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coachkfan1
Guest
If you truly want to make a confession, I am sure that you can find a priest to hear it. Are you willing to make the effort to meet Christ in the confessional no matter what sacrifice on YOUR part it takes?
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asd72
Guest
We have confession after Vigil Mass on Saturdays, it makes sense because Father can stay for as little or as long as it takes. And we only have one Priest.
Do you live in a city? If so check out other Parishes you may confess at to give you more options. I live near Westminster Cathedral and there is confession nearly everyday I think, and some days nearly all day.
If you are restricted to one Parish perhaps set up regular appointments with a Priest for confession.
Do you live in a city? If so check out other Parishes you may confess at to give you more options. I live near Westminster Cathedral and there is confession nearly everyday I think, and some days nearly all day.
If you are restricted to one Parish perhaps set up regular appointments with a Priest for confession.
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LilyM
Guest
Note that the person needs ‘grave reason’ to be permitted to receive without Confession. ‘The priest ran out of time but I can easily go in a week or two and not receive in the mean time’ does not constitute grave reason. Being in danger of death and having only a lay minister to give you communion would be grave reason. As would, say, possibly things like being an EMHC (since they receive the Eucharist before mInistering).
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smndtupidisaftr
Guest
Is that first part “not to celebrate Mass” in reference to a priest? I’ve never actually seen that Canon law so am just a little confused.
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mlz
Guest
Personally, until I go to Confession I don’t think it is right to advise others to go for communtion before Confession…Pray for sure, but don’t ever, ever advise communion without confession regardless. After all, it shows what a blesssing communion reallt is!!! It isn’t as if we all “deserve or am “entitled” to communion, it depends on us and our walk with Him and sin…” Such not a “cultuaral concept” I realize but oh so TRUE! God wants hat is REAL, not “fake”. Come to Him in TRUE repentance and recieve HIS forgiveness and real Forgiveness!!!
Stay true always to HIm,
mlz
Stay true always to HIm,
mlz
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DJK100
Guest
Sorry this happened. This sounds very frusterating. May I suggest calling your Parish and schedualing a confession time with your priest before Easter. That way you can receive communion on Easter.
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MissRose73
Guest
Confession is important. If you were not able to go at a certain time, do your best to search out another local parish and find out their times. I know the church I’ve been going to has been offering extra times for private Confessions during Lent both daily and evening on various days so that all those who want to go, can do so. I know I neglected the Sacrament in the past, and usually went once a year maybe twice at most in the year. But, I do my best to go at least 3 to 4 times in a year (or more if I am in need).
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PatriceA
Guest
I don’t think its right either. None of us should be giving that kind of advice, the only person qualified to give advice in handling that kind of situation is a priest.
Like others have said, call your priest, OP, explain the situation. As far as the regularly scheduled confession time situation, I could imagine the same thing happening in one of our community parishes. We have 7 parishes right now, three priests are covering two parishes each of those 7. Saying our priests are stretched to the limit is an understatement. That’s why the parishes all scheduled combined reconciliation services several times over the past two weeks to cut down on parishoners trying to get in to the regularly scheduled Saturday confessions times.
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Phemie
Guest
I live a 90-minute flight + 45-minute drive or a 13-hour drive from my Cathedral, and I’m a 7 hour drive from the next nearest parish. When the priest doesn’t bother to show up for the 15 minutes he allows for confession before Mass, twice a week, I’ve got no options. That’s been the reality for me since August.
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Vico
Guest
Fr. Hardon, S.J., Modern Catholic Dictionary: CELEBRANT. The priest or bishop who offers Mass, as distinct from those who assist at the liturgy in various ministries. When a number of priests or bishops offer Mass together, they are called concelebrants. (Etym. Latin celebrare, to celebrate, solemnize.)
The difficulty is that it requires “perfect contrition” which means: 1451 Among the penitent’s acts contrition occupies first place. Contrition is "sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again."50
1452 When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called “perfect” (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.51
An expanded expression is here in the catechism:
old.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt2.shtml#viii
1457 According to the Church’s command, "after having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year."56 Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution, unless he has a grave reason for receiving Communion and there is no possibility of going to confession.57 Children must go to the sacrament of Penance before receiving Holy Communion for the first time.58
(57) Cf. Council of Trent (1551): DS 1647; 1661; CIC, can. 916; CCEO, can. 711.
