What do you think of a parish that offers confessions DURING the Mass?

[dshix]

I’m rather surprised by pianistclare’s quite vitriolic attitude about the whole idea. It seems she is very attached to self-conceived ideas of how things “should be”. I’d like to see some grounding in the Church’s Tradition, or better, some confirmed Catholic teaching, to support her point of view.

 

[dshix]

If confession is widely available there is no conceivable reason why one would ignore the Mass in favor of Confessions.

Who said anything about “ignore the Mass”?

 

[Horton]

It would depend on the size of the Church. Large churches around the world often have multiple things going on at the same time, Confessions and mass being two of the most common. I have seen baptisms being done during a mass.
Heck, when we went to Rome, we had a priest saying mass for us every morning in St Peters. I bet there were 20 masses going on at the same time.

Yep. I saw this all over Italy even with Pope Francis celebrating Mass. Mass would be celebrated in different chapels in the big basilicas, even while tourists were walking around.

I went to Mass at NotreDame in Paris and it was the same thing.

 

[jeannetherese]

If confession is widely available there is no conceivable reason why one would ignore the Mass in favor of Confessions.

Hi Pianistclare,
Confession is widely available at one of my parishes, but I am less available. I work full time and have responsibilities which preclude a Saturday confession option (the norm at my local O.F. parishes).
It’s a blessing to be able to go to confession. That Sunday option is precious and sets me up for worthy reception of Holy Communion. Getting to Mass early may enable me to be out of confession before the congregation completes the rosary and Mass begins, but there are lots of penitents who all want to get to confession early! Someone is going to be in line during Mass. When that happens to me, I don’t ignore the Mass. I assist along with my fellow parishioners. Because of confession, I may more fully participate in the Mass, through worthy reception of Communion.
One of my O.F. parishes does add confession hours during Lent and I believe this is becoming more frequent in other parishes. What a blessing!

 

[dshix]

Yep. I saw this all over Italy even with Pope Francis celebrating Mass. Mass would be celebrated in different chapels in the big basilicas, even while tourists were walking around.

I went to Mass at NotreDame in Paris and it was the same thing.

It’s really quite thrilling to see the sacrament of the Mass happening so many times at once, isn’t it?

 

[katy]

Sounds like an FSSP parish.

My parish does this, and it is very effective. No, there is nothing wrong with it.

And it’s not like the parish doesn’t offer confessions every other day of the week too!

Our parish does this when there is an extra priest. Our 2 confessionals are inside the church and people just participate in the Mass while in line. It works really well.

 

[Roseeurekacross]

During Divine Mercy Sunday we had a visiting young Priest celebrating Mass. He had assistance from lots of our clergy, including our Bishop Emeritus. Confession lines were long. Our Bishop Emeritus was still doing confessions during Mass.

If it’s good enough for him…and it was the only way everyone who wanted to confess could.

 

[Blessedwithfive]

I think it is great! Both the Mass and Confessions are so needed, combining them sounds like a great idea! I wish we did this as well.

 

[E_7]

About Sunday Mass attendance obligation, one must arrive before the Creed is said. Otherwise it’s not acceptable/doesn’t count and one has to attend another Mass to comply. Having said that, I think it’s fine and not disrespectful to confess before the Creed is said. Disrespectful is to arrive after the Creed, take the communion and leave before the blessing, among other things.

Personally, I like to attend Masses where confessions are heard right before Mass starts. Having to drive for two consecutive days, one to confess, the other for Mass, doesn’t give me much encouragement, especially when one is dealing with a toddler. That’s why, in my case, going to vigil Mass sounds more convenient than going on Sundays because these days, confessions are heard on Saturdays one hour before the vigil Mass. Plus, for kids that can take the communion, it’s better this way. I cannot imagine being a parent and constantly ask the child if he/she has or wants to confess his/her sins. I prefer to arrive one hour before Mass when confessions are heard, sit, and if someone has to confess without putting them on a spotlight, they are free to do so without questioning. Plus we get plenty of time to meditate.

 

[E_7]

If confession is widely available there is no conceivable reason why one would ignore the Mass in favor of Confessions.

I don’t understand how confessing through Mass means ignoring the Mass. We are present, in line to confess, but present participating in the Mass. And when in the confessional, one is confessing to Christ, or the “alter Christus, ipse Christus”. Yes, Christ is present when consecration is happening, but does that mean he is not present somewhere else like inside the confessional during Confessions ?

 

[Solomonson]

I think it is great! Both the Mass and Confessions are so needed, combining them sounds like a great idea! I wish we did this as well.

Yeah, the more I think about this, the more I agree. It’s really absurd that anyone could think this is a bad thing, so long the resources existed.

 

[Solomonson]

About Sunday Mass attendance obligation, one must arrive before the Creed is said. Otherwise it’s not acceptable/doesn’t count and one has to attend another Mass to comply. Having said that, I think it’s fine and not disrespectful to confess before the Creed is said. Disrespectful is to arrive after the Creed, take the communion and leave before the blessing, among other things.

Personally, I like to attend Masses where confessions are heard right before Mass starts. Having to drive for two consecutive days, one to confess, the other for Mass, doesn’t give me much encouragement, especially when one is dealing with a toddler. That’s why, in my case, going to vigil Mass sounds more convenient than going on Sundays because these days, confessions are heard on Saturdays one hour before the vigil Mass. Plus, for kids that can take the communion, it’s better this way. I cannot imagine being a parent and constantly ask the child if he/she has or wants to confess his/her sins. I prefer to arrive one hour before Mass when confessions are heard, sit, and if someone has to confess without putting them on a spotlight, they are free to do so without questioning. Plus we get plenty of time to meditate.

That’s simply not true.

 

[Solomonson]

I don’t understand how confessing through Mass means ignoring the Mass. We are present, in line to confess, but present participating in the Mass. And when in the confessional, one is confessing to Christ, or the “alter Christus, ipse Christus”. Yes, Christ is present when consecration is happening, but does that mean he is not present somewhere else like inside the confessional during Confessions ?

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