Take Confession seriously but not so seriously

[Pug]

Gees. Some people have this life or death view of religion. I think sins should be taken seriously but it is not the end of the world. When I was teenager confessed my sins, this still even happens now, I have had priests laugh to my confessions. Sometimes I wonder if what I confessed was just so petty or was not such a huge deal. I just wrote this because I notice people seem to make such a big deal about “oh no” this sin.

I think for some people they look at their sin and see something horrifying or maybe something that does not fit at all into their image of who they want to be. Horrifying things lend themselves to a serious reaction, and pain and disappointment in ourselves also tends to provoke a serious response.

Perhaps a lack of trust in God, too, can lead to a feeling of desperation in ever controlling our actions. Or a person could simply have been taught that seriousness is the only proper response to sin and so they react that way out of diligence.

There must be some leeway for a variety of responses. We are emotional creatures, and those emotions are not overly governed by reason.

 

[CRATUS]

I think for some people they look at their sin and see something horrifying or maybe something that does not fit at all into their image of who they want to be. Horrifying things lend themselves to a serious reaction, and pain and disappointment in ourselves also tends to provoke a serious response.

Perhaps a lack of trust in God, too, can lead to a feeling of desperation in ever controlling our actions. Or a person could simply have been taught that seriousness is the only proper response to sin and so they react that way out of diligence.

There must be some leeway for a variety of responses. We are emotional creatures, and those emotions are not overly governed by reason.

I do not mean to sound flippant I’d I do.

 

[Pug]

I do not mean to sound flippant I’d I do.

I’m sorry, CRATUS, I tend to sound like a stick in the mud when I think directly instead of polishing up my words. I’ll polish more next time. I didn’t mean for you to get the idea that you are being flippant.

The spiritual writers that I’ve read are in agreement with your thread title. They seem to advise that we ought not tie ourselves up in knots over our sins, that we ought to repent of course, but then strive to move on to our next task with grace. Often easier said than done.

 

[CRATUS]

I’m sorry, CRATUS, I tend to sound like a stick in the mud when I think directly instead of polishing up my words. I’ll polish more next time. I didn’t mean for you to get the idea that you are being flippant.

The spiritual writers that I’ve read are in agreement with your thread title. They seem to advise that we ought not tie ourselves up in knots over our sins, that we ought to repent of course, but then strive to move on to our next task with grace. Often easier said than done.

I did not think you were a stick in the mud at all.

 

[Convert_in_99]

I have never heard of a priest laughing to a confession. Wowsa. Perhaps you have a jovial type of personality that lends itself to such a response.

I’m glad that hasn’t happened to me as I would be totally caught off guard,

Mary.

Better than the priest who yells at you. Those were horrible experiences. :sad_yes:

 

[CRATUS]

Better than the priest who yells at you. Those were horrible experiences. :sad_yes:

True. Honestly the times priests have laughed during my confessions was when I was like 13-14 years old. One laughed out loud. I did not think anything I said was particularly funny, more embarrassing. I guess to an adult - this was just so juvenile.

 

[Confiteor_Deo]

I’d be so embarrassed if a priest laughed at my confession. I’d probably count as one of those that take sin & Confession very seriously. I take it seriously since the consequences of sin are serious.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Better than the priest who yells at you. Those were horrible experiences. :sad_yes:

Very true, Convert in 99. Trying to overcome the harm that has been done by priests who have done such things is truly is just beyond words.

As Pope Francis said so beautifully…I have always that text of his near to me…the confessional is not supposed to be a torture chamber.

 

[oneofmany]

Makes me wonder if the priest is reading a humorous book at the same time as hearing confessions. HMMMM???

My mother said one priest told her not to come to confession with such a child-like confession. She said she wondered if he wanted her to commit adultery or something serious before confessing.

Don’t nuns have child-like confessions all the time? I read one priest (maybe the Pope) say hearing a nun’s confession was like being pelted with popcorn.

 

[CRATUS]

In my case I said something very extreme and embarrassing only a 13-14 year old girl would say

 

[Dmitri77]

My priest says hearing confessions is boring cause everybody does the same things over and over.

 

[Pug]

My priest says hearing confessions is boring cause everybody does the same things over and over.

Maybe a priest could put a list of interesting suggestions on the confessional door:

Said the red, did the black

Hit a baseball through the pope’s window

Regicide

Planned world domination, foiled by crew of Enterprise

 

[Dmitri77]

Maybe a priest could put a list of interesting suggestions on the confessional door:

Said the red, did the black

Hit a baseball through the pope’s window

Regicide

Planned world domination, foiled by crew of Enterprise

Kirk to the rescue!!!