Reconciliation situation

[RolandThompsonGunner]

My point exactly.

I think the point of “be brief, be bold, be gone” is to suggest to the individual standing in line “hey, this isn’t the right time and place if you need to have an hour long conversation.” That’s why I mentioned it. I don’t think we were ever disagreeing. Maybe it could be more explicit, like “if you need to speak to a priest at length, please call the parish office for an appointment.”

 

[InThePew]

I would like to see this applied as liberally as possible. I have noticed, in recent years, that the confessions during regularly scheduled times seem to be getting longer and longer. Don’t know why this is, but I would like to see priests come out after the last confession, absolve everyone who is standing in line, and urge them to get to confession at their earliest convenience.

Long lines are hardly a bad thing but using Rite II in this way is not only illict, it also deabses the sacrament. If there’s insufficient time to hear all the confessions of those waiting, the priest should instead lead them in an act of perfect contrition and tell them to come back after mass (or as soon as they can).

But I think you have a point, if a person has not FINISHED The confession and the priest stops them and starts giving absolution, what does one do?

If there is something serious that the person was still leading up to then they should at least attempt to make the priest aware of it (or, failing that, mention it at their next confession). Other than that they’re absolved - be healed, be at peace.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

HomeschoolDad:

My point exactly.

I think the point of “be brief, be bold, be gone” is to suggest to the individual standing in line “hey, this isn’t the right time and place if you need to have an hour long conversation.” That’s why I mentioned it. I don’t think we were ever disagreeing. Maybe it could be more explicit, like “if you need to speak to a priest at length, please call the parish office for an appointment.”

No, we weren’t in disagreement, but I am concerned that BBBB&BG could come across as “the priest isn’t interested in helping you, he just wants you to recite a list”. I might post something like this:

“While Father is always happy to hear anybody’s confession, please be mindful of the fact that people are often in line behind you, and keep your confession to 2-3 minutes, and certainly no more than 5 minutes. As the saying goes, ‘be bold, be brief, and be gone’. Sometimes people have more complicated issues to confess, and Father understands that — he’s heard many, many confessions just like yours. In such cases, a private appointment is preferred. That said, please feel free to approach Father anytime for confession.”

Long lines are hardly a bad thing but using Rite II in this way is not only illicit, it also debases the sacrament. If there’s insufficient time to hear all the confessions of those waiting, the priest should instead lead them in an act of perfect contrition and tell them to come back after mass (or as soon as they can).

I understand and don’t disagree with that. I just want to see as many people freed of sin, most of all mortal sin, as can possibly be accommodated. Just for my part, I would not have a problem with adopting general sacramental absolution as part of the penitential rite of Mass — as the Anglicans do — with the proviso that (a) you have to go to confession at least once a year, and that is the bare minimum, and (b) if you have any mortal sins on your soul, you have to have it in your mind to get to confession as soon as possible, otherwise this absolution will be invalid for you.

 

[porthos11]

If a person intends to make a full confession and the priest grants absolution before a confession can be made, is it still valid?

I’ve gone through the thread and the situation is not really clear, and the thread has been derailed.

What happened? Did

• the person sit down and before he can get a word out, get absolved? or
• the person confess some sins but get interrupted and absolved before he could finish?

It’s not clear from your original phrasing.

There is a key difference between the two situations. The first is invalid, the second is not.

 

[ajrobinson]

@porthos11 I did clarify later.

They sat down and asked for help for the confession because they were new to the sacrament. The Priest talked about Christ’s seeking of the lost, angels rejoicing, to make him comfortableI believe, and then pronounced the absolution and following the Act of Contrition.

 

[ajrobinson]

He went tonandifferent Priest for confession to make sure it was valid. he went back a second time to the other priest and he never even went into the confessional and then left early leaving my friend alone in the church. He decided to just travel further for confession.