Council of Trent (1551): DS 1647
Now ecclesiastical usage declares that this examination is necessary, that no one conscious of mortal sin, however contrite he may seem to himself, should approach the Holy Eucharist without a previous sacramental confession. This, the holy Synod has decreed, is always to be observed by all Christians, even by those priests on whom by their office it may be incumbent to celebrate, provided the recourses of a confessor be not lacking to them. But if in an urgent necessity a priest should celebrate without previous confession, let him confess as soon as possible.
Council of Trent (1551): DS 1661
If anyone says that faith alone is sufficient preparation for receiving the sacrament of the most Holy Eucharist: let him be anathema. And that so great a Sacrament may not be unworthily received, and therefore unto death and condemnation, this holy Council ordains and declares that sacramental confession must necessarily be made beforehand by those whose conscience is burdened by mortal sin, however contrite they may consider themselves. If anyone moreover teaches the contrary or preaches or obstinately asserts, or even publicly by disputation shall presume to defend the contrary, by that fact itself he is excommunicated.
CIC Canon 916
A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or to receive the Body of the Lord without prior sacramental confession unless a grave reason is present and there is no opportunity of confessing: in this case the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible.
CCEO Canon 711
A person who is conscious of serious sin is not to celebrate the Divine Liturgy nor receive the Divine Eucharist unless a serious reason is present and there is no opportunity of receiving the sacrament of penance; in this case the person should make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible.
Grave reasons:Grave reasons for going to communion without confessing include danger of death and serious embarrassment if Communion is not taken. Lack of opportunity to confess includes absence of a confessor, inability to approach the confessor at a scheduled time for the sacrament, and the availability only of a confessor who is known personally and who cannot be approached without embarrassment.
J.P. BEAL. - J.A. CORIDEN - T.J. GREEN (edd.), *New **Commentary on the Code of Canon Law, *New York 2000, p. 1111.
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TheRealJuliane
Guest
Wow, you are really remote. Your options are a lot fewer. I will pray for you. It makes me so grateful to have 2 parishes within 10 minutes in 2 directions of my house, and at least 8 within 30 minutes. Plus the Cathedral is about 30 minutes away, downtown.
I hope you can make a personal appointment to see your priest. Want me to watch the kiddos for ya?
wish i really could…
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Kathryn_Ann
Guest
Hi, MaryHelene, and welcome to the forums.
I understand how you must feel.:angel1: I agree with one of the posters here who mentioned calling for an appointment, and also you have the option of asking around as to how busy other parishes are as far as confession goes. Of course that might not be convenient for you, but I imagine that if a priest gets enough phone calls asking for individual appointments, he might possibly change the starting time on Saturdays to allow for more people.
I empathize with our priests
who work so hard, so many long hours visiting the sick, doing so much of the administration work too. But it does seem that in the case of your parish, an earlier start time and/or calling ahead to schedule an appointment at another time, are both options.:heaven:
Many blessings to you!
Kathryn Ann
I understand how you must feel.:angel1: I agree with one of the posters here who mentioned calling for an appointment, and also you have the option of asking around as to how busy other parishes are as far as confession goes. Of course that might not be convenient for you, but I imagine that if a priest gets enough phone calls asking for individual appointments, he might possibly change the starting time on Saturdays to allow for more people.
I empathize with our priests
who work so hard, so many long hours visiting the sick, doing so much of the administration work too. But it does seem that in the case of your parish, an earlier start time and/or calling ahead to schedule an appointment at another time, are both options.:heaven:Many blessings to you!
Kathryn Ann
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etmom
Guest
Our parish only had Sat at 11am for the longest time. I work retail, work Saturdays, and can never make this time. I tried leaving for a lunch at that time, but it always took over an hour to get through the confession line. So I started calling for appts on a regular basis, and I encouraged my coworkers who also had this issue to do the same They did the same, and now our parish added another confession time, on Friday nights 
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