Strange Priest

[White_Peony]

During Lent, my parish had a penance service. There were three priest there that I knew or knew of, except one. I don’t remember what his name was, either. Anyway, so I went to one of the designated places for confession and found that this certain priest was my confessor. I began to make my confession, pausing at one sin that I had been struggling with, asking how to resist temptation. He went on to say that “the whole world isn’t halos and angel wings” and how we are all going to sin. He made it sound like since we are all going to sin, just do it anyway and come back to confession. (Of course, you and I know that we have to try not to sin, but if we commit the same sin, we must go back to confession with a contrite heart and try not to do it again). So I said, “I understand, Father, but we can resist temptation.” He said that he agreed, but said what he said before, but summarized. Then, he gave me absolution. I didn’t even get to finish my confession or make my act of contrition!!!

Is this strange or what?

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I have found it best to list all my sins before asking for or expecting any kind of advice. Confession is not always the best place to receive spiritual guidance - particularly at a Lenten penance service when many are waiting for confession.

The priest obviously thought you were done with your confession when you begain to ask for advice. That’s also a good reason to start with our mortal sins and then more serious venial sins - so that nothing critical gets left out or forgotten.

This particular priest may have heard something in your confession (or voice or mannerisms) that made him think you were overly anxious or scrupulous and so was trying to help you get perspective. I have that happen on a few occasions - later in reviewing what I said and how I said it, I could understand why the priest was more concerned with relieving my apparent anxiety than being stern about my sins.

So this also leads to the recommendation to always go to the same confessor. Sometimes that’s not possible, but in general if you set up a schedule for yourself (every month, six weeks, etc.) it will work out. You can also set up appointments with the priest for regular confession.

 

[bogeydogg]

You would have to ask the priest exactly what he meant, but I would venture to say he was trying to comfort you by reminding you that yes of course you should resist temptation and fear and love God, but (this side of Heaven) that is not going to be perfect and so you should also not turn yourself to stone because you struggle with sin.

Because everyone does. Including your priest.

If you have a particular besetting sin then you should probably seek counsel from your priest and explain what is happening and get the Church more involved in your circumstance. But torturing yourself because you got absolution before you felt forgiveness is not healthy, it is pride. Absolution forgives you all your sins, even the ones you forget to confess, because the Holy Spirit knows your heart and helps you to be contrite. That is why the priest says I absolve you all your sins and not I absolve you the sins you thought of because we all sin in thought word and deed and very often forget the sins of thought and intent that are not acted upon because of our sins of word and deed.

Talk to your priest about this and about any sin you are struggling with. Because ya know that is why God gave us priests.

God Bless