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HailHolyQueen90
Guest
I know Priests of course can’t speak of what is said in confession, but can we?
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puzzleannie
Guest
you can talk to anyone you want about your confession, but why would you want to? There is nobody, but nobody, who can give you greater help than the priest just did.
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mikeanayaus
Guest
I don’t see why we couldn’t. I think that the seal of confession only applies to the priest. While it might nice to talk to others, there’s always the risk of them spreading what you tell them which you might not want them to do.
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Big_Feet
Guest
The seal of confession is binding on all who hear the confession. The priest, and anyone who may be too close in line, for example, and accidently hears a bit of it. If this seal is broken, automatic excommunication occurs, and you who are repeating it are in grave sin.
If you are the confesser, then you of course can repeat anyting that you say to anyone you wish to, as it is no longer a “confession” in the sacramental form.
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Scoobyshme
Guest
Actually, we can only say what we may have said in Confession.
The seal of Confession applies to priests, interpreters (sometimes there needs to be an interpreter if the priest doesn’t speak the language of the person(s) going to Confession), and to anyone who may overhear someone else’s Confession (this should be avoided!).
Here’s what the Code of Canon Law says about all this:
Canon 983.1 The sacramental seal is inviolable; therefore it is absolutely forbidden for a confessor to betray in any way a penitent in words or in any manner and for any reason.
Canon 983.2 The interpreter, if there is one, and all others who in any way have knowledge of sins from confession are also obliged to observe secrecy.
Canon 1388.1 A confessor who directly violates the sacramental seal, incurs a latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See; he who does so only indirectly is to be punished according to the gravity of the offence.
Canon 1388.2 Interpreters and the others mentioned in Canon 983.2, who violate the secret, are to be punished with a just penalty, not excluding excommunication.
So, violating the seal of Confession can result in automatic (latae sententiae) excommunication! Not cool!
The seal of Confession applies to priests, interpreters (sometimes there needs to be an interpreter if the priest doesn’t speak the language of the person(s) going to Confession), and to anyone who may overhear someone else’s Confession (this should be avoided!).
Here’s what the Code of Canon Law says about all this:
Canon 983.1 The sacramental seal is inviolable; therefore it is absolutely forbidden for a confessor to betray in any way a penitent in words or in any manner and for any reason.
Canon 983.2 The interpreter, if there is one, and all others who in any way have knowledge of sins from confession are also obliged to observe secrecy.
Canon 1388.1 A confessor who directly violates the sacramental seal, incurs a latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See; he who does so only indirectly is to be punished according to the gravity of the offence.
Canon 1388.2 Interpreters and the others mentioned in Canon 983.2, who violate the secret, are to be punished with a just penalty, not excluding excommunication.
So, violating the seal of Confession can result in automatic (latae sententiae) excommunication! Not cool!
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Boulder257
Guest
Interesting question in that I went to confession the other day and there was a humorous exchange with the Priest. I told my wife about it. I thought I could say what happened, but he could not. Did I break the seal by telling my wife about the humorous exchange?
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77stanthony77
Guest
I sometimes tell my mom, but not everything! I went to confession today. I need to go more often I left one of the steps out! I go once a year, this year I went twice!
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Scoobyshme
Guest
Nah. You’re good.
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Scoobyshme
Guest
If I were you, I’d go no less than once/month. More often if I committed a mortal sin. (Best to do a quick examination of conscience before you go to sleep each night.) Remember…a tree usually falls the way it leans. If most of your time is spent in the state of mortal sin, odds are you’re not going to make it to heaven should you die suddenly.
I remember a priest once, who gave a Mass to a bunch of teens. There was a dance after. If you wanted to go to the dance, you had to go to the Mass preceding it. There was a smart alec young man sitting in the front, chewing gum and purposely looking bored. The priest gave a homily on “How would you conduct yourself if this was your LAST Mass?” The young man continued looking bored, looked at his watch, and even shook it to make sure it was working. That night, after the dance, the young man went home and accidentally electrocuted himself to death. He had absolutely no idea that that was really going to be his LAST Mass! When they had the funeral Mass, those other teens were there, acting very reverent! Nobody is guaranteed to die only when they reach 100 years old. Every day, somebody your age or younger die suddenly, unexepectedly. BAM! Car wreck, accident, undiagnosed heart problem. Whatever. They’re suddenly dead, and facing Jesus to give an account for the state of their soul!
