Questions about Confession

[chasingcars]

1. I’m going to Confession next weekend and this time I have some really awkward stuff to confess so I’ve considered to confess anonymously and in English rather than in my first language to protect my privacy. Would that be sinful or invalidate the sacrament? Our parish is very international (about half of the members’ first language is something else than this country’s main language) so I guess many people confess in English and that wouldn’t be a big deal for the priests since they all can speak English.

However, all of the priests can speak my first language too since it’s the main language in the country where I live so I’m wondering if it’s okay to confess in English since it is not my (or any of the priest’s) first language. I’d do it to protect my privacy and make the situation less awkward.

1. If one fails to do their penance, are their sins still forgiven?
2. My friend told me that he once confessed outside the Confessional; the priest was sitting on a chair and my friend was kneeling in front (or probably next to) him. I’d never do that since I always confess through the screen but I’m curious if confessing that way is common. Does anyone have any experiences?

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

1. I’m going to Confession next weekend and this time I have some really awkward stuff to confess so I’ve considered to confess anonymously and in English rather than in my first language to protect my privacy. Would that be sinful or invalidate the sacrament?

In her mercy, the Church tries to make it as easy as possible to confess You can go behid a screen or face-to-face; you can go to your own parish or somewhere else; you can go to a priest you know or one you’ll never see again. Whatever makes it possible for you to confess your sins and receive absolution is fine.

1. If one fails to do their penance, are their sins still forgiven?

Yes…but I would give some thought as to why the person didn’t do their penance. Was it too difficult to do despite your best efforts? Did you forget what it was? Did you just not care? It might be something to discuss with your confessor.

1. My friend told me that he once confessed outside the Confessional; the priest was sitting on a chair and my friend was kneeling in front (or probably next to) him. I’d never do that since I always confess through the screen but I’m curious if confessing that way is common. Does anyone have any experiences?

I haven’t been in a confessional booth in years. I typically go to confession when I meet with my spiritual director, so we’re both just sitting in comfortable chairs in his office.

 

[porthos11]

1. I’m going to Confession next weekend and this time I have some really awkward stuff to confess so I’ve considered to confess anonymously and in English rather than in my first language to protect my privacy. Would that be sinful or invalidate the sacrament? Our parish is very international (about half of the members’ first language is something else than this country’s main language) so I guess many people confess in English and that wouldn’t be a big deal for the priests since they all can speak English.

However, all of the priests can speak my first language too since it’s the main language in the country where I live so I’m wondering if it’s okay to confess in English since it is not my (or any of the priest’s) first language. I’d do it to protect my privacy and make the situation less awkward.

1. If one fails to do their penance, are their sins still forgiven?
2. My friend told me that he once confessed outside the Confessional; the priest was sitting on a chair and my friend was kneeling in front (or probably next to) him. I’d never do that since I always confess through the screen but I’m curious if confessing that way is common. Does anyone have any experiences?

1. Anonymous confession is a right extended to every Catholic. And since the priests speak English, there is absolutely no issue with this.
2. Yes. But depending on why you fail to do your penance, this could mean a new sin is incurred (penances are binding under the law), and the failure will have to be brought to a subsequent confession.
3. It is very common.

 

[Billy112]

Will pray to Saint John Paul II for you and your confessor.

 

[pax85]

1. I’m going to Confession next weekend and this time I have some really awkward stuff to confess so I’ve considered to confess anonymously and in English rather than in my first language to protect my privacy. Would that be sinful or invalidate the sacrament? Our parish is very international (about half of the members’ first language is something else than this country’s main language) so I guess many people confess in English and that wouldn’t be a big deal for the priests since they all can speak English.

However, all of the priests can speak my first language too since it’s the main language in the country where I live so I’m wondering if it’s okay to confess in English since it is not my (or any of the priest’s) first language. I’d do it to protect my privacy and make the situation less awkward.

Perfectly fine. Anonymous confession is something to which all Catholics have a right. Sometimes I even go to a different parish.

I’ve known many priests, and almost all of them has said the same things:

1. Even if they recognize a person, they rarely remember individual sins since they hear so many confessions. Even if they did remember, there is, as you know, the seal of confession. That means even if the priest runs into you on the street, he can’t pull you aside and ask, Hey, can we talk about that sin you committed?"
2. There is nothing they have not heard, and I mean NOTHING. Even though it may be awkward for you, don’t be embarrassed. We are all sinners in need of His mercy, and that’s why the priest is there in the first place.

1. If one fails to do their penance, are their sins still forgiven?

Yep. As long as absolution is granted and the penitent is sincere. As others have said, however, an individual needs to look at the reasons why he or she forgot, and perhaps discuss these with their confessor or spiritual director.

1. My friend told me that he once confessed outside the Confessional; the priest was sitting on a chair and my friend was kneeling in front (or probably next to) him. I’d never do that since I always confess through the screen but I’m curious if confessing that way is common. Does anyone have any experiences?

I confess that way about 50% of the time. When I do confess face to face, it’s usually with my spiritual director during one of our appointments. The other confessor I go to can recognize my voice through the screen, but that doesn’t bother me anymore, and I’ve thrown him some real wringers!

In short, don’t be afraid; there’s no need to! They are used to this and are more than happy to be a conduit of His mercy!

I will be sure to pray for you too, for a good and peaceful confession. Please say a short prayer for me as well!

