Went to confession with a priest who spoke little to no English

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ringil

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Anyone else ever done this?

I totally know that my confession was valid and such. It was just odd telling the priest my sins when he had absolutely no idea what I was saying.

It was interesting.
 
ringil said:
Anyone else ever done this?

I totally know that my confession was valid and such. It was just odd telling the priest my sins when he had absolutely no idea what I was saying.

It was interesting.
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I went to confession with a priest that was visiting from a foreign country. He understood English well, however, he was not well versed in using the ritual English in the confessional. 🙂 I had gone for confession (at EWTN’s daily confession time) and saw that it was canceled do to a funeral. I just so happened to run into the foreign priest before leaving and he said that he’d hear my confession. May God bless him! 👍
 
Just rember ringil that when you are in the confessional that it is not just the preist, when he goes into the confessional he takes place of jesus christ so no matter what if he is foreign or not that you are talking straight to jesus.
 
ringil said:
Anyone else ever done this?

I totally know that my confession was valid and such. It was just odd telling the priest my sins when he had absolutely no idea what I was saying.

It was interesting.
Click to expand...
wHY didn’t you go to another pparish where their was an English priest?

I cannot give you a real answer, but if he did not understand one word you were saying, i would doubt if your sins were forgiven.

He has to hear them to give you advice.

Leave it in the hands of God who is Merciful.

God bless you now
 
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St_Hilary:
I don’t know why you are doing this, St. Hilary, but you are making two posts when I think it is your intention to just quote the previous post. You got half of it right.

Push the “Quote” button, and then go down below the quote and type right in that box. DO NOT post that quote and then make another post to comment on it.

🙂
 
Most American Catholics do not regularly travel to foreign countries, so they do not experience Confession or Mass in a language other than their own.
I was a sailor for many years - even before V II. In those days, the Latin Mass was the same, no matter where one was.
As for Confession, I have been in situations where I was given a card with various sins printed on it in several languages. The priest had me point to the sins I had committed and to indicate on my fingers how many times I did it. Absolution and the prayers on the part of the priest was in Latin, of course,
Today, I live in NYC and belong to an ethnic Parish, in which the Mass is said principally in Polish, with only two English language Masses a week. Although I do miss the Latin Mass, my feeling is that Rome knows best and as a practicing Catholic, I am obligated to obey.
 
I would say if there were any mortal sins (not that there where)…bring such to confession to a Priest who understands English
 
I was in that situation once, but my priest at the parish I grew up in (Catholic) said that it’s just as valid, even if the priest doesn’t speak English. It’s God forgiving you, not the priest himself, so as long as you made a good confession the sacrament is valid whether he understands you or not.

The priest I’d gone to was the Spanish priest at my parish, and he was hearing confessions along with the other priests one day. His English was good enough, but not great, so I’m not sure how much he understood. He must have understood enough because my penance was related to one of the sins I’d mentioned. He gave me absolution in Spanish, which I don’t speak, but I knew enough to know that’s what he was saying. 🙂
 
ringil said:
Anyone else ever done this?

I totally know that my confession was valid and such. It was just odd telling the priest my sins when he had absolutely no idea what I was saying.

It was interesting.
Click to expand...
Yep - it throws me a little. Do I say exactly what I would say to an English speaking priest, or do I simplify everything so he can understand?

And so, if I have serious sins to confess how does that play out?

etc., etc…
 
I remember when I was in school the boys would always try to go to the oldest priest who was slightly forgetful or the one who didn’t understand English very well. I think there was a method to their madness. :whistle:

When I confess to a foreign priest, I feel we’re both doing our best and God knows that so the confession is fine as is the absolution. 👍
 
At a Eucharistic congress I went to I went in a large room with many priests. The one I went to was old and hard of hearing. He kept asking me to repeat what I said so he could hear but I didn’t feel comfortable “shouting” out my sins- it was hard and I didn’t know what to do. I was told most likely I was fine( none were mortal sins) but if uncomfortable I could tell them to another priest.
 
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St_Hilary:
wHY didn’t you go to another pparish where their was an English priest?

I cannot give you a real answer, but if he did not understand one word you were saying, i would doubt if your sins were forgiven.
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No, the priest does not have to understand you to absolve you. It is a valid confession.
He has to hear them to give you advice.
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Advice is not a necessary part of confession.
Leave it in the hands of God who is Merciful.
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Going to confession brings particular graces to help one not to sin again; it is important **not **to simply leave it in the Hands of God, Who gave us confession for a reason.

Of course, if one cannot get to confession, that’s a different matter…
 
I visited France last year. I knew I would have to confess before receiving. I tried to translate my sins into French, as well as the intro and the act of contrition. I think I did a fair job, but if the priest had asked me any questions in French I would have had to respond, “Je ne comprends pas!”

In the end, I didn’t have an opportunity to confess so I just didn’t receive…😦
 
We had a visiting priest in our parish last year. He was from the Congo. He understood English pretty well but his commentary and advice were absolutely unintelligible. Also his Gospel readings and homilies were always a challenge. I never knew if he would be in the confessional or not as he was not our only priest. I tried to understand the best that I could and always thanked him, but understanding the penance was a real adventure. Many exited from the confessional with question marks in their eyes. Asking to repeat himself was really embarrassing. Fortunately he got better as the year went on, but then he was sent somewhere else!!
 
