Sadly, for the longest time it was excessive. When I started going regularly, there were several times when I was the only person who showed up. Things are picking up now, so I’m hoping we get expanded hours or more than just once a month soon. As it is, I don’t think there’s anyplace around here that has it on a day other than Saturday, which can sometimes make it hard to get to. I’d love it if we had just one parish around here with daily Confession.
One thirty minute session per month… and you were the only one going!
I’d assume there were folks making appointments, but on several occasions I either showed up toward the end and had Father tell me I was his first customer of the day, or I’d show up early, be the first one in, come out and do my penance then pray the Rosary while waiting for Mass to start and the confessional doors wouldn’t open again until Father came out. Around the same time I’d go to other parishes and always have at least some sort of line. It was busy enough at one parish we had to deal with line-jumpers. I always wondered if they confessed that when they got in.One thirty minute session per month… and you were the only one going!
True. There may be justifiable reasons for spending a long time in there. If this happens consistently, the original poster should try making an appointment or simply going to confession at another parish.
There was a guy who always showed up for confessions on Monday at our cathedral. He’d sit in a pew and when the door opened he’d shoot into the confessional ahead of the 15 or more people who’d been waiting patiently in line. He’d stay in there a LONG time. For months I wanted to throttle him. Then I started going on a different day and never saw him again. Eventually, I started going on Mondays and there he was doing the same thing. Only this time, I looked at his behavior as part of my penance. By not getting angry, I was demonstrating to God how much I wanted to receive sacramental mercy and that I was willing to ignore such behavior while anticipating an encounter with Christ in this truly wonderful sacrament. I believe God sent this man to do this for our edification. What formerly bothered me became a delight. God was teasing us - and testing us.Around the same time I’d go to other parishes and always have at least some sort of line. It was busy enough at one parish we had to deal with line-jumpers. I always wondered if they confessed that when they got in.