Return to General Absolution

[Roguish]

The idea of feeling strange, uncomfortable, or incongruent during the confitior is really, really strange and incongruent to me. It is such a wonderful way to start the mass.

I know, I know I was just putting that out there to be contrary. I get like that sometimes.

Still, I will be skipping the confiteor from now on, but I’ve decided to let all the rest continue with it as usual. Thanks for your reply!

 

[tafan2]

I would advise you to talk to your pastor or perhaps spiritual director before taking such a drastic step.

 

[Roguish]

I would advise you to talk to your pastor or perhaps spiritual director before taking such a drastic step.

Your concern noted, and appreciated. But let’s face it: plenty of parishioners saunter into Mass well after the confiteor, and they don’t appear to be losing any sleep over it. So I think I’ll forego the talk with the pastor and just move right ahead with this bold plan of mine. Thanks again for your concern!

 

[edward_george1]

For one, it doesn’t matter how others engage or fail to engage the Mass, that’s on them. Abusus non tollit usum.

For another, it’s not really a bold plan to simply skip part of the Mass. It’s really rather prideful. The Confiteor has been part of the Mass for centuries (at one point it was even recited three times over the course of the Mass). Obviously it’s important, or it wouldn’t be there. When it comes to something like that, I’ll trust the judgement of the church and her liturgical tradition over my own judgement.

-Fr ACEGC

 

[Roguish]

When it comes to something like that, I’ll trust the judgement of the church and her liturgical tradition over my own judgement.

I know you do, and you’re welcome to. But see, I’m a bird of a different feather. So, much though it may appear prideful to you, and not at all bold, I’m moving ahead with it all the same. I’m thinking I might start a movement around this idea, actually. But that’s early days. Let me see first if this gains any traction in my parish.

Thanks for your reply

 

[edward_george1]

What’s the value of being “a bird of a different feather,” and how is it somehow better than being obedient to the Church?

 

[DarkLight]

If there was a realistic reason to suspect danger of death, even if it later turned out to be a false alarm, I would think it would still meet the criteria as it was given in good faith, no?

My understanding is that it would still be valid, as it was reasonably believed that they were in imminent danger. However general absolution has the condition that those receiving it must intend to go to individual confession once the danger is over (assuming, of course, they’re still on earth). So one couldn’t think “oh, well, I don’t have to go to confession now.”

For one, it doesn’t matter how others engage or fail to engage the Mass, that’s on them.

Probably also helps with the fact that you don’t know what’s going on in someone’s head. I have skipped many a recitation out of the conviction that listening to me hack and cough my way through would be of no benefit to anyone at all. I may very well be engaging to the best of my ability at the time.

 

[Canvas]

During Lent they add an hour and a half on Wednesday night at my Parish. It seems to be pretty popular. You get there too late and you wait in line even though there are multiple Priests in both of the Confessionals and at several makeshift ones around the Church.

 

[Roguish]

What’s the value of being “a bird of a different feather,”

What a funny question. Does a four-leaf clover ask itself what the value is of being four-leafed? Does a black sheep ask itself what the value is of being black? But if I must answer the question, I’d say the value of it is luck. Great luck.

how is it somehow better than being obedient to the Church?

I’m obedient to the Church insofar as (and as long as) She’s obedient to Christ. When She isn’t, and one’s conscience knows this to be so, disobedience becomes a duty and obedience becomes a sin.

P.S. We better take this outside the thread. We’re about to get flagged for being off topic, and I’d feel bad if this exchange of ours ended up tarnishing your rep! PM me if you have more questions. (I sure have more answers!)

 

[joeybaggz]

Here I think its the local Dominican friars who “log” more hours in the confessional than any other priests…real troopers with this sacrament.

Where I live, the Benedictines at the local monastery/basilica offer confession every day from noon to one and on Saturday from 4 to 5. Only on Sundays is there no confession.

 

[tafan2]

It’s bad enough that you see no need to ask for forgiveness at the start of mass, please don’t lead others down that path. Did you read the Gospel yesterday?

