Tried to go to confession and no one was there

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PeripheralMajesty

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So I felt called to go to confession today since it’s been a while and it’s right before Christmas. I went to the Church with full intention to confess. I also went thinking there was going to be a confession since I checked the parish website and the schedule said the time I was going at indeed had confessions. This means I wasn’t going to confession knowing I wasn’t going to get in so I could get out of confessing my sins to a priest. This wasn’t my home parish, so I must have missed a memo given in mass because there were no confessions. So instead of confessing my sins to a priest, I went into the chapel where they had the tabernacle and confessed my sins there directly to God. I did this and intend to pray the rosary as penance (right after I post this) since that’s what a priest would probably give me. So my question is, is my confession valid even though no priest absolved me? I have tried to go to confession 3 times now including this and every time something has gone wrong (one time I misread the schedule, other time the priest had to do some other business and didn’t have time to hear my confession, and this time). I am getting tired of being turned away and I want to receive the Eucharist on Christmas. However, I don’t want to sin. I’m not trying to get out of confession, I’d be happy to confess my sins if I could get into a confessional. I’m not one of those “confess directly to God instead of a priest” kind of people and I understand the importance of a physical confession. Thanks for your time, sorry for the long read, I just wanted to explain myself well
 
This has happened to me before. It happened the weekend before last, actually.

You can’t receive absolution unless you make a sacramental confession, so I would urge you to call priests at different parishes and ask them to hear your confession. Tell them your situation and they’ll hopefully have time to accommodate you.
 
Hello!

You explained the situation and yourself very well. The fact still remains that you actually haven’t verbally confessed your mortal sins to a priest during the Sacrament of Confession. So in this situation if you have unconfessed mortal sins, then you can’t receive Communion.

I’m sorry this seems to keep happening to you when you make the effort to go to Confession.

I do understand how you feel. Because I must have a low gluten host, it has happened due to forgetfulness, lack of communication between those responsible etc that I have gone up to receive Communion only to be told by the priest that he didn’t have my low gluten host!! You can imagine how hurt and disappointed I was - there was nothing else for me to do but make a spiritual communion, and then after Mass make enquiries as to what happened. Still happened again the following week though - I just offer it up.

And with Christmas being such an important Feast in our lives, I know you will be very disappointed too, but make a spiritual communion instead, offer up your disappointment. Then phone your parish and make certain of confession times before you next go - hopefully they’ll have one scheduled for this coming Saturday for you to attend.
 
Exactly.

For the OP: Forgiveness comes with an act of perfect contrition. This can and should be done the moment you are aware of serious sin and have contrition. Absolution, on the other hand, is a juridical act of the Church. Not the same thing. Christ intended for us to hear the words of absolution, and so we do.

I missed Saturday and really needed to confess. I met Father in his office and confessed right there. IO have confessed in a parish library before. Anywhere is valid, beach, river or mountaintop, as long as confidentiality is ensured.

Just call, or stop by Father’s office. He most likely will have 5 minutes to administer the sacrament. Most will go out of their way, as restoring your right relationship to God is paramount.
 
PeripheralMajesty said:
So my question is, is my confession valid even though no priest absolved me?
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No it is not valid. You must confess to a priest and only he gives you absolution. Without such absolution of any mortal sins you may not receive Communion.
 
PeripheralMajesty said:
So my question is, is my confession valid even though no priest absolved me?
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Unfortunately, no. You’re not absolved. If you have any grave, possibly mortal sins that are not absolved, you can’t receive.

I understand your frustration. I note that it is Christmas week and many churches are not following their regular schedules, and sometimes this isn’t clear from their websites or from Masstimes app. Quite a few churches have a “penance service” designed to hear many confessions in the week or two before Christmas, instead of having their regular confession time.

As others suggested, please call around and see if you can find a priest who has a few minutes to hear your confession.
 
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I understand why in this case. Again, wasn’t there for that mass, so it probably was said in that mass that the priests would be taking time off. The other times happened outside of the holiday season and were partially responsible for why I hadn’t been in a while
 
Figured just as much. Ah well, it was worth asking the good people here about
 
I’m sorry, it seems my forums are glitching out and replying only to you, my bad
 
Ask Father to hear your confession after mass, or schedule an appointment.
 
During Holidays, schedules change. Check your parish website, facebook page, etc to get the Christmas and Mother of God week schedules.
 
@PeripheralMajesty did check the website. This has happened to me, too. I think the only safe thing is to call. The poor secretaries are so busy they must not have time to update everything. Moral: Never trust what you read on the internet. Wait - I’m on the internet now. Hmmmmm. 🤔
 
TheLittleLady said:
During Holidays, schedules change. Check your parish website, facebook page, etc to get the Christmas and Mother of God week schedules.
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It isn’t uncommon to pack the front of Advent with extra opportunities to go to confession and then not have confessions immediately before Christmas.
PeripheralMajesty said:
I am getting tired of being turned away and I want to receive the Eucharist on Christmas.
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This happens with both physicians and priests: that is, they get sick themselves, they are called away on an emergency concerning someone in danger of death, and so on. We just have to be patient.
 
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