Small Talk With Priest Before And After Confession

[Sir_Knight]

I am an Extraordinary Minister of the Holy Eucharist ministering to the home-bound in our parish. I have a group of people that I bring communion to on a regular basis. Some of them receive once a month. Some, once a week. And others on various other schedules. The point is that I always know ahead of time when I will be doing this and I make it a point to go to 6AM confession at the Catherial (my local parish doesn’t have daily confessions – only on Saturdays and by appointment) to ensure that I am as free from sin as possible when handling the Holy Eucharist.

The other day, I received a call from one of my “regulars” and she said that she had a sudden urge to receive communion and asked if I could bring the Eucharist to her. I agreed. However, it was already mid-morning and I had missed the 6AM confession at the Catherial and there were no other regularily scheduled confessions that day anywhere within reasonable driving distance that I was aware of.

So, when I went to pick up the host, I stopped by the rectory and informed the priest that I wanted to make a sacramental confession. He cheerfully agreed. We both walked over to the church in, what I felt was an awkward silence and after confession was over, I walked back with him to the rectory, again, in what I felt was an awkward silence.

To those that go to confession outside of regular confession times … do you make small talk with the priest or remain silent? If you do carry a conversation, what is it about? Is it about regular things that you would normally talk about or do you just talk about the weather? Walking back to the rectory, I commented that it was a mighty strange winter that we were having and he replied “Yes, it is.” Afterward, things felt even more awkward.

 

[Lorrie]

I’ve gone to confession with my priest at odd times (meaning not during the usual confession times). Him and I have always talked as though we’re like two old friends, never any awkward times either before or after confession. What we talk about is anything and everything. He’ll ask me how I’m doing, what’s going on with me, etc. and I’ll ask the same of him. I’m not intimidated by him in the least.

That’s priest #1.

Priest #2 is different. I’ll go to confession with priest #2 when priest #1 isn’t available. It can be during normal confession times or not and I’m still uncomfortable with him, meaning awkward. Priest #2 and I just don’t have the same kind of friendship that priest #1 and I have. Priest #2 isn’t very talkative, not exceptionally friendly, etc. He’s a wonderful priest though, but for me to truly comfortable with someone they have to be on the same page as me (open personality, talkative, etc.)

I hope this makes sense…lol.

 

[Sir_Knight]

Thank you for your reply. I have regular dealings with the priests and rectory staff since, as part of my stewardship to the parish, I do the church website, Sunday bulletin, school website, monthly newsletter, etc. However, that fact that I was about to confess to him and the fact that I had just finished confessing made the before and after awkward for me.

I guess that if I do it more often, it will seem more natural and less awkward to me.

 

[radhika]

My parish priest is also my confessor. I am a revert and my first confession to him after years was a very emotional and difficult one. But since then niether of us have spoken about it. We have become good friends, and though he continues to hear my confession, it is not cause of any awkwardness beteen us.

I think the confession is something that you have to do as a catholic, it need not impinge on your relationship with your priest.

 

[mercygate]

Sir – This is probably more a personality issue than a matter directly related to the Sacrament of Confession. Don’t stress it!

Hey! I think you are a super-great guy for being so sensitive to the Blessed Sacrament that you come to confession before handling it!

Wish we had more like you!