The Sin Box: Why have Catholics stopped lining up at the confessional

[Traditional_Ang]

palmas85:

From some of the posts on this topic I am getting the impression that many people feel that venial sins are OK, no problem at all. A venial sin is still a sin, and still wounds the soul. True, they are not as serious as are mortal sins, and will not send you to Hell, well not directly, but they will still increase your time in Purgatory if not forgiven and rob you of sanctifying grace. Of course since most people don’t believe in Purgatory, Hell or punishment for sins anymore I guess it really doesn’t make a lot of difference.

Palmas:

Most people forget that committing venial sins establishes a habit of sin! and, I wouldn’t exactly call the widespread use of contraception and acceptance of Abortion in this country nothing! or, The almost insatiable need to challenge the Church on teaching after teaching!

Michael

 

[Katie1723]

imagine7777:

…I forget who said it, but it’s the idea of “preach the gospel with your life” or “preach the gospel without words”…

It was St Francis of Assisi who said “preach the gospel at all times…use words when necessary”

And I too had the good fortune to meet a wonderful priest who was instrumental in my return to the Catholic faith. It was he, too, who heard my “first” in a LONG time confession!

~ Kathy ~

 

[Traditional_Ang]

maklavan:

Perhaps an improvement might come if people stopped spoke less of confession and more about the wonderful Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Maklavan:

When it eas called the Sacrament of Penance or Confession, Priests were in the Confessional for as many as 10 hours/day, 6 days/week (St Padre Pio, St. John Vianney) and it wasn’t unusual for People to go to Confession Monthly.

Now that we call it The sacrament of Reconciliation and have stopped talking about why people NEED to go, and tried to “sell the benefits”, priests rarely are in the “Reconciliation Room” for more than 3 hours in a given week, and most Catholics don’t go the minimum once per year as mandated by the Church.

Your suggestion has been tried around most of the world for most of the last 40 years, and hasn’t worked.

The real solution is catechesis, preaching, prayer and renewal. When Catholics understand why they need to go to the Confessional, how having a real close relationship to God is almost impossible without doing so, and understand the spiritual and emotional healing that are available from “God’s Operating Room”, they’ll line up after full examinations of conscience, and they’ll do so enough so as to require priests to stay in the Confessional 6 hours/day, 6 days/week.

The problem isn’t in the terminology - The problem is in the Catechesis and the Preaching and the effects of Relativism on the Church that’s been made vulnerable by the indifferent Catechesis and the Preaching that avoids the mention of Sin, Hell and Damnation.

Correct those, and you’ll be well on your way to solving the problem we’re discussing here.

In Christ, Michael

 

[palmas85]

maklavan:

Perhaps an improvement might come if people stopped spoke less of confession and more about the wonderful Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Why would it make a difference???

 

[bluezone7]

palmas85:

We have downplayed the role and reality of sin in our society. We don’t believe in sin anymore so why confess it? We are starting to drift towards the Protestant idea that everybody is saved regardless of their situation. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen and heard people who profess the be Catholics say they don’t need confession because Christs death is the only source of salvation needed, and that nothing else is required…

It is interesting to note that Pope John Paul II of blessed memory is said to have confessed at least once a week for up to thirty minutes each time. And just think, most of us can’t even do it once a year.

Amazing, absolutely amazing.

My sentiments exactly!!!

If holy men and women, and saints throughout history were known for going to confession at least once a week or more as some went daily–or even more!!! What the heck is going on with the rest of us who could only wish to be 1 percent as holy as those holy men and women! It seems that the more holy the person the more often they go to confession while the less holy don’t even go at all. Think about it … half a century ago people would regurally go to confession but not go to mass or receive the eucharist because they probably felt unworthy of receiving the body and blood of Christ. What is going on!!!

 

[mumto5]

I don’t go very often and the reason is availability. Every parish, but one, has half an hour allotted to confessions and with five kids I find it hard to get there. That half hour, to make it even harder, is the same at every single parish too - 9.30am to 10am Saturday. They all overlap. My kids are at an age where I can’ t leave them outside but can’t take them in. That also means they rarely get to go. The one exception has half an hour, three times during the week, but for the same reason, I find that hard to get to. Sometimes I get the chance to ‘pop out’ without the kids and if confession were available then, I would go at the same time.

