Weird Question RE: Confession

[InLight247]

So I’m wondering, since I made a good faith confession, should I just assume I was absolved and am free to go to Holy Communion?

Don’t worry. You know you made a good confession. The priest probably did not forget the absolution. Even if he did, God looks at our hearts, just trust His mercy. Do your penance and be at peace. God bless!

 

[LilyM]

Actually, the formula for the penitential rite is not general absolution, nor does it replace confession. The Penitential Rite is a means of forgiveness for venial sins (so is an act of contrition, for that matter), but it does not absolve serious sins. That requires sacramental confession to a priest.

General absolution is something else, and, unfortunately, it has been abused in this country. The bishops have had to say that General Absolution only valid when there are serious circumstances (imminent danger of death, plane crash, soldiers going into war, etc…), not merely if there are too many confessees and few confessors. In short, you will practically NEVER find general absolution in the United States. If you do, be very careful. It also assumes that if you survive, you get to a regular confession ASAP.

P.S. There is no sign of the cross after the penitential rite (“May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive our sins, and bring us to everlasting life”). That sign of the cross was from the Tridentine rite, and it didn’t complete the penitential rite, but rather, it STARTED the Indulgentiam prayer which immediately followed the PR. Many Catholics back then would cross themselves at the end of the PR in anticipation of the Indulgentiam. however, the Vatican purposely suppressed this prayer precisely because of the growing concern that many Catholics were starting to believe that the prayer absolved from serious sin. Despite the Vatican II GIRM, many Catholics, to this day, cross themselves at the end of the PR - not even realizing that the prayer that SotC corresponded to no longer even exists in the Mass.

I cross myself at the end of the PR, just as I cross myself in the confessional when the priest pronounces the words of absolution.

I know the difference between the absolution of venial sins in the PR and the absolution of all sin in the confessional, but I feel it’s appropriate to thank God for the gift of absolution in both cases.

 

[Faith1960]

<< (Maybe when the lines are long, priests should give simpler penances!) >>

Are lines to the confessional long in most of your parishes? I went to confession Saturday before Mass, and there was no line. There were maybe 5, 6 or 7 people in church when I got there but I don’t know if they’d been to confession or were there to pray prior to Mass.
After I went to confession I noticed at least 2 or 3 others who also went though there could’ve been more.

I never see many people going and often think the priests must be awfully lonely and bored sitting in there, waiting for someone to enter. When did this all change? I recall the confessional being a busy place long ago.

 

[atsheeran]

In the confessional where I go all I hear is the Latin words of the pre Vatican II formula which I do not understand yet I know when I leave it has taken effect because I believe what the Church teaches on the Sacrament.

Ken

Is that right? Does the indult in fact give permission to use the pre-1973 Rite of Penance? I thought John Paul II said the use of any formula other than “God the Father of mercies…” was “absolutely forbidden” and I thought the indult only included permission to say Mass according to the 1962 missal. Are you sure the priest isn’t just saying the current formula in Latin (“Deus, Pater misericordiarum…”)? I’ve heard that before.

(Either way, don’t worry about validity - the essential words have not changed from the prior rite to the new)

 

[blessedstar]

The Priest absolved you I think you were so pre-occupied that you just didn’t register it.

On one occassion a very holy Priest absolved me twice, that’s how used they are to giving absolution! I wonder if I received twice the grace that day!!!

I hope things are more peaceful for you and I’ll keep you and your intentions in my prayers.

 

[LilyM]

<< (Maybe when the lines are long, priests should give simpler penances!) >>

Are lines to the confessional long in most of your parishes? I went to confession Saturday before Mass, and there was no line. There were maybe 5, 6 or 7 people in church when I got there but I don’t know if they’d been to confession or were there to pray prior to Mass.
After I went to confession I noticed at least 2 or 3 others who also went though there could’ve been more.

I never see many people going and often think the priests must be awfully lonely and bored sitting in there, waiting for someone to enter. When did this all change? I recall the confessional being a busy place long ago.

I’m sure the priests find things to do between hearing confessions - read, write, say their prayers or what have you.

 

[JKirkLVNV]

<< (Maybe when the lines are long, priests should give simpler penances!) >>

Are lines to the confessional long in most of your parishes? I went to confession Saturday before Mass, and there was no line. There were maybe 5, 6 or 7 people in church when I got there but I don’t know if they’d been to confession or were there to pray prior to Mass.
After I went to confession I noticed at least 2 or 3 others who also went though there could’ve been more.

I never see many people going and often think the priests must be awfully lonely and bored sitting in there, waiting for someone to enter. When did this all change? I recall the confessional being a busy place long ago.

Lines are long in Vegas…but then we have a greater opportunity to sin!

Thanks to all for you help. I KNOW that I don’t have to hear the words of absolution in order for them to be effective. My primary point was that I don’t recall him saying the words at all, sotto voce or not. Like I said, I was tired and when he went in, he looked sort of tired himself! At any rate, I did not stress over it at Mass.

 

[Preacher_Vern]

Before I put my question, I should say that I’ve been very tired and stressed out, from my teaching job and a health crisis in my family. So if the situation sounds stupid (and it does), well, I’m exhausted:

I went to confession this am, made my confession to a very good priest/confessor, etc. He gave me my penance, which was to read/pray the entire 5th chapter of Saint Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians. I was concentrating on getting the penance down correctly (I would have been saying the act of contrition, but he asked me to say it outside of the confessional, due to the length of the line), and even then, after what I supppose was the absolution, I had to ask to make certain I had the right passage. At any rate, I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO RECOLLECTION AT ALL OF HEARING THE WORDS OF ABSOLUTION! I don’t remember him saying it. I’ve no idea whether he did or not. If he was as tired as I was, it was entirely possible that he didn’t. Priests slip and forget stuff, too. So I’m wondering, since I made a good faith confession, should I just assume I was absolved and am free to go to Holy Communion?

Its a good thing Christ don’t forget and has bad days. we all be in trouble God Bless, don’t worry he hears all

 

[puzzleannie]

assume your confession is valid and the priest did everything right unless you know with absolute certainly this is not true. Many priests say the words of absolution silently while you are making the act of contrition. above all avoid obsessing about this stuff.

 

[mommyof4]

This happened over a year ago- I think he’s gotten over this by now!

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

You confessed and when you go to Mass you will recieve absolution (general) from the priest immediately after the penitential Rite. So I guess you are good to go. Also meet with your priest again. You know you can never have to much insurance

The penitential rite during mass removes only Venial Sin, not Mortal Sin.
Deacon Ed B

 

[anonon]

Confess your sins anonymously, online at iconfessmyself.blogspot.com