Why just Mass and the Eucharist, why not confession?

[ConstantineTG]

Canon Law states that:

Can. 991 Every member of the Christian faithful is free to confess sins to a legitimately approved confessor of his or her choice, even to one of another rite.

So has any Latin Catholics received the Sacrament of Penance from an Eastern Rite priest?

Also, anyone care to share how Confession is different in the Eastern Rites compared to the Latin Rite?

 

[Joe_Kelley]

At a conference I had occasion to confess to an Eastern priest [Don’t remember his sui juris church] in a corner of a hall. The only thing different was that he placed the ends of his stole on my head while granting absolution. He said it is their custom and symbolizes my being covered by God’s mercy.

At a Maronite church our guide explained that they don’t have confessionals. They confess while standing with the priest in front of the iconostasis (sp?) in front of the altar. He said that when he had a serious sin he went to a Latin Church to confess in private. I think that is the correct form in most of the non-Latin Churches. [Hopefully, someone from the Eastern churches will correct my errors here. ]

 

[Aramis]

Canon Law states that:

Can. 991 Every member of the Christian faithful is free to confess sins to a legitimately approved confessor of his or her choice, even to one of another rite.

So has any Latin Catholics received the Sacrament of Penance from an Eastern Rite priest?

Also, anyone care to share how Confession is different in the Eastern Rites compared to the Latin Rite?

The basic difference that shocks the most: standing before the Pantocrator Icon in the nave. No confessional.

The second is the priest placing the ends of the epitrachelion on your head, and his hands atop that, and both bowing so that he can hear you whisper.

The basic format is the same: ask forgiveness, confess one’s sins (at a whisper), an act of contrition, absolution, penance.

The penances tend to be more educational than many Roman penances, but since I’m used to Dominicans, that’s nothing new for me.

The wording of the absolution is also somewhat different, but not terribly much.

 

[Vico]

Canon Law states that:

Can. 991 Every member of the Christian faithful is free to confess sins to a legitimately approved confessor of his or her choice, even to one of another rite.

So has any Latin Catholics received the Sacrament of Penance from an Eastern Rite priest?

Also, anyone care to share how Confession is different in the Eastern Rites compared to the Latin Rite?

Byzantine Catholic style is: once you have completed your examination of conscience, locate the priest tell his you want to make a confession. The location may vary, we go into a room with a door.

You kneel (or stand), we have a rug there, before the icon of Jesus Christ and begin with the sign of the cross:

1. “I confess to Almighty God, One in the Holy Trinity, to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, to all the Saints, and to you, Father, all my sins.”

Tell how long it has been, and your sins, in a conversational style. Then, when any counciling is complete, say:

1. “For these and all my other sins which I remember or cannot call to mind, I am very sorry. I have offended God and have angered Him against me. I am sincerely repentant and promise with the help fo God to better my life. For this, I humbly ask of you, Father, salutary penance and absolution.”

He puts the epitrachelion (a long cloth) on your head (if you are kneeling) and gives absolution, and then says “Go in peace, sin no more.”

Go out and do you penence. I like to also say Psalm 50 privately.

But there are other formats used also, because you could also use the Latin Catholic prayers.

The Latin Church has a shorted form now:

1. Say and make the Sign of the Cross. Amen.

After saying how long and naming the sins and number, then receiving any help, express your sorrow:

1. “Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.” or some other prayer.

The priest gives absolution.

If the priest says: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good” then you say “His mercy endures forever.”

 

[wjp984]

The Latin way causes a lot less anxiety and is more private. I’m Byzantine Catholic but I prefer to confess in a private room where there is the most minimal of risk that one will overhear your confession or see you. Also, with few exceptions, I think it is best to confess to a priest that does not know you to avoid anxiety. The local byzantine priest is going to know just about everyone in his parish because the churches are not that big. Therefore, that really is not a good option.

That being said, some of the Latin Rite Confessionals aren’t the greatest either, especially if there is a triple door and the priest is in the middle. It is relatively easy to overhear what is going on and especially easy to overhear the priest so it’s not ideal. Most people will make sure they don’t overhear anyhing but might accidentally hear something.

 

[malphono]

At a Maronite church our guide explained that they don’t have confessionals. They confess while standing with the priest in front of the iconostasis (sp?) in front of the altar. He said that when he had a serious sin he went to a Latin Church to confess in private. I think that is the correct form in most of the non-Latin Churches. [Hopefully, someone from the Eastern churches will correct my errors here. ]

Perhaps it was a Melkite church?

The Syriac Churches (both Eastern and Western branches, and including the Maronites) do not use an iconistatis and never have. If I recall correctly, the same is true of the Armenians.

In general, confession among the Maronites follows the Latin custom, meaning that it’s done either in a confessional or in the post-conciliar “reconciliation room.”