Immediately preceeding my afternoon adventure of “Find a confessor” I had the following exchange with a friend on AIM:
HIM: Hey Merry Christmas a day or four late! Thinking about trying Sonic out, wanna go?
ME: Waiting for roomie to get home… I was going to go to Mass & confession at (Parish X) - u are welcome to join me if you like
HIM: what time is mass?
ME: 5
HIM: where is (Parish X)
ME: (Here)
HIM: That’s half a mile from Sonic…
ME: So that works then!
ME: Website says confession starts at 4pm, I wanna get there in time.
HIM: You wanna go to confession? Why?
HIM: how often do you go?
ME: once a week
ME: I started going weekly about 6 months ago, I feel better doing it.
HIM: dang you go once a week to confession
ME: before Mass
HIM: and what do you confess?
ME: my sins
HIM: what sins?
ME: Go to seminary and get ordained, I will tell you all about them.
ME: so far I have worked my way up and down the Ten Commandments, revisiting some favorites regularly
HIM: if you go to mass you confess there too, just silently
ME: that isn’t what the Catholic Church teaches - I am trying to go by the teachings
HIM: no when they say confess all your sins in silent
HIM: i just do that, y embarrass yourself?
ME: That is not sacramental confession, (Bob), no absolution is provided
HIM: I believe it is
ME: ask a priest or consult a catechism or website
HIM: nah. I think I am just going go to Sonic
HIM: and get something to eat
HIM: so chat with you later
ME: ok
David Bennett
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December 30, 2007 at 8:21 am
I cannot agree with you more, Simple. I kinda understand why some priests are afraid to preach on confession–but their fears are unfounded. I bring up confession and abortion at least twice a year each. It isn’t overkill, but it is consistent reinforcement. And the message is not that hard or startling to communicate. It is simple. There is no progress in the spiritual life that is not preceded by contrition in some form or another. This is why we confess our venial sins at the start of each mass. It is why the church recommends confession in the seasons of Advent and Lent if not more frequently. It is why the examination of conscience precedes compline and a similar examination is a good starting point for any personal prayer. We can become closer to the Lord only when we acknowlege before him our sins which are barriers to him and ask for his forgiveness and healing.
This is not rocket science. And, it is not resented by congregations. It is straightforward and honest wisdom from the ages.
I honestly think neglect of this message by homilists comes from the desire to please. What the priest who consistently neglects such essentials never learns is that the people so thirst for such basic wisdom. So many are so broken in ways only Christ can heal particularly through this sacrament.
Yes, simple, this is a well preached choir. How else to communicate our constant need to be reconciled to our Lord in order to regain communion with him?
December 30, 2007 at 9:01 am
I’ve heard plenty of sermons on the value of confession. I’ve had priests laugh at my confession, as well.
But let us not forget that it is taught that the penitential rite does cover non-recurrent venial sins.
And to quote my favorite Domnican, Rev. Fr. John Fearon, OP, of Eternal Memory, after harping on the need for confessing serious sins of all kinds, “… and as for all the little shit, I don’t think God gives a damn!”
Note also… his penances were never harsh, but neither were they easy. Thought provoking and action requiring.
December 30, 2007 at 9:57 pm
-”You have to get here right at four, he’s there about 15 minutes.”-
This has been a real killer for me. At my local parish the priests are sometimes not there at all or arrive late. On some level, I don’t blame them, since I am one of the few who ever come (I wouldn’t want to hear my confession either :0 ). But I also think it might have something to do with sermons about the evil of fossil fuels rather than abortion, sins against purity, etc.
Still, these same priests have re-moved the tabernacle and put it back in the center of the sanctuary (or is it the nave? or apse? I dunno).
But I think the real problem in America (and maybe all the West) is Burger-King Catholicism (have it your way!) your friend expressed. Since I believe my sins are forgiven, they are! Since I believe I have $100,000 in the bank, I do!
December 30, 2007 at 10:33 pm
“Since I believe I have $100,000 in the bank, I do!”
Well you do, don’t you? I was going to ask for a small loan…
Good points.
I am not begging or demanding our esteem presbyterate spends 13 hours a day “in the box” like Ss. Pio & John Vianney.
Just 30 full minutes at a scheduled posted time.
Walking out out 15 minutes early could mean walking out on the prodigal son who spent 16 minutes in the parking lot thinking about it. Or couldn’t get there in time.
If I have to, I will camp out like I did for concert tickets once. Should I have to?
December 30, 2007 at 11:46 pm
What’s really awful is having grave sin on your mind and not being able to confess it because Father John took a nap, and now you can’t go to communion the next day. Several times I have been tempted say that it “counted” when I went and the priest didn’t show.
And it riles me further when the same priest will say “You could just make an appointment.” I like anonymity, thank you!
December 31, 2007 at 12:08 am
You could just keep your appointment, too, Fahter.
Do you really want to take time to take my call, to get your schedule book out, to make sure you are there?
Next week I will be there at 3:55.
Just give me a full 30 min window.
December 31, 2007 at 2:30 pm
I also know not the state of anyone’s soul, but I think on the surface of it there *is* willful ignorance on your friend’s part. You told him the penitential rite at Mass is not sacramental absolution, and this is Church teaching which he can look up in a catechism or find on a website or get from a priest– and his response was “Nah.” You’ve given him all the info he needs to at least suspect that his mortal sins have not been forgiven, and he doesn’t care enough to even try to confirm or disprove it.
But I couldn’t agree more with your point about the problems in some places. It’s possible for a boy to go to Catholic schools and then faithfully attend Catholic parishes and never hear anyone talk about the importance of confession!
This is sheer bragging, but here’s the confession schedule at my parish in L.A.: On weekdays there’s confession at the 8 am, 12 noon, and 6:30 pm Masses, usually for more than an hour each time, and sometimes there are so many penitents the priests end up staying for two hours. On Saturdays there are confessions from about 8 to 10 am in the morning and 4 pm to 9 or 10 pm at night! We’re so spoiled it’s ridiculous.
December 31, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Here in our very large parish in my city of the Northwest our confession lines are pretty big and growing. And it isn’t just us 50+ “old folks” who go…it’s the kids! So, I find that hopeful.
Also, we have to remember that historically there have been times when the confessional fell into worse disuse than now. Things swing (as the old song says) “like a pendulum do”. NOW, Deo gratias, the pendulum SEEMS to be swinging back towards a more traditional praxis of the Faith.
Now, IF your priest “splits early” and you were there on time expecting him to hear confession, it isn’t your fault. I have been told by several priests that in cases like that…EVEN if you have mortal sin…GO to Communion anyway…AS LONG AS you intend to and DO confess as soon as possible.
December 31, 2007 at 4:47 pm
-I have been told by several priests that in cases like that…EVEN if you have mortal sin…GO to Communion anyway…AS LONG AS you intend to and DO confess as soon as possible.-
Could we have a priest chime in on the permissibility of this? Obviously, it would be a little embarrassing (and possibly uncharitable) to ask my own priest this question.