What type of confessor do you prefer?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jrnami
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
J

jrnami

Guest
What do you prefer for confession, a quick priest or one who explores your sins with you?

I went to confession the other day at a Reconciliation Service and there were the quick lines, the medium lines, and the slow lines. I stayed in the slow line and I got a real counseling session. I finally said “I think there are other people in line, do you want me to say my act of contrition?”
 
I voted in-depth counsel, but ultimately I don’t mind the brief apprach (I get that they’re busy) as long as I don’t get a priest who tells me what I’m confessing “aren’t sins”.
 
I like a whatever mode is needed a the time of confession - depending on the sins involved.
 
Since priests are not counselors (with a few RARE exceptions) I prefer Absolution with some brief spiritual advice.

OFF TO VIGIL MASS WE GO…

happy easter everyone!!!
 
I pray that I would not rely on the preference of any confessor but on whom I would receive whatever Jesus wants to tell me through the confessor on the day that I go to confession.

Basically, no advice is also a good advice to me. I just need to trust in Jesus that He grants my prayer.
 
I’m torn. My priest doesn’t get real deep, but the little advice he gives always seems to hit the issue right on the button. I really like my priest and somewhat look forward to the confessions.
 
I would have gone for the middle option, but since most of the “advice” I get is so generic I opted for the in-and-out.
 
I prefer a bit of advice. But my confessor is also my spiritual director so I get a lot of advice usually.
 
Sometimes, it also depends on the number of penitents. I had one confession where a lot of people showed up, and I didn’t get in until 10 minutes before Mass was to begin and there were still two people left to confess. So I told him that there were still two people left and really hurried through it.

Other times, if I’m the only one at 3:30 (still an hour to go before Mass), we might go into more detail simply because there is time. But it’s still not spiritual direction.

So overall, I go for the middle option, but it can also depend on other factors, too.
 
jrnami said:
What do you prefer for confession, a quick priest or one who explores your sins with you?

I went to confession the other day at a Reconciliation Service and there were the quick lines, the medium lines, and the slow lines. I stayed in the slow line and I got a real counseling session. I finally said “I think there are other people in line, do you want me to say my act of contrition?”
Click to expand...
I don’t really enjoy confessions where the priest will counsel or talk for a long time. I have experienced confessions where a priest will speak just one or two words, yet they will be profound and mysteriously match my place in life.

It seems everytime a priest wants to go on more than a few sentences, he completely misses me, which is understandable as you can’t get a good picture of someone from a 5 minute meeting, even if you’ve worked with the person several times.

I’ve also had the very uncomfortable situation where a priest will delve into an issue, then go on a tangent, and begin talking about something to the point where the advice he is giving is incorrect Church teaching…he actually gives away his ignorance on the subject. 😊
 
I didn’t know there were “express” lines for confession. i.e. 10 sins or less :rotfl:
 
I like my Confessor, and he usually gives me good advice, except on certain subjects. He knows nothing about women (and I have no wish to be his teacher) so he sometimes gives me advice that would be better suited for a man than a woman. (I am a woman.)

I just glean the general principle and go with that, rather than try to correct his misunderstanding, but for this reason, I like for him to keep it short and to the point - I don’t want to be asked for details, in case I accidentally give him an “education” that he doesn’t really need. :o
 
I prefer a confessor who will take some time to talk with me a little bit. The rector at the co-cathedral does that. When I went to confession to other priests, it was basically in and out.
 
A bit of advice is nice and sometimes very helpful, but if I needed a serious counseling session, I would make an appointment to see the priest outside of the scheduled confession times rather than keeping the other penitents waiting.
 
I don’t like the in and out in a few minutes because it feels like my confession was incomplete. I am left wanting more. But I need to learn to accept it because the priest has heard it all and
he does his part by praying to God on my behave and asking God to forgive me for all of my sins even the ones I have forgotten to state. I need to learn to accept whatever happens in confession.

Next time I plan to look at the lines to see which ones go really fast and which lines take longer.

I always go to the line where an active church member goes for confession. She seems to know everybody.

I heard last time that one senior priest had a hearing problem so I thought it would not be a good idea to have to talk louder so he could hear me or have to repeat myself. So I chose another priest.
 
I prefer quick absolution and short advice during general confession schedule. I hate it when the one ahead of me takes forever, and I shouldn’t do the same.

The time for counseling is during an appointed session with one’s pastor or spiritual director, when no one else is waiting in line. Why give the other people in line a further occasion of sin by giving them irritation in their hearts?
 
My favorite confessor’s line is always long and slow, even on the twice-a-year penance service nights. He takes his time with every single person. By now, most everyone knows that and either chooses his line on purpose, or avoids it on purpose. And it’s not people asking questions or for advice, either. You say your sins, he starts his helpful advice, even if Mass has already begun. He stays to finish the job. If he’s celebrating the Saturday evening Mass, there’s a sign on his door to that effect, and the Sacristan comes along about 15 minutes ahead to shoo the people over to the other priest’s confessional and get our priest out on time.

And the beautiful thing is that this priest is very young - only ordained about three years ago. God bless him!

Betsy
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top