I am legally blind and the nearest church to me is a Maronite church I have a difficult time making it to Church forty minutes early on Sat. when Confession is normally held at the Latin rite church we normally attend as I have a three year old who will not tolerate the delay between the end of Confessions and the start of Mass. This priest today must have just arrived from Lebanon. He did speak enough English to read the English portions of the Liturgy and enough English to tell me to say one Our Father and One Hail Mary.

I have 100% satisfaction that my confession was completely kosher. I really don’t think it’s cool, or theologically correct to suggest that the Confession may have not been valid. Form, mater, and intention, were there and the Priest was more than free to say he wasn’t comfortable.

I am just thankful that I am not scrupulous with some of these posts. Christ tells us that his yoke is light and I certainly did the very best I could with no ill intention.
 
Without touching or getting into the question of validity etc –

what I noted above was to bring any mortal sins (if any --again not saying there where any) to confession to a Priest who understands English.

Similar to when it is regarding forgotten mortal sins or mortal sins absolved when unable to confess – like that a very ill person who recovers or in legit situation of general absolution.

But in light of what was just noted the question is of course – did he understand English?
 
Bookcat said:
Without touching or getting into the question of validity etc –

what I noted above was to bring any mortal sins (if any --again not saying there where any) to confession to a Priest who understands English.

Similar to when it is regarding forgotten mortal sins or mortal sins absolved when unable to confess – like that a very ill person who recovers or in legit situation of general absolution.

But in light of what was just noted the question is of course – did he understand English?
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I just don’t see any reason for your post. It makes no theological or sacramental sense.

The priest quite literally doesn’t have to understand English. It isn’t necessary for the validity or licit nature of the Sacrament. Would I prefer that he did understand English, certainly. I actually don’t know how much english he knew, but it wasn’t much.

It isn’t up to the penitent to wonder whether the priest understand them. It has no bearing on the Sacrament. The form, matter, and intent were there- thus the Sacrament was completely, absolutely, 100% fine. The sins are no more. There is no need to confess them again as I did not seek to conceal them and would have had no interest in doing so.

I posted this not to question the veracity of my Confession, and am unclear as to why you have posted as you have.

Way to ruin a thread. And trying to sow a sense of “not being sure” of my confession is forgivable to the extent that I believe you simply are unsure of the nature of the Sacrament.
 
ringil said:
I just don’t see any reason for your post. It makes no theological or sacramental sense.

The priest quite literally doesn’t have to understand English. It isn’t necessary for the validity or licit nature of the Sacrament. Would I prefer that he did understand English, certainly. I actually don’t know how much english he knew, but it wasn’t much.

It isn’t up to the penitent to wonder whether the priest understand them. It has no bearing on the Sacrament. The form, matter, and intent were there- thus the Sacrament was completely, absolutely, 100% fine. The sins are no more. There is no need to confess them again as I did not seek to conceal them and would have had no interest in doing so.

I posted this not to question the veracity of my Confession, and am unclear as to why you have posted as you have.

Way to ruin a thread. And trying to sow a sense of “not being sure” of my confession is forgivable to the extent that I believe you simply are unsure of the nature of the Sacrament.
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As I noted my posts where not seeking to address validity.

Why post? 1. to assist in an integral confession 2. it is a forum and such things get discussed here and other eyes read them. The subject is concerning something that may happen to some other readers as well.

If a person is given legit general absolution – and they survive --they are obliged to go and confess any mortal sin that were absolved (indeed the are obliged to so in this case “as soon as possible”. If someone is given absolution without being able to actually confess their sins–such as when prevented by an illness–they are to confess may mortal sins if they recover.

A person who say for example is in another country in need of confession – where a Priest who speaks his language is not available – and who makes a confession (seeking to be understood --and perhaps striking his breast etc for contrition etc) --who does not use an interpreter (which one can by Canon Law -they too are bound by the seal) and who confesses where the Priest does not know his language --does need to confess any mortal sins when possible --but the Church has not set a requirement that such be “as soon as possible” as in the case of one who has received legit “general absolution”.

Not seeking to ruin anything 🙂 and I wish you a wonderful weekend and a splendid Lords Day!
 
Bookcat said:
As I noted my posts where not seeking to address validity.

Why post? 1. to assist in an integral confession 2. it is a forum and such things get discussed here and other eyes read them. The subject is concerning something that may happen to some other readers as well.

If a person is given legit general absolution – and they survive --they are obliged to go and confess any mortal sin that were absolved (indeed the are obliged to so in this case “as soon as possible”. If someone is given absolution without being able to actually confess their sins–such as when prevented by an illness–they are to confess may mortal sins if they recover.

A person who say for example is in another country in need of confession – where a Priest who speaks his language is not available – and who makes a confession (seeking to be understood --and perhaps striking his breast etc for contrition etc) --who does not use an interpreter (which one can by Canon Law -they too are bound by the seal) and who confesses where the Priest does not know his language --does need to confess any mortal sins when possible --but the Church has not set a requirement that such be “as soon as possible” as in the case of one who has received legit “general absolution”.

Not seeking to ruin anything 🙂 and I wish you a wonderful weekend and a splendid Lords Day!
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OK, that is clearer then. Thanks and God Bless 🙂
 
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