Went to confession and the priest said he would say the words of absolution after I got out of the confessional

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DerKreuzritter

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I’m not sure if this common.
 
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The priest was likely trying to serve the other individuals in a long line. While it is not atypical, I do not think the priest is in error. It’s just helpful for some penitents to hear it directly I am sure.
 
Did he give a reason for this? I’ve never heard of such a thing. 🤔
 
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“Normally” they are said in our presence. Was it the end of confession with mass approaching? Or, was there some other reason, such as a long line waiting? Nevertheless, we are intended to hear the words of absolution, so that we may be certain that our sins are gone.

It is a juridical act, and so pronouncement of the absolution should be done in your hearing. At your next confession, whether the same priest or a different one, mention this and that it was unsettling to you.

It is easily corrected.
 
I have never before heard of this being done. Even if the priest was in a hurry, I don’t see how this would speed things up.
Further I would be unpleasantly startled and unhappy about it if this happened to me.
Whether it’s licit, I’m not qualified to say; but the idea bothers me.
 
Speak to Father about this and ask for clarification as you don’t understand his reasons as it’s not how you’ve always understood how the Sacrament is celebrated.

XI. THE CELEBRATION OF THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE # 1480 deals with individual confession and #1482 deals with a communal celebration.

Your own diocese should have info about the first and second rites of reconciliation/confession/penance which sets out the formula. How to go to Confession sets out the usual way for individual confession .
 
This doesn’t sound normal or licit at all. He should say the words so that you can hear them before you leave the confessional. If this is indeed true, I would love to hear what the excuse is for this one.
 
Definitely strange. Neither our pastor nor the priests at the Shrine where I sometimes go would ever think of doing that.

D
 
I don’t think it’s common at all. I have several times had priests start giving Absolution in a low voice as I’m saying the Act of Contrition (which I find super distracting), but have never been told it would happen afterwards.

Still, I wouldn’t worry about it, if you made a sincere confession and the priest did something out of the ordinary, that’s on him, not you.
 
ColleenEH said:
Still, I wouldn’t worry about it, if you made a sincere confession and the priest did something out of the ordinary, that’s on him, not you.
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Seeing that the words are necessary for validity I’d insist on hearing them.
 
Most likely the priest was trying to hear a lot of confessions in a short period of time. I’ve also had priests simply say “I absolve you from your sins” without the prayer or the sign of the cross, others have said the prayer of absolution while I say the Act of Contrition.

In this case though especially if I’m there because of mortal sin id want to hear the words “I absolve you from your sins” for peace of mind and to know I have been forgiven of them.
 
Is it possible that you misunderstood him – that he really just told you to say the Act of Contrition once you were out of the confessional?
 
This sounds rather a strange thing to do.

The sacraments are basically meant to involve the minister and recipient of the sacrament being in close physical proximity.

I don’t see how this is something necessary. Some have suggested it would speed up the confession line but it literally takes seconds for the priest to say the words of absolution.

I think one problem with this is if he forgot. We’ve all been in that position where we have been on the point of doing something, got distracted and then not done what we were going to do. What if that happened with the priest and he forgot the words of absolution.

I would, if it were me, probably say, ‘I’d rather stay and hear the words of absolution father’.
 
Right. I don’t think it takes longer to say “your sins are forgiven” than it take to say “I’ll say it all later for the whole group.” How does he save time?
 
Gorgias said:
Is it possible that you misunderstood him – that he really just told you to say the Act of Contrition once you were out of the confessional?
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That was my first thought. I have heard of priests asking people the say the Act of Contrition outside the confessional as a means of moving the line along more quickly. But I’ve never heard of them doing that with the words of absolution.
 
Today for the first time I heard the absolution in Latin. I asked the priest about it just to be sure. I don’t know Latin other than a few words here and there so I will just assume validity 🙂
 
Sbee0 said:
Today for the first time I heard the absolution in Latin.
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maybe this is what you heard?

Receiving other sacraments in the EF :-
" Form for Absolution

Dominus noster Jesus Christus te absolvat: et ego auctoritate ipsìus te absolvo ab omni vinculo excommunicationis, (suspensionis), et interdicti, in quantum possum, et tu indiges. Deinde ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis, in nomine Patris, et Filii, + et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

*May our Lord Jesus Christ absolve you. And I by His authority release you from every bond of excommunication (suspension) and interdict, in so far as I am empowered and you have need. And now I absolve you from your sins; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit. R.: Amen"
 
CRV said:
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Sbee0:
Today for the first time I heard the absolution in Latin.
Click to expand...
maybe this is what you heard?

Receiving other sacraments in the EF :-
" Form for Absolution

Dominus noster Jesus Christus te absolvat: et ego auctoritate ipsìus te absolvo ab omni vinculo excommunicationis, (suspensionis), et interdicti, in quantum possum, et tu indiges. Deinde ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis, in nomine Patris, et Filii, + et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

*May our Lord Jesus Christ absolve you. And I by His authority release you from every bond of excommunication (suspension) and interdict, in so far as I am empowered and you have need. And now I absolve you from your sins; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit. R.: Amen"
Click to expand...
Thanks! He said it at the same time as my act of contrition so I couldn’t hear the bulk of it but that’s the one I think!
 
That would bother me a lot. I would seek an explanation. I just love hearing the words of absolution and the priests I confess to say them with clarity and emphasis. I believe it is imperative for penitents to hear!
 
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