Priest cut me off during confession?

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hausofferni

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I went to confess today as I usually do on Saturdays and as I was confessing my sins, my priest cut me off and forgave me and then that was it. I was in shock and very startled that he did this and I didn’t know what to do so I said thank you and went to do my recommended penance. I don’t know why he did this, maybe my list was too long or maybe he recognized my voice but I felt really bad and was crying. Am I forgiven of my sins even though I didn’t say them all? I’m just very confused. Does it have something to do with scruples?
 
hausofferni said:
Am I forgiven of my sins even though I didn’t say them all? I’m just very confused. Does it have something to do with scruples?
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Yes, you are forgiven and yes it most likely has to do with your scruples.

Make an appointment to talk to your pastor outside the confessional to deal with your scruples. This is not going to go away on its own. And your priest needs dedicated time to help you and go through your issues with you and counsel you.
 
Sorry that happened to you. It’s not just you, priests cut people off and sometimes even refuse to hear confessions after someone starts. It is particularly disturbing when the person confessing is the only one there for confession. People are not perfect and neither are priests.

Try to make an appointment and talk to him outside of confession time like suggested or find another priest to confess to.
 
I used to spend a long time in the confessional, but since then, I’ve learned that’s not necessary. Others would not get to confess if I took a long time. Also, the priest leveled with me that he was working 14-hour days. I’ve sinced learned to confess in 5 min. I’ve never had a complaint, and I say everything that needs to be said. I’ve had 2 priests compliment me on the way I do confession now, one American priest, one Mexican. The Mexican priest gave a sigh of relief and said, “Thanks for having a simple confession”.

I’ve also been on the receiving end when I’d be waiting for confession in a very long line, and one person would confess, taking all the time. Nobody else could get in. I’ve gone downtown again and again, had this same experience. It got to the point I have found it necessary to confess at other churches, because I’d be second in line, still not get confessed!

Get a review of conscience.

Make a list, going down it saying 1st commandment x number of times, second commandment x-number of times, impure thoughts x-number of times. If the priest wants details, he’ll ask. Round off numbers with mortal sins. Was it one time, ten times, a hundred, approximately?

Most of us don’t remember exactly how many times exactly. We estimate to the best of our ability, and just leave it at that.

Once, I heard of a case where there was confession, and the priest got on the microphone and asked the penitents to be brief so that all the confessions could be heard.

Now, I consider it a courtesy to others to keep my confession short. If I would need more time, I’d try to schedule an appointment, but I’ve not found it necessary.
 
And yes, you may have scruples.

There is a 10 commandments for the scrupulous. I couldn’t find it online. Maybe someone else can provide a link.
 
hausofferni said:
I went to confess today as I usually do on Saturdays and as I was confessing my sins, my priest cut me off and forgave me and then that was it. I was in shock and very startled that he did this and I didn’t know what to do so I said thank you and went to do my recommended penance. I don’t know why he did this, maybe my list was too long or maybe he recognized my voice but I felt really bad and was crying. Am I forgiven of my sins even though I didn’t say them all? I’m just very confused. Does it have something to do with scruples?
Click to expand...
Yes you are forgiven, and yes this is about scruples. If your confession was anything like the questions you post on this board, it’s not surprising the priest did what he did. For all we know, you were actually done confessing your actual sins what what you were confessing were not really sins, so he must have likely determined you’ve done your part and it was time to be absolved.
 
ClearWater said:
I used to spend a long time in the confessional, but since then, I’ve learned that’s not necessary. Others would not get to confess if I took a long time. Also, the priest leveled with me that he was working 14-hour days. I’ve sinced learned to confess in 5 min. I’ve never had a complaint, and I say everything that needs to be said. I’ve had 2 priests compliment me on the way I do confession now, one American priest, one Mexican. The Mexican priest gave a sigh of relief and said, “Thanks for having a simple confession”.

I’ve also been on the receiving end when I’d be waiting for confession in a very long line, and one person would confess, taking all the time. Nobody else could get in. I’ve gone downtown again and again, had this same experience. It got to the point I have found it necessary to confess at other churches, because I’d be second in line, still not get confessed!

Get a review of conscience.

Make a list, going down it saying 1st commandment x number of times, second commandment x-number of times, impure thoughts x-number of times. If the priest wants details, he’ll ask. Round off numbers with mortal sins. Was it one time, ten times, a hundred, approximately?

Most of us don’t remember exactly how many times exactly. We estimate to the best of our ability, and just leave it at that.

Once, I heard of a case where there was confession, and the priest got on the microphone and asked the penitents to be brief so that all the confessions could be heard.

Now, I consider it a courtesy to others to keep my confession short. If I would need more time, I’d try to schedule an appointment, but I’ve not found it necessary.
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From a fellow person in the line for Confession, thank you so much for this! I consider this a real courtesy as well, and try to keep my Confessions as brief as possible for all of the others waiting behind me.
 
Okay I see, thank you everyone, and I wasn’t in there for a long time, I was probably in there for less than a minute before he stopped me. I know how it feels to be waiting a long time, so I wouldn’t want to do that to anyone else.
 
