Why is confession scheduled on certain days?

[MissRose73]

Of course confessions can be heard on a Sunday. If they aren’t it is very likely due to the priest’s schedule. We have 6 Masses on a Sunday. Even with several priests, it would be difficult to hold confessions around the Mass schedule, since our priests all assist with communion at every Mass. Priests also need an opportunity to be prayerfully prepared for the Mass they celebrate and not just nip into the sanctuary with enough time to vest.

However, there are 6-8 hours of scheduled confession time throughout the week, so plenty of time for folks to get to the confessional before Sunday. During Lent and Advent they offer even more scheduled times. And of course, confession by appointment is always available.

I like your parish with plenty of scheduled time. The churches in my diocese are lucky to have 1 to 2 hours on one day of the week for confession. Then again, I don’t live in a large diocese compared to one church in an archdiocese I visited that has confessions scheduled after the first early morning Daily Mass for about an hour or so 5 days a week, plus confessions scheduled a few times scattered throughout Saturday. But the parish is very large, and has 3 or 4 priests on staff with Mass every day of the week in the early morning, with 2 vigil Masses on Saturday, and 3 or 4 Masses on Sundays but that does not count special Masses for weddings, funerals, etc.

 

[bcra]

:getholy:I agree our church only has it saturday between 4-5 pm which makes it almost impossible to attend. first we cannot go after this time because of bad weather or no transportation. there is a francian chapel about a hour drive from here that has it everyday after 10 am until 6 however i can only get there once or twice a year. I attend when im able to do so

 

[puzzleannie]

I was just wondering, what is more important than confession and yet it is scheduled only sometimes.

I can think of some reasons but I want to here what other people think.

because that is when the priest is available
because that is when he knows, from experience, when most people will come
why don’t you ask at your parish?

 

[Mark1970]

In addition to previous replies, Confessions may possibly be scheduled on Saturdays to tie in with people receiving Holy Communion on Sundays when they go to Mass. Confession is one of the best, if not the best, preparation for receiving communion.

 

[mkamoski1]

I was just wondering, what is more important than confession and yet it is scheduled only sometimes.

I can think of some reasons but I want to here what other people think.

FWIW, one thing that one can do is to look into into nearby communities, such as a community of monks, and one may find that they have a lot a Priests and will offer Confession more often, perhaps even daily. Furthermore, with so many Priests, they are usually more than happy to offer walk-in appointments, etc. That is what I did and it makes the matter simple and direct. Little, (probably nothing), heals a soul like frequent confession.

You are right, Confession is VERY important. However, you raise an interesting question. As to “what is more important than Confession”, that is interesting. Perhaps we can suppose the answer has to be that the Eucharist is, in fact, more important, because it is Jesus (God himself)-- therefore, God being the most important in all eternity, he himself is the “more important” than anything. But, weighed against his Infinite Mercy, which is also Divine, the matter is not so clear. Also, given that God cannot be divided as he is infinitely Simple, there is no easy way to separate his “parts” because he really does not have part, He is being, in his nature-- I Am Who Am. It is a sticky question. It seems Eucharist and Confession are eternally bound up with one another. So, maybe we can technically say “the Eucharist is more important than Confession” but that is a hard thing to say as it is like saying “God himself is more important than His Mercy”, which is odd at best and logically absurd at worst. Probably logically absurd. The 2 seem inseparable and un-ordered in terms of priority. That said, if one has mortal sin stain then, we know, it is Confession first and Eucharist second-- (except in time of imminent death etc)-- so it is kind of a chicken-and-egg situation I suppose, but that speaks more to the effects of human sin rather than which is more important . Still, an interesting question.

HTH.

Thanks.

Yours In Christ,

• Mark Kamoski

 

[PJM]

=fakename;8449194]I was just wondering, what is more important than confession and yet it is scheduled only sometimes.

I can think of some reasons but I want to here what other people think.

The theory and sometimes excuse is: convience.

One MAY always call and make a appointment to Confess and should not be turned down without GRAVE reason.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

The theory and sometimes excuse is: convience.

One MAY always call and make a appointment to Confess and should not be turned down without GRAVE reason.

Correct, but a priest saying, “Yes, I can see you next Tuesday at 4” is not the same as being turned down. There are folks who seem to think that if they show up at the rectory door at 7pm the priest should hear their confession right then. Nevermind that father just got back from a hospital visit and is preparing for RCIA at 7:30.

 

[PJM]

=VicTorDominican;8449738]We try to promote the full, conscious, and active participation of the clergy. But the shortage is so serious that we are considering opening up the EMHC team to allow celibate members, even males.

---- AMEN!

 

[Chatter163]

How often is confession offered where you live? How often do you think it should be offered?

Confessions are heard seven days a week in my parish. I think that 2-3 times a week is desirable in most places.

 

[jpjd]

One would think that Confession perfection is when, the moment we have completed committing a mortal sin, we could run to the nearest priest and have our confession heard.

That is not the case, of course, both because it is impractical and because we must have sincere repentence for our act. It is that repentence that God is looking for, followed by the sacrament of confession. It is that sincere repentence that holds us over until we are able to partake of the sacrament of confession as soon as practicable, i.e. your scheduled confession times or by appt.

 

[Blossoming]

Confession is scheduled to certain days and times because priests are truly worked to death, at least my priest is, and there simply isn’t time to give everyone confession whenever it suits them.

I’ve never heard of a non-priest taking confession, I’m pretty sure that isn’t acceptable. Only priest can take confession and one of the apologists can correct me if I’m wrong. There is no outdoor confession, to the best of my knowledge, because confession is private. I suppose there could be, but again, you might want to ask an apologist on that one although I seriously doubt this question would come up in a normal Catholic Church. Confession availability times depends on the needs of the local parish.

And I’ve never seen confession time offered directly AFTER Mass. It is before Mass, at least to my experience (and logic) so that parishoners can take communion during Mass after they confess. A confession after Mass would not be helpful in that regard.

Also, you aren’t called to confess daily or after every venial sin. You only really have to confess if you commit a mortal sin and of course at least once a year, typically during Easter.

Chronic confessing of petty things takes up time which a priest might use more wisely and might be a symptom of scrupulosity. If you are taking the local priest’s time for multiple private confessions during the week, you are keeping him from doing other significant duties which are necessary. I would suggest a psychotherapist but even they aren’t going to see you daily or several times a day.

• In the 20th century, during the Second Vatican Council new approaches were taken in the presentation of this sacrament, taking into account the concern of scrupulosity, or the exaggerated obsessive concern for detail. This further distinguished the role of penance from forms of psychotherapy.*
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacrament_of_Penance_(Catholic_Church

I confess at the time apportioned to confession which is directly before Mass every week, like most people. It’s actually fairly hard to commit a mortal sin so most people’s sins will be venial and confession times should not be a problem.