Was my Confession valid?

[Maryam]

Hi everyone,
I had gone to Confession earlier today and as is usual in my area most of the time Priests no longer wait in church for those seeking Confession.

In arriving at the church I asked an altar server if the Priest was doing Confessions today (I had even called the rectory earlier to make sure). I was told the Priest was in the Rectory and to tell him that I wanted to make a Confession.

So, I go to the Rectory asked for the Priest and told him I wanted to do my Confession. He took me into his office in the Rectory and did my confession there.

I wanted to know if a Confession done outside of the church Confessional is still considered valid?

I know this may seem like a stupid question, but, with all of the abuses ocurring in the churches in America today, I just wanted to make sure my Confession was valid.

Thanks in advance.

God bless all

 

[cargopilot]

I’m pretty sure a priest can hear your confession anywhere. I imagine confessions have been heard in some pretty strange places. I think the key is that you were contrite of heart and the Priest gave you absolution. Sounds to me like you’re ‘good to go.’

 

[Sunniva]

I once had my confession outside in the back of the church. The sun was shining and the birds were chirping and I was forgiven.

 

[Servus_Pio_XII]

As far as I can ascertain, now that the Church condones face-to-face confessions, there is no problem with such a confession.

 

[atsheeran]

All that is required for validity is that you make a full confession without intentionally withholding any mortal sins, that you are sorry for your sins, and that the priest gives you absolution. That’s it.

 

[Al_Masetti]

I have gone to confession in all sorts of venues. For example, when my regular schedule got disrupted by a job change, I found a church near my new job that had a very early weekday Mass; I went to the sacristy after Mass and asked the pastor if he would hear my confession – I said there would be nothing dramatic – just to set him at ease – a total stranger so early in the morning ]. Anyway, it became a regular routine for me every couple of weeks and other people noticed and began using that venue also.

One friend ran into an old friend on a city bus; the old friend was a pastor on his day off and my friend went to confession on the bus. One priest-friend enjoys hearing confessions while strolling around the grounds on a nice day; munch an apple and talk about your life.

ANYWHERE is ok.

 

[Chatter163]

When John Paul II visited, priests were hearing confessions in the park where His Holiness would celebrate Mass.

When a priest friend of mine and several friends were traveling to Rome, the priest heard my confession in a corner of the airport, before we boarded the airplane. To be more specific, we were standing by a tall trash can next to the gate.

 

[Maryam]

I heartfully thank all of you for your answers…

I am trying to be a more devoted Catholic and since I started going regularly to church these past 2 years I sometimes come across situations in church or concerning the teachings of the church that I have never encountered before. (I had been away from the church close to 15 years…so, I had to re-learn alot of things all over again.)

Since I have never done Confession outside of a church and this is the first time I have done my Confession this way I just wanted to make sure all was ok.

Again, thanks to all of you for the replies… I especially found the ** “Bus Confession” ** post to be eye-opening as to God’s forgiveness being available to all no matter the location.

God bless all

 

[gavin52]

The confession was absolutely valid. There is nothing that stipulates that a confession must take place inside a confession. Many people confess on their deathbeds and all those confessions are valid.

 

[atsheeran]

gavin52:

There is nothing that stipulates that a confession must take place inside a confession.

This is not accurate.

Can. 964 §1 The proper place for hearing sacramental confessions is a church or oratory.

§2 As far as the confessional is concerned, norms are to be issued by the Episcopal Conference, with the proviso however that confessionals, which the faithful who so wish may freely use, are located in an open place, and fitted with a fixed grille between the penitent and the confessor.

§3 Except for a just reason, confessions are not to be heard elsewhere than in a confessional.

So, while it does not affect the validity of the sacrament, confressions should generally be heard in the confessional.

 

[thistle]

I’ve made a Confession outside the Church walking around with the priest and its absolutely valid. The location does not matter.
If you’ve watched Father Benedict Groeshel on EWTN he said he has often been approached for Confession when he’s going to catch a train.