 

[InThePew]

1. I’m going to Confession next weekend and this time I have some really awkward stuff to confess so I’ve considered to confess anonymously and in English rather than in my first language to protect my privacy. Would that be sinful or invalidate the sacrament? Our parish is very international (about half of the members’ first language is something else than this country’s main language) so I guess many people confess in English and that wouldn’t be a big deal for the priests since they all can speak English. However, all of the priests can speak my first language too since it’s the main language in the country where I live so I’m wondering if it’s okay to confess in English since it is not my (or any of the priest’s) first language. I’d do it to protect my privacy and make the situation less awkward.

No problems with this provided of course that you have a good understanding of English (as you seem to do). Of course, as others have said, the seal of the confessional is something which the Church takes extremely seriously. Still, I can understand the reluctance to confess to a priest you know well or see regularly.

If one fails to do their penance, are their sins still forgiven?

Yes but if you anticipate difficulties with the penance tell the priest this

My friend told me that he once confessed outside the Confessional; the priest was sitting on a chair and my friend was kneeling in front (or probably next to) him. I’d never do that since I always confess through the screen but I’m curious if confessing that way is common. Does anyone have any experiences?

In the confessional (either screened or face-to-face) is the most common but, that said, it’s possible to confess almost literally anywhere.

 

[PeaceBeWithU]

1. I’m going to Confession next weekend and this time I have some really awkward stuff to confess

I was over 30 years old the first time I did confession (I’m a convert) and some of the stuff I had to tell the priest were things I had never told anyone before. I literally nearly choked on some of the words, so I know what you’re feeling. I salute you for having the courage to bring your ‘awkward stuff’ into the confessional. I know how difficult that can be. I felt a lot better afterward and was happy to have that crud cleansed from my soul, so good for you.

As a lot of others have said, the priests have heard everything and anything, so I doubt whatever you have is going to make him blush. I thought my stuff was scarlet as crimson, but my priest didn’t flinch even once. LOL.

1. My friend told me that he once confessed outside the Confessional; the priest was sitting on a chair and my friend was kneeling in front (or probably next to) him. I’d never do that since I always confess through the screen but I’m curious if confessing that way is common. Does anyone have any experiences?

My parish only offers ‘walk in’ confessions once a week on Saturdays. Unfortunately I work on saturdays so I have to call my priest and schedule an appointment (usually it’s right before Sunday Mass or Friday Mass which I attend often) and is sort of ‘on the fly’.This means it is almost always face-to-face as there is no screen around. So I’ve made confession standing next to my priest in hallways, a few times we’ve ducked into a closet to get some privacy when people were around. You can take part in the sacrament virtually anywhere whether sitting, standing, or kneeling.

 

[CourtingTex]

In her mercy, the Church tries to make it as easy as possible to confess You can go behid a screen or face-to-face; you can go to your own parish or somewhere else; you can go to a priest you know or one you’ll never see again. Whatever makes it possible for you to confess your sins and receive absolution is fine.

Yes…but I would give some thought as to why the person didn’t do their penance. Was it too difficult to do despite your best efforts? Did you forget what it was? Did you just not care? It might be something to discuss with your confessor.

I haven’t been in a confessional booth in years. I typically go to confession when I meet with my spiritual director, so we’re both just sitting in comfortable chairs in his office.

In agreement with you, as a non practicing person, who has views that make clear the significance of the sacrament versus not being blessed with it at all.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

1. I’m going to Confession next weekend and this time I have some really awkward stuff to confess so I’ve considered to confess anonymously and in English rather than in my first language to protect my privacy. Would that be sinful or invalidate the sacrament? Our parish is very international (about half of the members’ first language is something else than this country’s main language) so I guess many people confess in English and that wouldn’t be a big deal for the priests since they all can speak English.

However, all of the priests can speak my first language too since it’s the main language in the country where I live so I’m wondering if it’s okay to confess in English since it is not my (or any of the priest’s) first language. I’d do it to protect my privacy and make the situation less awkward.

It is a perfectly legitimate option and if it makes you comfortable, by all means, use the option. If you have the ability to do so, you can disguise your voice if you wish. You are of course also free to go to confession to any confessor of another parish or even of another rite of the Catholic Church. On the one hand, we hear so many confessions that people should be at peace in speaking about anything. But, one does not have to do something that makes you uncomfortable when something as simple as confessing in another language is at hand and makes you more comfortable.

1. If one fails to do their penance, are their sins still forgiven?

As others have said, the answer is yes. But what others haven’t fully explained is that we priests who have the faculty to confess have also the faculty to commute previous penances. We exercise this faculty on behalf of penitents for many reasons: they forgot the penance, they did not actually understand the penance, the penance was so unclear that one is not sure if or when it was accomplished, the penance imposed an impossible burden on the penitent (fasting, for example, when one has a condition that makes fasting dangerous or impossible) and a number of other circumstances. If you received a penance you could not fulfill, you can ask a priest (inside or outside the confessional but probably within the context of a confession is normally better since it is an internal forum issue) if he would commute the penance. That way the penance imposed is not left unresolved.

1. My friend told me that he once confessed outside the Confessional; the priest was sitting on a chair and my friend was kneeling in front (or probably next to) him. I’d never do that since I always confess through the screen but I’m curious if confessing that way is common. Does anyone have any experiences?

Indeed it is common. One who wishes to confess anonymously is always to be afforded that opportunity – although some times it is not possible as, for example, when one is visiting the sick in hospital or the sick who are shut-ins.