You should take as long as it takes for you to have a good confession. I don’t care if there is a line. This is between you, God and the Priest.

I recently had my first confession in over ten years and we had to go thru the Ten Commandments to get it right. I remember I got a lot of glares from annoyed parishioners after that 10 minute or so confession. If those folks were annoyed, they probably had one more thing to confess while they waited in that line.
 
hausofferni said:
I went to confess today as I usually do on Saturdays and as I was confessing my sins, my priest cut me off and forgave me and then that was it. I was in shock and very startled that he did this and I didn’t know what to do so I said thank you and went to do my recommended penance. I don’t know why he did this, maybe my list was too long or maybe he recognized my voice but I felt really bad and was crying. Am I forgiven of my sins even though I didn’t say them all? I’m just very confused. Does it have something to do with scruples?
Click to expand...
It’s my understanding that when priests do that, the end of the story is they are taking responsibility for the Confession and you should just do as you are told in Confession.

In my experience, priests will want me to move along if I get too detailed or side-tracked, which someone with scruples can easily do.

But as others have said, a person suffering from scrupulosity needs to see a priest outside of Confession for spiritual direction, especially in a case like this.
 
Anthony2112 said:
You should take as long as it takes for you to have a good confession. I don’t care if there is a line. This is between you, God and the Priest.

I recently had my first confession in over ten years and we had to go thru the Ten Commandments to get it right. I remember I got a lot of glares from annoyed parishioners after that 10 minute or so confession. If those folks were annoyed, they probably had one more thing to confess while they waited in that line.
Click to expand...
I am sorry you experienced that. I don’t think that 10 minutes is unreasonable for a Confession.

The primary issue touched on here has to do with spiritual direction. Generally, this needs to be done outside of the Confessional, especially for someone with scrupulosity.
 
It sounds like it was the first time he did this to you
so it is outside his normal behaviour for his confessional.
Is it possible that this priest had other things to do,
as in a Wedding or Funeral? (perhaps urgent need for a toilet break)?

Ask the Priest if it is better to make an appointment
with him for another time through the week,
so you can have a longer confession heard.

Hope that helped.
:tiphat:
 
You are forgiven.

I wouldn’t hazard a guess about if scruples had to do with your experience.

If your confessor is like mine, it’s better to keep it short and to the point.

Maybe find a good examin and come prepared? I write what I accuse myself of on a 3x5 card before confession and burn it after penance.

The examin I use is here, but an examin is a very personal thing.
 
hausofferni said:
I went to confess today as I usually do on Saturdays and as I was confessing my sins, my priest cut me off and forgave me and then that was it. I was in shock and very startled that he did this and I didn’t know what to do so I said thank you and went to do my recommended penance. I don’t know why he did this, maybe my list was too long or maybe he recognized my voice but I felt really bad and was crying. Am I forgiven of my sins even though I didn’t say them all? I’m just very confused. Does it have something to do with scruples?
Click to expand...
the late Fr. Thomas Dubay seemed to be quite irritated about hearing confessions, and said so in one of his books, Fire Within, I think. He said: get in there, list the mortal sins and # of times, and get things over with. He seems quite interested in 'getting them in and out" as quickly as possible.

Priests today do not seem to be made in the image of their patron, the Cure d’Ars, who is said to have spent 16 hours in “the box.”

Perhaps your priest simply thought you were finished.
 
[edited] Confession is best understood as both the sacrament of reconciliation, as well as a form of pastoral counsel. As to confessing one’s sins to a priest, all may do so, none must do so, some should do so, is how it is understood in my own tradition. The truth is, that in the Priest’s Absolution, there is the true power and virtue of forgiveness, which will most certainly take effect, Nisi ponitur obex, as in Baptism.
[edited] Confession is very important, but so is asking God for repentance and privately confessing before Him.
 
sirach2v4 said:
the late Fr. Thomas Dubay seemed to be quite irritated about hearing confessions, and said so in one of his books, Fire Within, I think. He said: get in there, list the mortal sins and # of times, and get things over with. He seems quite interested in 'getting them in and out" as quickly as possible.

Priests today do not seem to be made in the image of their patron, the Cure d’Ars, who is said to have spent 16 hours in “the box.”

Perhaps your priest simply thought you were finished.
Click to expand...
St. John Vianney was also hearing the confessions of many, many people. I’ve had other priests relay the sort of advice Fr. Dubay relates. When you have a limited amount of time on a Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning and have a line of people quick confessions that cover the essentials are going to be the most efficient.

If you are somebody coming back to the Church after many years then maybe you should consider an appointment with the priest so you can thoroughly discuss your sins and take the necessary time.

To the OP perhaps the priest thought you were starting to ramble or if you have scruples perhaps he wanted to cut you off before things got out of hand and took too much time. Even in my one of my own experiences I had a priest cut me off and tell me he doesn’t need to know that. He was right I was rambling and wasn’t adding anything new, so he handled it the best way he could. I’m no worse for it and now my confessions are short and to the point.

ChadS
 
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