 

[MiserereMei25]

St James Parish in Medjugorje has 50 confessionals in usage from dawn to midnight.

 

[Roguish]

It’s bad enough that you see no need to ask for forgiveness at the start of mass, please don’t lead others down that path. Did you read the Gospel yesterday?

Hey Taff, no, not yesterday. What was it? Fire and brimstone for confiteor-skippers? Just kidding. I hear ya. I’ll hold off on the movement for now. Solo mission. Thanks again

 

[FrDavid96]

With all due respect Father (and I really mean that, ), nothing works overnight. …

Every parish is different.

Simply adding more time to the schedule does not automatically cause more people come to Confession.

When you say “It really is that easy.” It’s simply not. The real world doesn’t work that way.

If you want to encourage more Confession time, by all means do so.

But please don’t oversimplify the issue.

I certainly do NOT think you intend it this way, but please realize that when you make statements that solving a problem is so very simple, it actually belittles the efforts of the people (in this case, priests) who are working very hard to increase Confessions. It is as if you’re telling us that everything else we do is just wasting everyone’s time, and that we can’t see the solution which is right before our eyes.

I want to stress that I don’t think you intend it this way. I’m not offended. I’m just asking you to consider the impact of your words.

 

[FrDavid96]

Wait I don’t understand. The Canon quoted by vico begins with “in order to validly receive”. I admit I’m not expert on how to interpret canon law, but to a layman that’s pretty clear.

Can you explain where I’m wrong?

Yes. That is a good point.

And I really do need to ponder that before I respond too hastily.

 

[FrDavid96]

What’s the value of being “a bird of a different feather,” and how is it somehow better than being obedient to the Church?

Oy vey!!!

The million dollar question.

 

[babochka]

I’m extremely confused by these stories we constantly get on here from people who say no one goes to confession where they are located. I don’t doubt the stories, but why is it that people in Diocese A are not going to confession, while people in Diocese B and Diocese C are forming lines on Saturday to get in the confessional?

I’ve often wondered this myself. You and I are in very different parts of the country (I’m on the West Coast), yet my experience is similar to yours. Everywhere I go, there is a line - my own tiny parish where my priest preaches on confession regularly (and we only have face-to-face confession), at the FSSP parish, at the parish closest to me where the music features a loud drum machine at every Mass and confession is on Thursday night, at the run-of-the-mill parish down the street, and at the parish a few miles away that is known as one of the most liberal in the diocese. Whether they offer confessions for an hour a week or ten. At the larger parishes, I’ve seen 30-40 people in line. I’ve tried to look for patterns, but not really found any.

 

[tafan2]

Very good advice Father, I did not mean to offend in the slightest, but I can certainly see how the tone of my posts on this thread could come across that way. So I apologize to all. I am sure there are many people who are working to improve such things, and you are correct: every parish is different.

ETA: and thankyou for assuming the best about my posts Father!!!

 

[Ardent_Fire]

Yes. I didn’t think about it at the time since I was an adolescent, but years later as a full fledged adult, it blows my mind and there are times I can’t believe that it happened. But it did.

 

[voltape1]

For me, it is essential to have general absolution - 1) it saves a lot of priest time; 2) it protects the priest (particularly young ones) against temptations which could include listening for hours about “sexual exploits”, intimacies of young ladies, etc. 3) it saves ladies (especially girls) from confessing their intimacies to a man (who even if he is an Alter Christus) is still a man), 4) actually, the Holy Mass begins with a penitential act - the Kyrie Eleison, and an absolution: "indulgentiam, absolutionem, et remissionem pecatorum nostrorum…). Should’t it be sufficient? Years ago, a priest told me the priest must know what sin he is absolving. But anyway, it is always a personal attitude. At the beginning of the Mass the priest says “agnoscamus peccata nostra” and gives a short time for us to remember what sins we have committed, which if we go to Mass every Sunday, they cannot be too many. It should suffice.