Confession

[Dave]

There's a possibility that I might be moving to a small town in the near future (although it's much bigger than where I currently live). There's a Catholic Church there, but being in south GA, you can imagine there aren't too many Catholics around. Well, I checked the Mass and confession schedule, and confession is by appointment! I think it's so sad when I see parishes doing confessions by appointment and nothing more. I mean, come on, do you really think most people would make regular appointments just to go to confession? However, I guess that just goes to show how little many Catholics value confession these days. I know there are other Catholic parishes in neighboring towns with set confession schedules, and perhaps the parishioners go to one of those parishes. But who knows?

In addition, the town I currently live in is really small (about 3000 or so people), and yet the parish here has set confession times. Unfortunately, few people go. The times I've gone to confession there that I've been the only one!

I've heard it said that the number of people going to confession each week is a good way to measure a parish's spiritual health. Well, that sounds logical.

[foundsheep]

I live in a fairly large town and the only time I see a lot of people at confession is a week or two before easter. Otherwise there are maybe 3 or 4 people a week.

[Uncle Gus]

Pray for more priests.

[Mary's Knight, La]

the other thing you might consider is this might be a blessing for the priest perhaps by doing it by appointment he is able to tend to some specific spiritual needs he has or perhaps he can tend to some hidden needs of his parishioners(sp?) besides the priests I know who do it by appointment only will accept walkins any time they're not in the middle of doing something else

Just think of it as him letting you pick his hours in the confessional

[JP2Iloveyou]

I heard Cardinal Arinze speak on this very topic once. Someone asked him in teh Q & A afterwards what they should do if their parish doesn't offer confession. He said, "Drive to one that does." IMO, it is rediculous if a priest can't hear confessions at least once a week, however, we can offer the slight inconvenience up and remember places where people can't drive to the next parish or where the Church is persecuted. It was pretty powerful coming from Cardinal Arinze, who is from Africa for those of you who don't know.

[Paladin D]

Yeah, the local parishes around here do Confessions by appointment.

[cmotherofpirl]

Maybe you should consider the priests schedule before you judge him. Did you contact him and ask him why he schedules confession by appointment?

[Dave]

Maybe you should consider the priests schedule before you judge him. Did you contact him and ask him why he schedules confession by appointment?

Uh, Cmom, you forget that the reason why the priest only schedules confessions by appointment may very well be that no one comes to confession anyway! I wasn't judging any priest.

[cmotherofpirl]

Its just the general overall tone of the thread Dave, not you. I didn't mean it personally, sorry. I was typing and yelling at a teenager at the same time.

It may be no one comes to confession and that could be the result of his lack of preaching etc, but the guy might just be overworked as well.

We have confession here every week which gets a few people, but the big crowds come in Advent and Lent when there are penance services and there are 8-10 different priests to choose from.

Edited November 1, 2003 by cmotherofpirl

[Dave]

Its just the general overall tone of the thread Dave, not you. I didn't mean it personally, sorry.

Oops, my bad. I'm sorry, Cmom. (blushes)

[JP2Iloveyou]

Maybe you should consider the priests schedule before you judge him. Did you contact him and ask him why he schedules confession by appointment?

I'm sorry cmom, usually, you and I see eye to eye, but I can't disagree more with you. The most important job a priest has, second only to offering the Holy Mass is hearing confessions. So, unless he has to offer Mass all day, he should be hearing confessions. He should cut something else out of his schedule before cutting out confessions.

[Thomas Michael]

There's one parish here in the middle of the DFW Metroplex that does regularly scheduled Confession once a MONTH. And this is a big church (which recently got a brand new worship space) with about 3000 members.

Edited November 1, 2003 by Thomas Michael

[Ellenita]

Can only a priest hear confession?

[Dave]

Can only a priest hear confession?

Yup, only priests.

[Ellenita]

What happens if you can't get to see a priest? I understand that you cannot participate in communion if you haven't said confession, but does that mean that the prayer of confession said at the beginning of the mass is not enough? So if you haven't seen a priest you cannot have communion?

[cmotherofpirl]

Yes Ellenita. In the Scriptures we read Jesus telling the Apostles "whose sins you forgivem they are forgiven, whose sins you bind, they are bound."

A priest absolves us of our sins in the name of God.

He can sit there all day but if nobody shows up...

JP2 my priest says Mass, weddings, funerals, funeral home visits for 2 parishes, visits the sick and elderly in all the nursing homes, covers the local hospital and motherhouse as well. We have confessions on Saturday before the 5pm Mass. These and the activities tat I know of, I am sure there are many more.

He thinks he has it relatively easy , he is elderly and says many other priests do twice as much.

[Ellenita]

Do you say a prayer of confession at the beginning of the mass? One is said at the start of the anglican mass and I always felt that if I genuinely meant what I was saying, it was OK to have communion.

[cmotherofpirl]

Yes that forgives our venial sins, but not our mortal ones.

Penitential Rite:

Priest: As we prepare to celebrate the mystery of Christ's love, let us acknowledge our failures and ask the Lord for pardon and strength.

or Coming together as God's family, with confidence let us ask the Father's forgiveness, for he is full of gentleness and compassion.

or My brothers and sisters, to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us call to mind our sins.

[or similar words of introduction, followed by a period of silent reflection.]

Option A:

All: I confess to almighty God,

and to you, my brothers and sisters,

that I have sinned through my own fault,

in my thoughts and in my words,

in what I have done,

and in what I have failed to do;

and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin,

all the angels and saints,

and you, my brothers and sisters,

to pray for me to the Lord, our God.

Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

All: Amen.

Option B:

Priest: Lord, we have sinned against you:

Lord, have mercy.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Lord, show us your mercy and love.

All: And grant us your salvation.

Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

All: Amen.

Option C: [The following or other invocations may be spoken by the priest or another minister, but the priest always gives the final blessing.]

Minister: You raise the dead to life in the Spirit: Lord, have mercy.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Minister: You bring pardon and peace to the sinner: Christ, have mercy.

All: Christ, have mercy.

Minister: You bring light to those in darkness: Lord, have mercy.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

All: Amen.

At Communion we also have this:

Priest: This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper.

All: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.

[Dave]

Do you say a prayer of confession at the beginning of the mass? One is said at the start of the anglican mass and I always felt that if I genuinely meant what I was saying, it was OK to have communion.

Yes, we do say a prayer of confession at the beginning of Mass. However, it will ONLY forgive venial sins. Mortal sins must be confessed.

[Ellenita]

OK Dave, I'm sure you explained the difference between those two types of sin in another thread but do you mind doing it again or reminding me which thread? Thanks!

I presume one sin is worse than the other, but surely God is concerned about all sin? How can we differentiate? I might like to imagine that He is more concerned with someone who has committed murder for example (a huge sin in my mind), but actually I think He is just as concerned about what I might consider 'lesser sins' which sadly I know exist in my life! I don't know that there is a greater or lesser sin in God's eyes.