What do you do when someone cuts in the confession line?

[miamaximaculpa]

I am a relatively new Catholic (crossed the Tiber in 2006) and I have a question about confession line etiquette.

I have, since coming in to the Church, made it a practice to go to confession monthly. And as a rule there is no issue. Unfortunately, that is because that there is not a whole lot of people looking to make use of the sacrament. And when there is a lot of people, it is pretty clear who is next, as there is a lineup, and you’re next in line.

So to the point, I go to the church, and see if the confessional is available (not always immediately apparent), and try to figure out if it is occupied, who is next. I’ll then sit and wait.

However, once in a while, someone will come in and just cut me in line and go right past me. Now if they tried this at a baseball game or what have you, I’d have some choice words to share with the person that just cuts me in line, but this is a church, and now I have to add anger to my list of things to bring in with me when I do go in (and of course I’m glowering at the person who just cut me in line).

So what am I missing? What is the confession line etiquette that I am missing? Should I just stand in front of the confessional and let somebody complain to me that I am cutting them in line?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

If I understand you correctly, there are times when there is no established line for the confessional. If that is the case, it is unfair to blame someone for entering the confessional directly when he apparently did not know there were people waiting for confession. If you’re concerned about getting into confession quickly, then start a line in front of the confessional, making certain to stay at an adequate distance to avoid hearing any “murmurings” from the confessional. Then you may merely say pleasantly to anyone who “cut” into the line, “I’m so sorry, but this is the head of the confession line. The end of the line is over there” (while pointing to where the person should go to enter the line). If anyone complains to you that they were already waiting for confession, you can simply say, “I started a line to avoid confusion. You’re welcome enter the line in front of me.”