Sent away from confession

[EasterJoy]

Your response doesn’t address my question at all. Of course I would help Father out if he asked me to let people know that he needed to stop seeing confessions. What I don’t understand is why someone would be stationed there so that the priest doesn’t see people in the confession line.

If you want the real answer, ask the priest. I am only proposing that a) the layperson might be acting on the instruction of the confessor and b) the confessor might have good reasons to have asked the layperson to do what was done.

 

[JimG]

SuperLuigi said this:

and I said this

Your response doesn’t address my question at all. Of course I would help Father out if he asked me to let people know that he needed to stop seeing confessions. What I don’t understand is why someone would be stationed there so that the priest doesn’t see people in the confession line.

I recall someone once making an offhand comment to a priest at our parish that he needed to have a mirror above the confessional to see how long the line was. He said, ‘well, that would destroy the anonymity of the confessional.’ And he’s right. First, the confessionals are completely enclosed and soundproof, so there would be no place to put a mirror. Second, people like the confessional because it is anonymous and private. Most probably would not like the idea of Father glancing out to see who is standing in line. Even when there is already a line waiting when the priest comes out to enter the confessional, he does not look at anyone in the line; he just enters the confessional.

I would add that, instead of a ‘line monitor’ to stop the line when Mass time approaches, we simply have a sign on the wall near the beginning of the line which says something like, ‘please do not enter the confessional after 5:25pm.’

 

[ccmcmg]

Whether it’s shortly before Mass, or during the week, if it’s close to ‘end time’ and I’m towards last in line, I will mention to the priest how many people are still in line. They have said thanks in the past. It isn’t foolproof of course.

 

[babochka]

I recall someone once making an offhand comment to a priest at our parish that he needed to have a mirror above the confessional to see how long the line was. He said, ‘well, that would destroy the anonymity of the confessional.’ And he’s right. First, the confessionals are completely enclosed and soundproof, so there would be no place to put a mirror. Second, people like the confessional because it is anonymous and private. Most probably would not like the idea of Father glancing out to see who is standing in line. Even when there is already a line waiting when the priest comes out to enter the confessional, he does not look at anyone in the line; he just enters the confessional.

Thank you. That was exactly the explanation I was hoping for. It had not occurred to me that some might not want to be seen in the confessional line.

I would add that, instead of a ‘line monitor’ to stop the line when Mass time approaches, we simply have a sign on the wall near the beginning of the line which says something like, ‘please do not enter the confessional after 5:25pm.’

Seems like this would solve the problem nicely, without hurt feelings.

 

[Gorgias]

JimG:

instead of a ‘line monitor’ to stop the line when Mass time approaches, we simply have a sign on the wall near the beginning of the line which says something like, ‘please do not enter the confessional after 5:25pm.’

Seems like this would solve the problem nicely, without hurt feelings.

Except that… it wouldn’t.

Cory’s original post didn’t say “I entered the line late”. Rather, he was unhappy that he had been standing in line, but had been turned away as the end time for confessions approached. So, at 5:30 (or whatever time confession ended), when he and two others would have been turned away, he would be disappointed – and a sign that said “don’t enter the line after 5:25” wouldn’t have changed his disappointment that the sacrament wasn’t treated like closing time at the local store.

 

[JimG]

Except that… it wouldn’t.

Cory’s original post didn’t say “I entered the line late”. Rather, he was unhappy that he had been standing in line, but had been turned away as the end time for confessions approached. So, at 5:30 (or whatever time confession ended), when he and two others would have been turned away, he would be disappointed – and a sign that said “don’t enter the line after 5:25” wouldn’t have changed his disappointment that the sacrament wasn’t treated like closing time at the local store.

Well, that’s true. Everyone coming into the church for confessions before Mass knows that confessions will end at 5:25. I’ve stood in line myself until the last minute, hoping that those in front of me will finish quickly, only to find myself at the front when the priest had to leave. One knows that coming in. I come early if I can, but there are no guarantees.

Padre Pio heard confessions sometimes for twelve hours a day and still left people in line.

 

[SuperLuigi]

This made me very sad. Now I do not know why she came in, but I hurt for her as she looked distraught and really wanted to have her Confession heard. I really had wished Father went to her, she was a soul in distress.

A couple of things:

1. It never feels good to be turned away, but it happens. A person just cannot expect to come into Mass 3 minutes beforehand and expect to have a Confession heard. It just isn’t practical for some priests.
2. It would be VERY helpful for the priest/parish to have a set policy on Confession. If the priest leaves early to prepare for Mass on the dot, then people need to know that. If the priest will hear after Mass, that needs to be communicated as well, and I sincerely hope people understand that is FAR important than shaking hands after Mass. It’s amazing what some folks are offended by these days.

In that policy, they should also raise awareness that sometimes emergencies happen and the priest cannot be there at the set time just people can prepare.

1. I would like to see more of an effort from both priests and parishioners to have a more regular Confession time in the middle of the week I think this could help daily Mass attendance in some cases and is a good foundation for that. I don’t know that simply having people set appointments for the week is an effective means to get them to come in.

 

[SuperLuigi]

Padre Pio heard confessions sometimes for twelve hours a day and still left people in line.

My, how the times have changed.

 

[SuperLuigi]

SuperLuigi said this:

and I said this

Your response doesn’t address my question at all. Of course I would help Father out if he asked me to let people know that he needed to stop seeing confessions. What I don’t understand is why someone would be stationed there so that the priest doesn’t see people in the confession line.

The principle: some people have a real problem with being seen if they intend to go behind the curtain. It kind of defeats the whole purpose and it can be awkward.

As for the person, I don’t know that sometimes need to patrol the Confession line, but usually I think it’s a lector or usher who tells people Father has to prepare for Mass, and sometimes that person lets the priest know when it’s time to start getting ready for Mass.

 

[Gorgias]

1. It never feels good to be turned away, but it happens. A person just cannot expect to come into Mass 3 minutes beforehand and expect to have a Confession heard.

That wasn’t the question at hand, though. The question is whether – ‘3 minutes beforehand’ or whenever the end time of confessions is – those who have been in line (for more than ‘3 minutes’), should reasonably expect that the priest might quit the confessional in order to prepare for Mass.

 

[marytk]

We have a sign that says something like. "No more confessions five minutes before Mass time. That way if you are waiting you know that if it 4:25 when the person before you goes in you won’t make it.

I think we all can think this a see hmmm it is almost time fore Mass.: It is easy to think just hear my confession I won’t take long. but if there is still a line of people How long should Mass be delayed? Ususlly an adult server or usher will tell the people in line that it is six mnutes before Mass so Father won’t have time