Reconciliation

[BusterMartin]

I’m a Roman Catholic, but I have been going now around once a month or so to my nearby Byzantine Greek Catholic Church as I really love Divine Liturgy. Just this Sunday I wanted to go to Confession, but none of the Roman Catholic Churches in my area offer Confession on Sundays…it’s normally Saturday evenings. Luckily, the GCC I go to has Reconciliation available before every Sunday DL as well as after every Sunday DL, so I was able to go there (first time for Reconciliation in an Eastern Church).

I guess my question is…is Sunday Reconciliation a common practice for Eastern Catholic Churches on the whole? I really wish Reconciliation was available at my RC Churches on Sundays before Mass as well but for some reason it isn’t.

 

[Samuel63]

Reconciliation should be available anytime it is needed. The sacrament has fallen away in the RC church in the last few decades. There was a rebellion after Vatican II and some took it upon themselves to support the efforts of the evil one. The result is many-fold. One point though is the lack of use of the Sacrament of Penance. It was driven into dis-use.

It has grown so bad that many people practice contraception and receive the eucharist without a second thought.

May God have mercy on their souls.

If you find a nearby parish by zipcode on www.masstimes.org that offers the Sacrament of Penance more often, this will indicate the priest there is interested in spiritual direction and saving souls. If it is also a parish that has eucharistic adoration, then go there by all means. It is a good parish.

You can stay at your own church for Sunday mass but seek spiritual direction where it is given fruitfully. I would also recommend, give your money to the better churches and organizations too.

 

[Pakesh]

Reconciliation should be available anytime it is needed. The sacrament has fallen away in the RC church in the last few decades. There was a rebellion after Vatican II and some took it upon themselves to support the efforts of the evil one. The result is many-fold. One point though is the lack of use of the Sacrament of Penance. It was driven into dis-use.

It has grown so bad that many people practice contraception and receive the eucharist without a second thought.

May God have mercy on their souls.

If you find a nearby parish by zipcode on www.masstimes.org that offers the Sacrament of Penance more often, this will indicate the priest there is interested in spiritual direction and saving souls. If it is also a parish that has eucharistic adoration, then go there by all means. It is a good parish.

You can stay at your own church for Sunday mass but seek spiritual direction where it is given fruitfully. I would also recommend, give your money to the better churches and organizations too.

Did you answer the OP’s question, or are you just going to make generalizations about the Latin Church?

I’m sure practicing Eastern Catholics will answer, but the few ones I’ve been too often offer Confession on Saturday evenings before Vespers, and on Sunday Mornings before Divine Liturgy. I assume you would be able to make an appointment with a Priest outside those times as well.
God Bless
Pakesh

 

[BusterMartin]

Reconciliation should be available anytime it is needed. The sacrament has fallen away in the RC church in the last few decades. There was a rebellion after Vatican II and some took it upon themselves to support the efforts of the evil one. The result is many-fold. One point though is the lack of use of the Sacrament of Penance. It was driven into dis-use.

It has grown so bad that many people practice contraception and receive the eucharist without a second thought.

May God have mercy on their souls.

If you find a nearby parish by zipcode on www.masstimes.org that offers the Sacrament of Penance more often, this will indicate the priest there is interested in spiritual direction and saving souls. If it is also a parish that has eucharistic adoration, then go there by all means. It is a good parish.

You can stay at your own church for Sunday mass but seek spiritual direction where it is given fruitfully. I would also recommend, give your money to the better churches and organizations too.

Samuel, thank you for the response. However, I’m not really having any problems finding Churches with Penance available to me. There are plenty of options for me, it’s just that none of them (with the exception of that GCC) offer it on Sunday except by appointment. So, I was wondering if Sunday Penance is the norm in the Eastern Churches or if this particular one was outside of the norm.

 

[Vico]

Samuel, thank you for the response. However, I’m not really having any problems finding Churches with Penance available to me. There are plenty of options for me, it’s just that none of them (with the exception of that GCC) offer it on Sunday except by appointment. So, I was wondering if Sunday Penance is the norm in the Eastern Churches or if this particular one was outside of the norm.

The norm is the same for all Catholic Churches. CIC, Canon 986; CCEO, Canon 735.

CCEO Can. 735

1. All to whom the care of souls is committed by reason of an office are obliged to provide that the confessions of the faithful entrusted to their care be heard when they reasonably ask to be heard and that the opportunity be given to them to come to individual confession on days and hours set for their convenience.
2. In urgent necessity any confessor endowed with the faculty of administering the sacrament of penance is obliged to hear the confessions of the Christian faithful, and in danger of death any priest is so obliged.

