Reasonable Time to Seek Confession

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CaptainPrudeman

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I know this likely varies based on the parish, but does anyone have advice on when is a good time to seek an “emergency” confession? I really want to receive communion today, and I really want to feel clean and purified again, but I’m not sure when it would be okay to show up seeking a priest. Can’t call ahead to the office, they’re closed on sundays.
 
Try 15 minutes before or after the Mass, or would that be considered strange at your parish? I’m not sure if priests are under any official rule that they must take confessions if at all possible, but I know I’ve never been turned down, not even when the priest had to postpone the start of Mass for five minutes or so.
 
If you ask within 10 minutes before the start of Mass, be prepared to be turned down. Some priests will, some won’t. I’d try to ask 30 minutes or so out from the start of Mass. Right before Mass is a busy time and we’re usually trying to make sure all the personnel are in place and everything is set up.

As for the “rules,” Canon 843 says the faithful have a right to the sacraments if they are properly disposed, not legally impeded, and ask in a timely manner. If you knock on the rectory door at 3 AM to go to Confession and you’re not actually dying, I’m within my rights to turn you away. If you ask me five minutes before Mass, I don’t usually consider that timely, and will simply ask you to wait till afterward. Receiving communion is good, but not required, and it would be better to have you make a good Confession where neither of us feels rushed.

-Fr ACEGC
 
There’s also an 8:30 AM morning mass here, would it be possible to be there after that mass? Or are priests usually busy between masses?
 
Mileage may vary. Depends on the parish. I can’t speak for anywhere but the half dozen parishes I’m pretty familiar with.
 
The best thing I can offer is the app Mass Times.

Download it right now. You can then type in your zip code or use location services and it will list EVERY church within X miles of you. You can then use filters to search for Sunday only, and set it to Confession. Then it will list by time, every church that has confession on Sunday!
 
My priest gave me confession just before mass but involved me sitting with him at the front of the church out of earshot of the other parishioners . Was mortified but was a good lesson in humiliation (we don’t have a confessional booth at that church )
 
I honestly wouldn’t mind that. What’s important to me is being right with God, and it at least sounds like many priests are gonna make efforts for that to happen.
 
This week is about the worst time short of Holy Week to be trying to get a piece of a priest’s time. Many churches already had their big Christmas penance services already and expected people to go to that.

I would suggest you look into whether there’s a traditional parish that hears confessions before every Mass, or shrine that hears them daily. Cathedral might also have them at certain times like early morning or noon.
 
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I agree with the sentiment. Unfortunately, sin doesn’t run on a timetable. Thanks for the advice about the other possible times though.
 
I don’t mean to come off like a jerk, but I have found the hassle of getting to confession during the week and at holidays motivates me away from some bad sins. If I know I’ll have to drive 20 miles on a Monday…the sin usually looks much less attractive.
 
You definitely aren’t coming off like a jerk, and I get where you’re coming from: the inconvenience helped me kick a vice too. This thing just wasn’t habitual, so it didn’t really matter that I would have to wait for confession.
 
I’ve fallen into what I believe is mortal sin and I don’t have time for scheduled confession before mass. That’s why it’s in quotations instead of plain, it’s not like i’m gonna die right now but I don’t have time for normal confession.
 
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