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RuthByzCat3
Guest
Just wondering: when going to Confession in the Roman Rite, I generally have the choice of kneeling OR facing the priest. Which should I do?
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vsedriver
Guest
Do you mean the choice between face to face or anonymous?
Just do which ever you are more comfortable.
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puzzleannie
Guest
whatever feels more comfortable to you
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Little_Boy_Lost
Guest
It’s been a while since I’ve been to one, but I went this saturday since it was the closest church around.
I forgot that you are expected to memorize prayers. So he walked me through the act of contrition again. Why is penance inserted in there. “I promise to do penance”? Also I kept unconsciously waiting for him to place his stole over my head heh. He also gave me the injunction to pray 2 Lord’s Prayer and 2 Hail Marys.
I don’t understand prayer penances that are low like that. I get the whole idea that penance is to help you grasp that you have been forgiven and sometimes we need to do something that affirms that. I s’pose I would do something a bit more helpful to the person like having them recite the lords prayer for a week or so at the appointed hours of the church (helping them develop a prayer life and also being a duration of time other than just 2 or so prayer) or saying the Jesus prayer 150 times a day for two weeks. Stuff that will help a person develop a good habit of prayer. It just seems in the past (When was I Anglican and Roman Catholic), penances were not very helpful and were done purely as atonement for sin and not as a medicine to fight sin.
I forgot that you are expected to memorize prayers. So he walked me through the act of contrition again. Why is penance inserted in there. “I promise to do penance”? Also I kept unconsciously waiting for him to place his stole over my head heh. He also gave me the injunction to pray 2 Lord’s Prayer and 2 Hail Marys.
I don’t understand prayer penances that are low like that. I get the whole idea that penance is to help you grasp that you have been forgiven and sometimes we need to do something that affirms that. I s’pose I would do something a bit more helpful to the person like having them recite the lords prayer for a week or so at the appointed hours of the church (helping them develop a prayer life and also being a duration of time other than just 2 or so prayer) or saying the Jesus prayer 150 times a day for two weeks. Stuff that will help a person develop a good habit of prayer. It just seems in the past (When was I Anglican and Roman Catholic), penances were not very helpful and were done purely as atonement for sin and not as a medicine to fight sin.
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BusterMartin
Guest
I agree. Just do whatever is more comfortable for you. Personally, I prefer kneeling behind the screen. I close my eyes and listen, pray, and try to make a good confession. I do it this way so that I can focus on the words being said and their meaning (as well as the fact that it is Jesus who ultimately forgives my sins through the sacrament) rather than whether or not I’m sitting properly, making eye contact, and other distractions. For me, kneeling behind the screen allows me to better focus on the confession itself. Just my two cents…
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BusterMartin
Guest
Recently I went to confession at my local Byzantine Catholic Church and my penance was low as well. I think it was something like 4 Lord’s Prayers and 2 Hail Marys. I also had to do 5-6 random acts of Christian kindness. That seems to be the norm no matter what Church I’m at.
The higher penance types that you mentioned…is that normally what you get as penance in the Eastern Church?
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Hesychios
Guest
You guys are gettin’ off easy!
For me, it was always 10 Hail Mary’s at the minimum! … and I had to do them before I left the building.
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angelic06
Guest
In many RC parishes, there is a confessional with a fixed grille and a kneeler, so there is no option to see the priest or stand. In others, you may choose. If you are knew to RC parishes, you will simply have to come and experience it to see what the arrangements are.
In most RC parishes, the only thing you have to memorize is:
“Bless me Father for I have sinned. It has been x weeks, months, years since my last confession. These are my sins…”
Father makes some inquiry into your sins and lifestyle and give spiritual counsel, and of course, your penance.
Then there is usually a script for the Act of Confession.
After the Act, the priest says, “Through the ministry of the Church…”
Some of the penances I have received include a whole decade of the Rosary, or even to read 10 minutes of the Holy Bible on three consecutive days (10 minutes each). The penance is supposed to help you grow spiritually and also provide adequate reparations against the divine honor in Latin theology, not just something which you can do really quickly to fulfill the minimum requirements of the law of confession.
In the Eastern churches, the priest serves as a physician of souls, thus seeking to provide sufficient medicine to cure the penitent’s spiritual weaknesses.
In either case, penance is not something to do lightly.
And a reminded to all of us, myself especially, don’t abuse the sacrament, my Maronite Catholic priest reminded the faithful in December. Most of us, Father said, abuse the sacrament. The sacrament is there for us when we do fall into sin, but don’t think that after you receive the sacrament you can return to a life of sinning and for some, debauchery. For we “know neither the day nor the hour” when our Lord shall return. Sinners all (of us), take heed.
In most RC parishes, the only thing you have to memorize is:
“Bless me Father for I have sinned. It has been x weeks, months, years since my last confession. These are my sins…”
Father makes some inquiry into your sins and lifestyle and give spiritual counsel, and of course, your penance.
Then there is usually a script for the Act of Confession.