CIC Can. 986
§1. All to whom the care of souls has been entrusted in virtue of some function are obliged to make provision so that the confessions of the faithful entrusted to them are heard when they reasonably seek to be heard and that they have the opportunity to approach individual confession on days and at times established for their convenience.
§2. In urgent necessity, any confessor is obliged to hear the confessions of the Christian faithful, and in danger of death, any priest is so obliged.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I’m a Roman Catholic, but I have been going now around once a month or so to my nearby Byzantine Greek Catholic Church as I really love Divine Liturgy. Just this Sunday I wanted to go to Confession, but none of the Roman Catholic Churches in my area offer Confession on Sundays…it’s normally Saturday evenings. Luckily, the GCC I go to has Reconciliation available before every Sunday DL as well as after every Sunday DL, so I was able to go there (first time for Reconciliation in an Eastern Church).

I guess my question is…is Sunday Reconciliation a common practice for Eastern Catholic Churches on the whole? I really wish Reconciliation was available at my RC Churches on Sundays before Mass as well but for some reason it isn’t.

Reconcilliation should be available anytime, East or West. I guess this particular priest sees it just a good opportunity for parishioners to avail of the Sacrament the day they would be there for Liturgy.

 

[Hesychios]

I guess my question is…is Sunday Reconciliation a common practice for Eastern Catholic Churches on the whole? I really wish Reconciliation was available at my RC Churches on Sundays before Mass as well but for some reason it isn’t.

As a matter of fact, from my experience yes, confessions are available in many Byzantine Catholic parishes during rosary hour Sunday morning before liturgy.

I once went to a UGCC parish where there were two priests, and one would be available during Mass for confession, which could take place in a room at the back. I was surprised at this, but the explanation given was that many people travel a long distance, this has to be an option for them. This parish had three liturgies on a Sunday so there was little opportunity to confess on Sunday if they did not do this.

I have since seen this practice in several different Orthodox parishes during Orthros and taken advantage of it myself (but it is always done at or near the iconostasis in front and cut off when Divine Liturgy begins).

 

[ConstantineTG]

As a matter of fact, from my experience yes, confessions are available in many Byzantine Catholic parishes during rosary hour Sunday morning before liturgy.

I once went to a UGCC parish where there were two priests, and one would be available during Mass for confession, which could take place in a room at the back. I was surprised at this, but the explanation given was that many people travel a long distance, this has to be an option for them. This parish had three liturgies on a Sunday so there was little opportunity to confess on Sunday if they did not do this.

I have since seen this practice in several different Orthodox parishes during Orthros and taken advantage of it myself (but it is always done at or near the iconostasis in front and cut off when Divine Liturgy begins).

This is quite common in the Philippines where Masses are one after another, sometimes not even enough time to clear out the people in one Mass and the others to get in before the next one begins. These are large parishes with multiple priests, so the priests who wouldn’t be celebrating the Mass would be at the back hearing confessions. There are long lines, sometimes the priest would leave with people on the line because he already has to help out with Communion.

 

[Hesychios]

This is quite common in the Philippines where Masses are one after another, sometimes not even enough time to clear out the people in one Mass and the others to get in before the next one begins. These are large parishes with multiple priests, so the priests who wouldn’t be celebrating the Mass would be at the back hearing confessions. There are long lines, sometimes the priest would leave with people on the line because he already has to help out with Communion.

I saw this also in a Polish Catholic parish (RC, not PNC) in Chicago.

One thing which amazed me was the open-air type of confessional, rather than the closet type (I had seen such arrangements outside at big public Catholic events, but not indoors before). They spent the first hour doing what I think was the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and long lines of people along the walls on either side waiting for a turn at the confessional.

Edit: The image below looks very much like that.

 

[ConstantineTG]

We have something similar. You know the most interesting thing, like 20 years ago where you’d hardly find air-conditioned parishes in such a hot country, many parishes would have closed confessionals with air conditioning. Maybe its a way to get the laity not only to cleanse their souls, but relieve their bodies of heat

Not only are you saved from the fires of hell, you’re also saved from the heat of the country

 

[Hesychios]

We have something similar. You know the most interesting thing, like 20 years ago where you’d hardly find air-conditioned parishes in such a hot country, many parishes would have closed confessionals with air conditioning. Maybe its a way to get the laity not only to cleanse their souls, but relieve their bodies of heat

Not only are you saved from the fires of hell, you’re also saved from the heat of the country

I have to admit, that can be a powerful incentive to unburden one’s soul

 

[ConstantineTG]

I have to admit, that can be a powerful incentive to unburden one’s soul

Hahah, true!

 

[Cecilianus]

In answer to the OP: Because Confession of sins must be said before the icon of Christ, most properly in the iconastasis of the Church, you probably aren’t going to see a whole lot of scheduled confession times. There just isn’t as much privacy, because we don’t have either confession boxes or anonymous confession (confession is a matter of spiritual direction between a spiritual father and his spiritual child, not an anonymous piece of machinery). It is up to the penitent to ask for Confession and to the spiritual father to ensure that his children are seeking the Sacrament as often as they should.