Just something to keep in mind.
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Boulder257
Guest
I have to agree. That’s not in anyway a personal condemnation of anyone, I would give the same advice to anyone.Personally I find every two weeks does me good (more if I have mortal sin of course). I think the graces obtained from it help me from straying further and keep me focused on God. I have to admit I am still not good at conducting a daily examination of conscience (which happens to be part of my confessions sometimesIf I were you, I’d go no less than once/month…Just something to keep in mind.
). Sometimes I have mortal sins, sometimes just venial, but just the spiritual direction I receive is enough to make me go back this often. I think I heard somewhere that the Pope goes to confession at least once a week?Funny quote on confession (not that you asked for one, lol) was Archishop Fulton Sheen. He said one time, “hearing nuns’ confession is like being stoned to death with popcorn.” I don’t know why, but I have always remember that one!
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Boulder257
Guest
Phew!
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dconklin
Guest
You can talk about your confession, or part of it, because many priests make part of the penance telling the one you wronged that you are sorry and to make amends with that person.
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Boulder257
Guest
Hmm…good point.
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Chatter163
Guest
Actually, the confessor (note spelling) is the priest, and he cannot reveal anything from the confession. The person confessing sins is called the penitent, who surely can reveal anything, though that may not always be a good idea.
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thistle
Guest
The penitent is NOT bound by the seal of Confession.
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KCT
Guest
If I have sinned against my husband or children, sometimes I tell them I took it to confession.
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JimmytheButcher
Guest
It has been my understanding that the seal of the confessional applies to regular folks as well, meaning that we should divulge what goes on in there and what we confessed.
Even if I might be wrong on this point Canonically, I am keeping in mind the virtue of prudence. There is a monumental stupidity of confessing to anyone other than a priest (unless directed to so). To divulge violates trust in the operation of the sacrament.
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thistle
Guest
If by regular folks you mean people like you and I who are making a Confession, the Seal of Confession does not apply to us.
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Pitcharan
Guest
An excellent post and most valuable to allIf I were you, I’d go no less than once/month. More often if I committed a mortal sin. (Best to do a quick examination of conscience before you go to sleep each night.) Remember…a tree usually falls the way it leans. If most of your time is spent in the state of mortal sin, odds are you’re not going to make it to heaven should you die suddenly.
I remember a priest once, who gave a Mass to a bunch of teens. There was a dance after. If you wanted to go to the dance, you had to go to the Mass preceding it. There was a smart alec young man sitting in the front, chewing gum and purposely looking bored. The priest gave a homily on “How would you conduct yourself if this was your LAST Mass?” The young man continued looking bored, looked at his watch, and even shook it to make sure it was working. That night, after the dance, the young man went home and accidentally electrocuted himself to death. He had absolutely no idea that that was really going to be his LAST Mass! When they had the funeral Mass, those other teens were there, acting very reverent! Nobody is guaranteed to die only when they reach 100 years old. Every day, somebody your age or younger die suddenly, unexepectedly. BAM! Car wreck, accident, undiagnosed heart problem. Whatever. They’re suddenly dead, and facing Jesus to give an account for the state of their soul!
Just something to keep in mind.
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Pitcharan
Guest
I stumbled upon a very useful meditative prayer in which one recalls all causes of pent up anger, bitterness or any kind of grudge and forgives the person who caused it. When I prayed this in meditation before the Blessed sacrament I experienced a joyful peace that was heavenly.
I strongly feel that the process of administering the ‘sacrament of penance’ must be enriched to comprise both repentance and forgiveness. This will also be perfectly in line with our Lord’s teaching.
I strongly feel that the process of administering the ‘sacrament of penance’ must be enriched to comprise both repentance and forgiveness. This will also be perfectly in line with our Lord’s teaching.
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