Using a priest you know for confession

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maggiemoo

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We have a priest in our parish that I enjoy talking to. We have had him over for dinner and the like. The preist who I had been using for confession, was transfered. I have heard that the other preist is a good confessor, but I was wondering since I have a friendship with him, if he would be uncomfortable seeing me in the confessional?
 
Hi.I dont think so.Instead it will depend on you.If you think you will be comfortable confessing to him then that will be find.Most atimes,many people don’t like confesing to priest they know.Personally i will advice you to do what you feel most comffortable with
 
maggiemoo said:
We have a priest in our parish that I enjoy talking to. We have had him over for dinner and the like. The preist who I had been using for confession, was transfered. I have heard that the other preist is a good confessor, but I was wondering since I have a friendship with him, if he would be uncomfortable seeing me in the confessional?
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My confessor is a priest I have known for over 15 years. We started out as friends, then we worked together. I find it so much easier to confess to him than any other priest, even the tough and maybe embarrassing sins. He knows me so well that he can really give me spot on advice and counsel.
 
maggiemoo said:
We have a priest in our parish that I enjoy talking to. We have had him over for dinner and the like. The preist who I had been using for confession, was transfered. I have heard that the other preist is a good confessor, but I was wondering since I have a friendship with him, if he would be uncomfortable seeing me in the confessional?
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For me it is almost unbearable.
 
ibo said:
For me it is almost unbearable.
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The priest who is giving me instruction now is a very nice priest.

I don’t know if I will have to go to someone else for my first confession. I have a lot of sins since my baptism I’d rather not repeat. :o

Just the thought of first confession stresses me, let alone confessing to a Priest I will know quite well after meeting with him weekly for instruction.
 
maggiemoo said:
We have a priest in our parish that I enjoy talking to. We have had him over for dinner and the like. The preist who I had been using for confession, was transfered. I have heard that the other preist is a good confessor, but I was wondering since I have a friendship with him, if he would be uncomfortable seeing me in the confessional?
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that has been the situation of most parishioners throughout the ages, they confess to their pastor, parishes were smaller and more intimate, so naturally he knows them so obviously there is no problem and a lot of benefit.
 
maggiemoo said:
We have a priest in our parish that I enjoy talking to. We have had him over for dinner and the like. The preist who I had been using for confession, was transfered. I have heard that the other preist is a good confessor, but I was wondering since I have a friendship with him, if he would be uncomfortable seeing me in the confessional?
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I be shocked if a priest would be u comfterbul hearing your confession. He probably has heard his friends confession many times. Plus he is bound by the seal of confession, I also suspect he doesn’t let what he hears in the confessional affect his opinion of others.
 
The Church recommends a regular confessor (more diligent posters than I can find a quote). This doesn’t necessarily mean someone you know, but at least to go to the same priest every week or every other week or every month, whatever the frequency that you confess is. Whether you know them or not is a different question. I usually go to my spiritual director for confession. I wouldn’t exactly say he’s a friend, but he definitely knows me.
 
My Confessor has been and is my Spiritual Director. I do this because he knows me and is familiar with how things are going spiritually and it helps me in the long run. [No slacking off 😃 ] I have actually in the past been most uncomtable making confessions to priests I did not know. And if I did make confessions to unknown priests, I have always been blessed by “somehow” finding understanding priests and priests who were compassionate and yet called me on the carpet should I have needed it.

However, this point is moot, what is important is the priest, any priest, be that he is known to you or not, stands in persona Christi, in the person of Christ during Confession. IT is Jesus whom you go to Confession and absolves you. And I would want to be knowing Him. 😃

God bless.
 
maggiemoo said:
We have a priest in our parish that I enjoy talking to. We have had him over for dinner and the like. The preist who I had been using for confession, was transfered. I have heard that the other preist is a good confessor, but I was wondering since I have a friendship with him, if he would be uncomfortable seeing me in the confessional?
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The question is: would you feel uncomfortable?
 
Its a personal decision. I know I’ve gone to different priests for Confession, and know if I go to a priest I do not know as well, I do not feel as embarrassed to confess certain sins. I know that any priests that do know me (or do not know me) will not judge me nor repeat what I say to others later, its just a comfort issue for me.
 
cephas161619 said:
The Church recommends a regular confessor (more diligent posters than I can find a quote). This doesn’t necessarily mean someone you know, but at least to go to the same priest every week or every other week or every month, whatever the frequency that you confess is. Whether you know them or not is a different question. I usually go to my spiritual director for confession. I wouldn’t exactly say he’s a friend, but he definitely knows me.
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I like having a regular confessor when possible. Because of the seal of the confessional, there is no need to worry about what the priest might think of you.
On the other hand, I did belong to a small parish. I found it difficult having my pastor as a confessor because my active involvement in various parish ministries. I generally went to a nearby parish, selecting a priest with whom I was comfortable as my confessor.
Overseas, I see whomever is in the confessional before Mass. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered 1/2 before every Mass.
 
cephas161619 said:
Can you get the 2nd half after Mass? :rotfl: 😃
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That should read 1/2 hour.
Of course there are some parishes that only offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation before the Saturday evening Mass. Because the same priest also presides over the Mass, he may have to stop confessions before everybody has a chance to receive the Sacrament. I actually had this happen once. The homily provided additional insight that allowed for a better confession after Mass than if I had been able to confess my sins before Mass.
 
I am not uncomfortable with it (no more than normaal confession anxiety) and I keep trlling myyself that priests like to see people in confession.
 
DebChris said:
The homily provided additional insight that allowed for a better confession after Mass than if I had been able to confess my sins before Mass.
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That’s a pretty cool grace story! Thank God for inspiring you with diving wisdom.
 
I have one priest who I just love and admire for many reasons. We see each other often and I try to go to him for confession whenever possible, usually by appointment. It’s helpful because even though they are supposed to forget what’s heard in the confessional - he knows me, he knows my background outside of confession, he knows my weaknesses, my struggles, etc. If he’s not available or I can’t get to see him, I’ll go to any priest whether I know them or not - just to get there. My hubby though is the opposite, he likes anonymous confession and will go to another parish to “hide”. LOL However, the last time, he went in the wrong door and there was Father sitting there with a nice comfy chair for him and no screen to hide behind! He survived.

I think it’s a personal decision and I’m sure the one confessing is way more worried about it than a kind and gentle confessor. I’ve heard more than one priest say that hearing confessions is one of their most favorite things about being a priest!
 
ForGood said:
It’s helpful because even though they are supposed to forget what’s heard in the confessional…
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I’ve heard two different priests describe not being able to remember what’s heard in the confessional as a gift/grace that they’ve received.
 
I go to confession with our pastor. He knows me quite well, as I am involved in lots of ministries at church. Besides that, he knows my family personally. People ask me all the time if I find it difficult to confess to him. I used to feel funny about it. But he is such a wonderful confessor, I got over it. Now I actually prefer to confess only to him. Yes, he knows it is me behind the screen and that’s okay. More humbling for me and more helpful for him. He is able to give me such great advice on what I am doing wrong and reminds me to thank God for the graces He grants me to do things right. It feels like talking to Jesus, which is how it is supposed to be. I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer to this question. All that matters that you confess, not who is listening to you while you do. Do whatever makes you more willing to go!
 
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