my father to tell the pastor that they wanted to go to Confession. These folks are in the same boat as your parents. The priest refused to go and was very billigerent with my father. Unfortunately, the people died without having had their confessions heard nor did they receive the last rites. The families were upset, although my father told him that he did everything he could. He then wrote a letter to the bishop (certified, returned receipt), but, his letter was never acknowledged. About a month later, he wrote to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments and received a reply of acknowledgment.

**BGal, please thank your father for his persistence. **

Now, the pastor wound up sending two priests to hear confessions; however, he, himself, did not go, nor does he want to go. He told my father that he didn’t have time to hold the hands of the residents and sit with them.

**So many of our elderly are “warehoused” – out of sight, out of mind, rarely if ever visited by family or friends. Shame on your pastor for his lack of compassion and for neglecting his DUTY as a priest. These elderly shut-ins were literally his neighbors – he didn’t even need to get in his car to bring Christ’s love to them. And these Catholics have a right to receive the sacraments. **

If your parents’ pastor does not want to go hear your parents’ confession, you need to remind him of his moral obligation. If he still refuses, then, you have the right to write to the bishop.

Please heed these words.

 

[whizkid43]

I will followup with my parents. They live in the same town as me and if they wish I can either take them into a shrine in Boston on the weekends or another shrine on the South Shore, both shrines have daily and weekend confession schedules.

It would be fitting payback. They used to take me to these same shrines when I was a kid for confession and I hated it…

Sorry I couldn’t resist, since I returned to the faith I keep remembering these things that I did within the faith when I was a young kid that I haven’t thought about in 30 years…

 

[IrishAm]

There seems to be a misperception among a lot of practicing Catholics who believe you can do a “perfect” Act of Contrition and not have to go to Confession.

The last time I was presented with this argument about the “perfect” Act of Contrition, I asked the person “but who decides (if it is ‘perfect’)”? As Catholics, we know availing ourselves to Confession is sacramentally perfect. Why would we ever hesitate to do so?