Was it confession?

[rayray81]

I recently attended an evening prayer service/mass at a local parish near my house. Orginally the chance to go to confession wan’t on the itenerary for the evening but the two priests that were running the show graciously decided to hear them after some people asked for it. Due to the fact that confession wasn’t originally on the schedule this created a time crunch in the programing. I was the last person in line for confession. Here is what happened.

1. I almost ran in to the priest coming out of the confessional as I was on my way in to it.
2. He agreed to hear my confession but tapped his foot in impatience while I was speaking.
3. He said something along the lines of “Jesus loves you and forgives you. Have a nice day.”

That was it. No Act of Contrition from me, no Penance from him. I’m guessing the Jesus loves you bit was my absolution. So my question is did that count as a confession? I have since gone again so don’t worry about that.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

It was an abuse of the Sacrament by him. The words of absolution and the form of the “Rite of Penance” is specific except in emergency circumstances. The priest has the grave obligation to see to it that the Sacraments are celebrated properly according to the Rite.

 

[T.A.Stobie_SFO]

We need to pray for him that God will bless him with a deep love and respect for the sacrament.