Usually I show up early before Liturgy and say my confession during Orthros or Third Hour, or wait until everyone has left and then do it. It is not uncommon to see people confessing their sins in the middle of or at the beginning or end of Liturgy - in smaller churches, the priest will sometimes lead them behind the iconostas to have them confess to an icon in the back of the altar, or to the prothesis.

Having scheduled “confession hours” or whatever is a Latinization that should be discouraged. It depersonalizes the Sacrament, and provides a temptation to introduce confessionals into our churches.

 

[ciero]

In answer to the OP: Because Confession of sins must be said before the icon of Christ, most properly in the iconastasis of the Church, you probably aren’t going to see a whole lot of scheduled confession times. There just isn’t as much privacy, because we don’t have either confession boxes or anonymous confession (confession is a matter of spiritual direction between a spiritual father and his spiritual child, not an anonymous piece of machinery). It is up to the penitent to ask for Confession and to the spiritual father to ensure that his children are seeking the Sacrament as often as they should.

Usually I show up early before Liturgy and say my confession during Orthros or Third Hour, or wait until everyone has left and then do it. It is not uncommon to see people confessing their sins in the middle of or at the beginning or end of Liturgy - in smaller churches, the priest will sometimes lead them behind the iconostas to have them confess to an icon in the back of the altar, or to the prothesis.

Having scheduled “confession hours” or whatever is a Latinization that should be discouraged. It depersonalizes the Sacrament, and provides a temptation to introduce confessionals into our churches.

Confession behind the iconostas is reserved to those who have been ordained (deacon, priest and bishop).

 

[Aramis]

Confession behind the iconostas is reserved to those who have been ordained (deacon, priest and bishop).

It’s become acceptable for the laity within the Ruthenian church, and from what I’ve seen online, for the Ukrainian.

Before the icon of the trinity, typically, and confronted with the Tabernacle.

 

[BusterMartin]

In answer to the OP: Because Confession of sins must be said before the icon of Christ, most properly in the iconastasis of the Church, you probably aren’t going to see a whole lot of scheduled confession times. There just isn’t as much privacy, because we don’t have either confession boxes or anonymous confession (confession is a matter of spiritual direction between a spiritual father and his spiritual child, not an anonymous piece of machinery). It is up to the penitent to ask for Confession and to the spiritual father to ensure that his children are seeking the Sacrament as often as they should.

Usually I show up early before Liturgy and say my confession during Orthros or Third Hour, or wait until everyone has left and then do it. It is not uncommon to see people confessing their sins in the middle of or at the beginning or end of Liturgy - in smaller churches, the priest will sometimes lead them behind the iconostas to have them confess to an icon in the back of the altar, or to the prothesis.

Having scheduled “confession hours” or whatever is a Latinization that should be discouraged. It depersonalizes the Sacrament, and provides a temptation to introduce confessionals into our churches.

The Church I go to has a Reconciliation Room. It’s a small room, the size of a walk-in closet, with an Icon of Christ setup so that Confession is heard in front of it. It makes for a private, personal setting, despite the scheduled times. No one is rushed, and spiritual guidance is definitely given.

 

[Hesychios]

It’s become acceptable for the laity within the Ruthenian church, and from what I’ve seen online, for the Ukrainian. .

I never encountered that.

It doesn’t seem right.

 

[ciero]

It’s become acceptable for the laity within the Ruthenian church, and from what I’ve seen online, for the Ukrainian.

Before the icon of the trinity, typically, and confronted with the Tabernacle.

Just because it is done, hardly makes it acceptable.

 

[babochka]

I guess my question is…is Sunday Reconciliation a common practice for Eastern Catholic Churches on the whole? I really wish Reconciliation was available at my RC Churches on Sundays before Mass as well but for some reason it isn’t.

We have Confessions scheduled on Sunday morning before Liturgy in our parish, but Father will make himself available anytime you ask him. Because we are a very small parish and many parishioners travel great distances to get there, Sunday morning makes the most sense. We’ve actually had visitors because we were the only parish they could find with Sunday Confessions.

I know of at least two local Latin parishes that schedule Confessions before every Mass on Sunday, but Saturday afternoon is the typical time.

 

[Cecilianus]

The Church I go to has a Reconciliation Room. It’s a small room, the size of a walk-in closet, with an Icon of Christ setup so that Confession is heard in front of it. It makes for a private, personal setting, despite the scheduled times. No one is rushed, and spiritual guidance is definitely given.

Granting of course that in theory pastoral exceptions may be made when pragmatic purposes require it for a congregation’s spiritual good, having a “Reconciliation Room” is not proper. Confession should be heard in front of the iconostasis in the actual church. It sounds a bit like a “neo-Latinization” - a deviation from tradition coming from the post-Vatican II experimentation in the Latin Church. At least they have an icon, though, which unfortunately is more than they can say at the local UGCC church here where we have confessionals, and confession is sometimes heard kneeling at a grill (without an icon) in the sacristy. (I don’t know whether the confessionals at the UGCC church have icons - I refuse to step foot inside them.)