Why do you prefer face to face confession?

[EMAlbano]

I love the Sacrament of Reconciliation either face to face or behind a screen. Unlike some, I feel that face to face confession helps me get to the heart of my sins a lot faster than the screen. When it is a good confession and it is face to face, seeing that reassuring smile or true concern in the eyes of the priest does feel like God looking right at you saying your sins are forgiven that doesn’t usually happen when you are behind the screen.
Two cents.

 

[JimG]

My parish is so small that it isn’t anonymous at all. I confessed behind the screen last time, like I normally do, and the priest knew it was me and used my name when we said goodbye . Luckily, he is a very nice priest and not judgmental at all so I didn’t have to worry about him knowing.

In small parishes nothing is anonymous! That can be both good and bad. I’ve never been in a very small parish, but I suppose that in such a parish one gets to know everyone else pretty easily. In a very large parish you have to make an effort not to be anonymous!

I wonder how priests feel about this. I think they would prefer a parish where they can know everyone. But I’m not sure that they would like a parish where they have to hear everyone’s confession face to face.

 

[babochka]

My parish is so small that it isn’t anonymous at all. I confessed behind the screen last time, like I normally do, and the priest knew it was me and used my name when we said goodbye . Luckily, he is a very nice priest and not judgmental at all so I didn’t have to worry about him knowing.

We have the same problem. Our parish is so small that it is nearly impossible to not know everyone. We just recently published a parish directory. It covers 1/2 of an 8x11 page.

 

[Eric_Olsen]

I have neen to confession where the priest sat in the first pew closest to the tabernacle and we would kneel behind him to his left. It is what I would call semi-anonymous because he cannot really see you.