Which Confession/Reconciliation type is best in your opinion?

[rhiannonh]

Face to face because it is embarrassing, humiliating, forces me to be to look at the priest in the eyes and that makes me really aware of my sins.

Face to face because I feel overwhelmed with peace when looking in the eyes of the priest while he grants me absolution.

Me, am thankful most priests have their eyes shut, when I have looked in general direction out of naturalness because I can’t shut my eyes and talk at the same time etc… Though the priest at moment sits in front of me so don’t know if they are shut or open though clearly open when he turned and talked about my penance this time… I am glad of the privacy as allows me my composture… especially if am feeling ‘vulnerble’ I pick up Gods’ Love even regardless to whether I can see his face never mind eyes, I discovered this time. It unnerved me a little that he sat in front at first but adjusting and yes the Love of God is equally as strong if not stronger for that ‘faceless’ connection. Because it not the priest am talking to as such, but God…or through the priest. Though he sat to oneside in front of me the last time, (though I think that was so he could talk about my penance - he basically knew what I needed to be reading based on stuff I tell him anyways)

 

[Zekariya]

Private, kneeling with a screen between me and the priest. And, after the absolution, I walk around the screen to face the priest and thank him and give a slight hug.

And private in his office as well. Whatever occurs is fine by me. I used to be Orthodox and they’d confess in front of the altar-screen and in front of people. We had to whisper our sins.

 

[Peter57]

Private, with a screen between you and the priest

 

[Elisabeth51]

Which one do you prefer and why…

I prefer anonymous–screen, the “old” way. I feel it’s easier and more relaxed about it.

My CCD kids just had their First Penance, I have a group of older kids–5th, 7th, and 8th graders. They were all upset when after I had told them they had a choice and showed them the confessional where one side is the anonymous and one side face to face, our priest decided not to use the confessional and had a chair in the corner of the sanctuary. ALL of my kids were upset—I guess they had all privately decided they wanted anonymous. I felt so bad for them, but had to just encourage them to go on up, one at a time, on one will hear but the priest, knowing I would have run the other way and found another priest!

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

I prefer private reconciliation face to face…the priest knows me and is able to give me helpful advice to deal with sin…or how to stay away from it. Had some tough times recently and sometimes when I’ve looked into my priests eyes…its been almost like looking into the eyes of Christ. I needed that.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Face to face because it is embarrassing, humiliating, forces me to be to look at the priest in the eyes and that makes me really aware of my sins.

Face to face because I feel overwhelmed with peace when looking in the eyes of the priest while he grants me absolution.

This, this, this!!

 

[jreilly]

Face to face because it is embarrassing, humiliating, forces me to be to look at the priest in the eyes and that makes me really aware of my sins.

Face to face because I feel overwhelmed with peace when looking in the eyes of the priest while he grants me absolution.

Exactly. Not easy, but then again it shouldn’t be, should it?

 

[JimG]

My parish has the traditional confessional booths, which are completely anonymous because of a curtain between the priest and penitent. And that’s the way I like it.

They are not really small dark booths. During a recent remodeling, they were made more spacious, and are also well lit, but still anonymous.

I don’t mind face-to-face confession, but prefer the anonymous confessional.

This may sound like heresy to those who prefer face to face, but part of the reason I like the confessional better is that the confessions tend to go faster. When people are face to face, they tend to take longer than necessary.

And that can be a detriment. We have scheduled confessions for at least 30 minutes before daily afternoon Mass, and an hour on Saturday, but if you get there late enough to be at the end of the line, you might not make it to confession before the priest has to begin Mass.

 

[anp1215]

I prefer anonymous. I have only confessed at two parishes-the one I was received into the Church at, and after I moved, the one here by my house-and both had the same type of Confessional room-a little room with a kneeler and screen, with the option to walk around the screen and sit in a chair facing Father.

I have always liked this, as it gives the option to confess either way. The room at the parish by my house has glass doors, so you can actually see which option the penitent uses. The three times I have confessed at this parish, I have not seen anyone using the face to face option. I was not particularly looking to see, but whenever I would glance at the door, the penitent was always kneeling at the screen.

 

[Mark1970]

I voted for “Private, with the screen”. I’ve ben to face-to-face a couple of times and never felt comportable with it. Although I go to the same confessor every time, the screen still gives that psychological sense of anonymity. And i find that talking to the priest is easier when it’s completely private rather than at a communal service.

 

[BusterMartin]

I’ll go to (and have gone to) Confession however it is offered, but I definitely prefer to go in a private setting behind a screen. My reasoning is that I don’t have to worry about eye contact, my posture, my clothing, my hair, etc. I can really focus on my confession and on the words the priest says. Behind the screen takes out a lot of the “human factor” for me on both sides of the equation and I can better focus on the act of confession itself.

