Why no one goes to confession anymore?

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mercygate:
not imaginary.

Another discouragement: priests who schedule an hour for confession once a week but disappear from the confessional if nobody shows up in the first five minutes.

In parishes with liberal hours for hearing confession, there are plenty of “customers.”
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Excellent point. I don’t know why priests do that. Can’t they sit in there an read a book or something? Just be there waiting. My priest doesn’t encourage confession at all, even though he really is a good confessor. And, he leaves if no one shows up. It’s only offered at 3:30 on Saturday.
 
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WhiteDove:
Excellent point. I don’t know why priests do that. Can’t they sit in there an read a book or something? Just be there waiting. My priest doesn’t encourage confession at all, even though he really is a good confessor. And, he leaves if no one shows up. It’s only offered at 3:30 on Saturday.
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Actually, I think there’s a “rule” about that, and leaving early is considered a no-no. Maybe ByzCath can find the directive! Anyway, with Priests so busy, you would think they would welcome the chance to sit quietly and read or pray . . .
 
cd4,

YOur parish sounds the same as mine. we have about the same number of parishoners and we only have confessions between 4-4:30 on saturday afternoon.
one can make an appointment with the priest, but they really don’t offer it enough.
 
When I read these posts I am so grateful I live where I do! :bowdown2: We get hit hard regularly with reminders on the purpose and value of the sacrament. On Saturdays we have 3 to 4 priests hearing confessions (I live in a huge parish). Except for the dead of summer there are always lines and good to get there early! And a few years ago we had a special service just before Holy Week after which you could line up before 10 different priests (they imported some volunteers from neighboring parishes). It gave you an opportunity to confess before a stranger if you preferred. You should have seen all the people! (BTW, I once apologized to Father for my stupid, boring, repetitive sins. I think I shocked him. No points for creativity. Boring, he said, is best!)

Do you know what I love to see most? Entire families coming in together – moms, dads and kids. ❤️
 
We forgot why we went to confession.

Forgiveness forms Families
It was uncle Esau who taught Joseph how forgiveness forms families. His example leads Joseph to forgive his brothers and that formed the nation of Israel. Joseph was a type for Jesus, for we see Jesus uses forgiveness to form His church. We have forgotten this through the years, for it is forgiveness that forms all families.

This is the purpose of confession. Priests who form the parish family, bishops who form the diocese family, and the Pope the forms the church family. All do this in example of Jesus.

Their example cause forgiveness in the domestic family which formed solid Catholic families through church history.
 
One reason why people avail themselves less frequently–much less frequently–of this sacrament is that the Last Things have been de-emphasized in the Scripture presented to people at the rite of mass of Paul VI. Here are some examples of and from the . Other omissions include details suggesting that the wife should be submissive to the husband (which, in Christianity, is nothing like the barbarism of Islam, which is a parody of Christianity on this point), and many miraculous details. When Scripture used in the Novus Ordo includes a miracle the priests are often at pains to offer an acceptable interpretation. With so much less at stake, it’s no wonder that people don’t feel their sins pressing on them.
 
I go to confession several times a year but probably not nearly enough. Last week at Mass, Father did talk about going to confession. He said something that really struck me and made me look deeper into myself and made me want to go to confession more. It’s simple really. He said we’re afraid to tell someone else the sins we’ve committed because of our pride.(Which actually is another sin) And I think he’s right. It’s hard to tell someone else that you’ve messed up. I’ll have to remember next time I go that it’s Christ I’m talking to, not just another person. I think it will help.
 
I hope I did not offend anyone. I am not trying to be holier than thou (Believe me I’m not, but I am trying). I just thought it was odd that not many people go and everyone I talk to says the same thing happens at their parish. I agree I think it should be talked about more than it is by the priests, and longer time period to go too, I know that can be difficult with the priest shortage, but it’s eternal life we are dealing with here. God bless you all!
 
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mercygate:
A woman said to me a couple of years ago: Well, since Vatican II, we don’t have sin anymore, do we?
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Gee, if someone came by and said that to me, I would most likely steal their purse and ask them if that is sin or not. :whistle:

I say people need to be reeducated with matters of faith more.
 
