S
SamDash
Guest
Today (Saturday), I experienced something at confession that had not happened before to me.
I normally go to confession at my regular church with my regular confessor on Saturday afternoons. Today, however, due to an afternoon obligation, I went to another church with Saturday morning confessions. (I had gone to confession once before at this church some time ago, but am not really familiar with it or its priests.)
After confessing my first sin "*, the priest said something like, “Tell me more about that”. So, I briefly expounded, and after a brief exchange (30 seconds perhaps), I was going to move on to my next sin, and I realized the priest was concluding the words of absolution, “…Through the ministry of the church, may God grant you pardon and peace. And I absolve you of your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. For your penance, say the act of contrition and look at Psalm 27. Have a nice day.” I was slightly surprised, but just exited the confessional.
Now, putting aside the matter of saying the act of contrition after the absolution, I was certainly intending on confession additional sins, and I’m certain I had neither paused for more than half a second nor given any indication that I was finished. (I doubt I had been in the confessional longer than two or three minutes.)
I believe the priest may have been concerned about moving things along (as there was a relatively long line). Additionally, he was the only confessor present, and, I believe there are usually two (or at least there were the last time I was there).
My question is not really whether I was absolved or the unconfessed sins or if they need to be repeated, as I believe that was addressed here -What do I do when a priest won’t let me finish my confession? - but I was wondering if anyone has had something like this happen? Should I have said something like. “Father, I wanted to confess a few additional sins”?*
I normally go to confession at my regular church with my regular confessor on Saturday afternoons. Today, however, due to an afternoon obligation, I went to another church with Saturday morning confessions. (I had gone to confession once before at this church some time ago, but am not really familiar with it or its priests.)
After confessing my first sin "*, the priest said something like, “Tell me more about that”. So, I briefly expounded, and after a brief exchange (30 seconds perhaps), I was going to move on to my next sin, and I realized the priest was concluding the words of absolution, “…Through the ministry of the church, may God grant you pardon and peace. And I absolve you of your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. For your penance, say the act of contrition and look at Psalm 27. Have a nice day.” I was slightly surprised, but just exited the confessional.
Now, putting aside the matter of saying the act of contrition after the absolution, I was certainly intending on confession additional sins, and I’m certain I had neither paused for more than half a second nor given any indication that I was finished. (I doubt I had been in the confessional longer than two or three minutes.)
I believe the priest may have been concerned about moving things along (as there was a relatively long line). Additionally, he was the only confessor present, and, I believe there are usually two (or at least there were the last time I was there).
My question is not really whether I was absolved or the unconfessed sins or if they need to be repeated, as I believe that was addressed here -What do I do when a priest won’t let me finish my confession? - but I was wondering if anyone has had something like this happen? Should I have said something like. “Father, I wanted to confess a few additional sins”?*