However, as I find myself drawing closer to the Eastern Churches, I find myself periodically longing for that style of Confession (which is not behind a screen). I do that whenever possible, but that’s another story…

 

[anp1215]

I’ll go to (and have gone to) Confession however it is offered, but I definitely prefer to go in a private setting behind a screen. My reasoning is that I don’t have to worry about eye contact, my posture, my clothing, my hair, etc. I can really focus on my confession and on the words the priest says. Behind the screen takes out a lot of the “human factor” for me on both sides of the equation and I can better focus on the act of confession itself.

However, as I find myself drawing closer to the Eastern Churches, I find myself periodically longing for that style of Confession (which is not behind a screen). I do that whenever possible, but that’s another story…

What is Confession like in the Eastern Churches?

 

[acadian]

I voted other because whatever type gets someone there and allows them to be reconciled with the Lord is “the best”.

I have a friend who returned after 37 years. For whatever reason, it was very important to her to be face to face. I prefer face to face. My children prefer a screen. Praise God for options. A lot of people like the “safety in numbers” approach of the communal celebration with private opportunities for confession with some unfamiliar priests thrown into the mix. If it brings them back to the Lord, how awesome is that?

 

[TheRealJuliane]

My parish has the traditional confessional booths, which are completely anonymous because of a curtain between the priest and penitent. And that’s the way I like it.

They are not really small dark booths. During a recent remodeling, they were made more spacious, and are also well lit, but still anonymous.

I don’t mind face-to-face confession, but prefer the anonymous confessional.

This may sound like heresy to those who prefer face to face, but part of the reason I like the confessional better is that the confessions tend to go faster. When people are face to face, they tend to take longer than necessary.

And that can be a detriment. We have scheduled confessions for at least 30 minutes before daily afternoon Mass, and an hour on Saturday, but if you get there late enough to be at the end of the line, you might not make it to confession before the priest has to begin Mass.

This is so true! It becomes more like a spiritual direction session and that should not be done during confession times.

I am surprised to see that most who have answered the poll prefer the “old-fashioned” method of behind a screen! The parish where I go has 4 rooms, 2 for the priests, 2 for the penitents. All are lit brightly but the screen and curtain are there. You can pull the curtain but the screen is still there. When I grew up the confessionals were dark. Which made it impossible to read any notes. Now I can bring a paper if I need to remember. My brain tends to go blank in panic at the sound of the door shutting…And face to face is just too scary for words.

 

[acadian]

I voted other because whatever type gets someone there and allows them to be reconciled with the Lord is “the best”.

I have a friend who returned after 37 years. For whatever reason, it was very important to her to be face to face. I prefer face to face. My children prefer a screen. Praise God for options. A lot of people like the “safety in numbers” approach of the communal celebration with private opportunities for confession with some unfamiliar priests thrown into the mix. If it brings them back to the Lord, how awesome is that?

 

[Khalid]

What is Confession like in the Eastern Churches?

Whispering somewhere.

 

[anp1215]

Whispering somewhere.

What?

 

[Mark1970]

What?

I believe (could be wrong) that some of the Eastern Churches observe the same practice as some of the Orthodox, they dont have confessionals like ours, but confess in a normal room. Perhaps even in the main body of the church. In which case they would need to speak in a low voice so nobody else could hear! I think this may be what Khalid was indicating when he said “Whispering somewhere”. I used to have a pocket prayer-book, in English, which was aimed at Eastern Catholics, and this indicated that it was normal for confession to be face to face in a normal room rather than in a confessional.

 

[MariaGoretti88]

I chose “Private, with screen between you and the priest.”

I like kneeling to confess and it aids me in respecting the solemnity of this Sacrament. I try to envision myself kneeling before Christ, the Judge and Arbiter of my soul and eternal destiny.

That said, I have no problem with private face-to-face Confession (as confessions can be heard almost anywhere and the legitimate matter doesn’t necessarily require a confessional/reconciliation room), and I have gone to Penance Services with private confessions at the conclusions.

Hopefully what matters most is that the penitent intends to receive the Sacrament of Penance with firm purpose of amendment and to avoid the near occasions of sin, and that he has done some spiritual preparation beforehand and makes a good Confession.

 

[anp1215]

I believe (could be wrong) that some of the Eastern Churches observe the same practice as some of the Orthodox, they dont have confessionals like ours, but confess in a normal room. Perhaps even in the main body of the church. In which case they would need to speak in a low voice so nobody else could hear! I think this may be what Khalid was indicating when he said “Whispering somewhere”. I used to have a pocket prayer-book, in English, which was aimed at Eastern Catholics, and this indicated that it was normal for confession to be face to face in a normal room rather than in a confessional.

I see.