I think all the Catholics who are not going to Confession regularly are really missing out! I go nearly every week and I receive so many blessings in my penances–most of my spiritual growth has occurred because of the penances I have received. Penance brings me much closer to Our Lord and this, of course, makes me feel even more blessed!

Perhaps one of the reasons we don’t see a lot of folks going to Confession has to do with the fact that it is only *required *once a year. Many of the Catholics I know always raise that issue, and it is usually brought up in Advent or in Lent…

It is very humbling, Confession, and as another poster posited: it is pride that keeps one away from confessing their messes…may I add the old quote: Pride goeth before the Fall…

God bless all!
 
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mercygate:
I am convinced of two things:
  1. People do not believe in sin.
  2. People find confession unpleasant so they create excuses for not going: e.g., Why should I confess to someone whose likely sins are worse than mine? (this was popular in the wake of the scandal outbreak). At least I come to Church; what more do they want?
    .
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The people of this word are fed so much water that unless they are killing someone with a knife or stealing an automobile the sins all seem to be simply venial. (oh and their is that vacation thing to excuse sunday Mass. Oh poor Jesus, I wonder what he thinks when he looks down here?
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mercygate:
A woman said to me a couple of years ago: Well, since Vatican II, we don’t have sin anymore, do we? .
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Oh this is to funny (it is that Vatican II thing now is it?
 
I am struggling with my 21 year old son over this. He will not go to confession. He says he does not agree that it is necessary and that he can confess his sins to God directly. He says he has prayed about it and God has not revealed to him that he needs to go to confession. He says the Church could be wrong about this sacrament. He is not receiving Eucharist right now but he says that it’s out of respect for me and not becasue he believes he shouldn’t.

I’ve told him that first of all God does not have to answer to him. Plus God has already told him through the Pope, all of the Church Elders and theologians etc. That seems pretty direct to me.

I’ve told him that his attitude is protestant, you can say what you agree with and what you don’t. When you are Catholic, you listen to what the Chruch teaches. You either are Catholic or you are not. He says he loves being Catholic and knows that the Catholic church is the only place you can receive the Body and Blood of Christ. It’s just this one thing.

He also says that confession is not Biblical…at least not so as to convince him. I read him the entire pamphlet the Church puts out on confession. He’s just so resistant. I’m worried about him. I’ve told him there are so many blessings and graces he is missing out on. But he is adamant that he won’t go.

I pray for him always, that God will show him. He suffers from rather severe social anxiety and I believe that this is behind his attempts to justify his stand. This may be what keeps others away…they feel so stressed about confession that they convince themselves they do not need to go and that God has already forgiven them.
 
Chances are the real reason your son does not go to confession is that he is embarrassed about what he will have to confess.

You are correct in not accepting his b------- excuses but none of the “rules” you quote will help him past that. He needs to sort it out for himself.

Sometimes young people need a challenge. Maybe that sort of approach will help: Being a Catholic is to Christianity as being a Marine is to the military. It’s the toughest game going – and the most rewarding.

Keep him in prayer as will I. Whenever I say the fourth and fifth joyful mysteries of the rosary, I make a special intention for young people; several by name.
 
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jebojora:
I am struggling with my 21 year old son over this. He will not go to confession. He says he does not agree that it is necessary and that he can confess his sins to God directly. He says he has prayed about it and God has not revealed to him that he needs to go to confession. He says the Church could be wrong about this sacrament. He is not receiving Eucharist right now but he says that it’s out of respect for me and not becasue he believes he shouldn’t.
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Chances are the real reason your son does not go to confession is that he is embarrassed about what he will have to confess.

You are correct in not accepting his b------- excuses but none of the “rules” you quote will help him past that. He needs to sort it out for himself.

Sometimes young people need a challenge. Maybe that sort of approach will help: Being a Catholic is to Christianity as being a Marine is to the military. It’s the toughest game going – and the most rewarding.

Keep him in prayer as will I. Whenever I say the fourth and fifth joyful mysteries of the rosary, I make a special intention for young people; several by name.
 
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