After the Act, the priest says, “Through the ministry of the Church…”
Some of the penances I have received include a whole decade of the Rosary, or even to read 10 minutes of the Holy Bible on three consecutive days (10 minutes each). The penance is supposed to help you grow spiritually and also provide adequate reparations against the divine honor in Latin theology, not just something which you can do really quickly to fulfill the minimum requirements of the law of confession.
In the Eastern churches, the priest serves as a physician of souls, thus seeking to provide sufficient medicine to cure the penitent’s spiritual weaknesses.
In either case, penance is not something to do lightly.
And a reminded to all of us, myself especially, don’t abuse the sacrament, my Maronite Catholic priest reminded the faithful in December. Most of us, Father said, abuse the sacrament. The sacrament is there for us when we do fall into sin, but don’t think that after you receive the sacrament you can return to a life of sinning and for some, debauchery. For we “know neither the day nor the hour” when our Lord shall return. Sinners all (of us), take heed.
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Little_Boy_Lost
Guest
My current pastor does not offer me penances. When I asked him about it, he said unless something is chronic or grievous, it’s not usually something byzantines do.
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Alexander_Roman
Guest
Yes, whatever is comfortable . . . 
My brother once went to my confessor who somehow confused us. I received two Hail Mary’s for my penance and then my brother approached me with this angry look on his face.
“That priest gave me ‘Psalm 50’ to say for my penance!! I don’t even know what Psalm 50 is!”
Then he said, “That’s it - he gave me YOUR penance, Alex!”
I told him nothing could be done about it now and gave him a copy of Psalm 50 to recite.
He said, “And how long will it take me to recite all of this . . .?!”
“Get up early in the morning and go to bed late - you should be through in two or three days tops!” was my answer . . .
Alex
My brother once went to my confessor who somehow confused us. I received two Hail Mary’s for my penance and then my brother approached me with this angry look on his face.
“That priest gave me ‘Psalm 50’ to say for my penance!! I don’t even know what Psalm 50 is!”
Then he said, “That’s it - he gave me YOUR penance, Alex!”
I told him nothing could be done about it now and gave him a copy of Psalm 50 to recite.
He said, “And how long will it take me to recite all of this . . .?!”
“Get up early in the morning and go to bed late - you should be through in two or three days tops!” was my answer . . .
Alex
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Alexander_Roman
Guest
May I have the name and address of your priest? Does he live far from Toronto?
I don’t mind driving six hours to get to someone like that . . .
Alex
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Alexander_Roman
Guest
My old boss went to confession to his priest who told him, “Now, Vlad, didn’t you just confess this sin two weeks ago? Look, don’t get upset, but I’m not going to absolve you. Go home and when you have made up your mind to give up that sin, then come back and I will absolve you. This is no joke, my friend . . .”
And as he was leaving, the priest gently called out and said, “And did you recite the Canon of St Andrew of Crete before you came to confession today? No? Well then . . .”
Alex
And as he was leaving, the priest gently called out and said, “And did you recite the Canon of St Andrew of Crete before you came to confession today? No? Well then . . .”
Alex
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TobyLue
Guest
Alexander Roman:
This is definitely wrong!!! What is said in the confessional remains there and cannot be brought up by the priest ever again. The priest cannot assume that the penitent is not repentant of the sin, even if he hears it one thousand times. This priest should be reported to his Bishop. The priest possibly could ask the penitent if he is having difficulty with that particular sin and then advise him of the things that need to be done if it has become habitual. If the penitent then says that yes and has no intention of stopping then the priest can deny absolution but counsel the penitent. I believe the priest has no right to tell somebody “come back when you are truly repentant then I will give you absolution”.
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Jakub
Guest
One time I brought 3 of my grandkids with me to confession, without much thought I chose the face to face which was a 1st for this old timer, anyway the priest gave me a penance that lasted about 15 minutes, I heard one of my grandkids say, boy grandpa must have really bad…
That priest became my spiritual confessor and has left the parish due to illness, I have not found another one yet…
That priest became my spiritual confessor and has left the parish due to illness, I have not found another one yet…
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Little_Boy_Lost
Guest
A good spiritual father will help you in the journey by making you accountable. This is not bad at all. My father will ask me how things are going in regards to my sins and if I have made progress before we enter into the mystery of confession.
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Friar_David_O.Carm
Guest
Can you reference a Church Document for this or is it just your opinion?
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ciero
Guest
Lets keep the Latin stuff to the other forums and talk Eastern here ok TobyLue?
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Little_Boy_Lost
Guest
LOL Ciero.Lets keep the Latin stuff to the other forums and talk Eastern here ok TobyLue?
But probably not good PR.
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ciero
Guest
It just bugs me whenya get the Latins come in here spouting off their Latin stuff with no regard to where they are or to who they are talking to. If I’m on a Latin board I might point out the difference in how we in the East see things…but that guy was just to much!LOL Ciero.
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Friar_David_O.Carm
Guest
I don’t really think it is a Latin thing.It just bugs me whenya get the Latins come in here spouting off their Latin stuff with no regard to where they are or to who they are talking to. If I’m on a Latin board I might point out the difference in how we in the East see things…but that guy was just to much!
I just think this guy is spouting his opinion as if it is dogma.
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