 

[katy]

Katie1723:

It was St Francis of Assisi who said “preach the gospel at all times…use words when necessary”

And I too had the good fortune to meet a wonderful priest who was instrumental in my return to the Catholic faith. It was he, too, who heard my “first” in a LONG time confession!

~ Kathy ~

Same here…very patient, kind, and faithful to the church. I still pray for him.

 

[tossolul]

This is directed at the people who say that they can not make it to confession because of scheduling conflicts.

I 100% believe that if you pray about this to God, and let him know of your desire to go to confession and clense yourself through this sacrament…ask Him to make it possible for you to attend this…He will answer your prayer. Ask for His help, and you will see remarkable answers to your needs where this is concerned. If you truly want to do this in your heart, He will give you a way.

 

[Al_Masetti]

Sometimes (depending on various circumstances) a priest may be available to hear confessions after daily Mass. At the back of church or in the sacristy… he’ll suggest an appropriate place.

If you can linger after daily Mass, you might be able to find a moment when he is available. I’ve done this many times and have seen others do it as well. Have never had a priest say no. Before Mass can be problematical because of time constraints and because many priests are very anxious before Mass (they are very focused on performing the Mass ritual correctly and distractions are difficult for them).

But after Mass they are more relaxed and are more likely to have some time.

 

[pnewton]

I have to brag on my priest again. Last night he encouraged everyone to make frequent confession, especially during the Avent season. To accommodate this, he expanded the confessional hours to 9 times a week, with at least one time every day. Bear in mind he is a solo priest and says five Saturday/Sunday masses.

 

[Pug]

I agree with Al on this. It is easy to nab a priest after daily mass to squeeze in a confession. It is a good option if you can’t make those shrimpy Saturday “hours”.

palmas85:

From the quoted section of CCC am I to assume that a person never has to confess venial sins and that reception of Holy Communion is all that is required? That seems to be suggested from that section. That of course could explain why many people choose to skip confession in these enlightened times.

I’ve never thought about it, liking to go to confession myself…but I think you are right. Venial sins do not need to be confessed, but as per Trent, they are indeed a suitable object for confession. Here, I’ve found a spot in Trent about venial sins:

though they [venial sins] may be rightly and profitably and without any presumption declared in confession, as the practice of pious people evinces, may, nevertheless, be omitted without guilt and can be expiated by many other remedies.

chapter 5 fourteenth session Trent.

It may be that people do not perceive any mortal sin on their part, so they don’t go. However, the priest today made a lovely push for confession this advent, inviting people who haven’t gone for even 50 years to come! I think invitation can help. Let’s all *invite *someone to go with us if we know of someone who hasn’t gone in a long time.

 

[mumto5]

Pug:

I agree with Al on this. It is easy to nab a priest after daily mass to squeeze in a confession. It is a good option if you can’t make those shrimpy Saturday “hours”…

Not when you have to keep the kids away from the carpark after having had them sit still for an hour.

 

[MatthewB]

My parish priest mentioned in his homely about how he is surprised if two people show up for confession on Saturday, and how he has had a hard time finding a priest to confess to on the local area.

I hope I will remember the beauty and importance of this sacrement when eventually get baptized in the Church. Seems like now I realize how much I need it. Seeing that it was rooted in the Bible was one of the things that made me realize that the Catholic Church is the Church Christ established.

 

[Pug]

mumto5:

Not when you have to keep the kids away from the carpark after having had them sit still for an hour.

Mumto5,

I do understand your difficulty with a mix of squirrelly young kids! I was more meaning to encourage those who can’t make the regular hours (they work, etc). When I was a new Catholic, it never would have occurred to me to stop a priest after mass for confession, so I wanted to chime in, in case there were others here like I used to be, so they would be encouraged. I’ve stopped a priest after the evening mass and it worked well to catch confession, but I think I am fortunate to have access to an evening daily mass. Most are in the mornings.