Per Christum

Last night, I dreamed that I went to confession at the usual time before mass and it was incredible: the line was not only out the door, it was wound around the outside of the church! The pastor even had to call on two different priests to handle the number of penitents. My line, which seemed to never move, had a bunch of teenagers in it, one of whom even wanted to celebrate confession in Latin!

It was somewhat frustrating actually, since in my dream I was hoping to be confessed before mass and it obviously wasn’t going to happen. Still, when I woke up I thought about how wonderful this scenario would be in real life America: young and old waiting in line for over an hour just receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and it wasn’t even a penance service!

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

“The confessional was empty”

True confession? I didn’t go to confession for over half a decade. I was too busy acting like a heathen. Trying to be less of a heathen, I try to go more. Simple sinners are as simple sinners do. We need it, pray for us.

I am without wheels of my own right now - long story… so I share a vehicle with a roomate… A vehicle he bought from me. I pay the insurance, I get to use it when he is at work.

Today he gets off work and gets home at 4:08. I am wanting to go to confession accross town to a great priest, but to not take up too much time (the roommate needs to go grocery shopping), I opt to go to the parish six blocks down. The website says confessions are heard at 4pm. This should work.

I get there at 4:18 - the kindly lady passing out missals informs me Father was done 5 minutes ago. “You have to get here right at four, he’s there about 15 minutes.”

In a suburban parish with three Masses and a parking lot 25% full at 4:20 for the 5pm Mass, confessions can be heard in thirteen minutes??? Maybe that is the parish I need to attend. They are so holy, apparently there isn’t much to confess… What little there is, takes one priest 13 minutes a week.

No problem, Saint Robert’s (named changed to protect the innocent) has confession half an hour before Mass - Mass is at 5pm. I can get there by 4:35 - I am good. I get there, I stand in line for 5 minutes only to find out, there is no priest in the confessional. There is no notice on the door. I hope Father is ok.

MAYBE I can make it to the Dominican parish. They hear it daily at noon until the last one is heard (a line for two confessors) and 1 hour before each Mass. Mass is at 5. I get there are 5:10, he is just leaving.

Go Dominicans. I should have come to you first.

Priests who read this blog (probably just Father J) is it that tough to sit and read a book for 30 minutes while waiting for a poor penitent? If you want, take a book while you are waiting for the prodigal sons. I am enjoying (then Cardinal) Ratzinger’s Without Roots if “People” is more your speed, that is fine. Bring your iPod™. If you are a smoker, go ahead and take an ash tray - it won’t bother me, I will be happy you are there.

Without the opportunities for confession there will be no saints. There will be no holy vocations to the priestly, religous and married life. To be a good priest, seminarian, sister, husband, wife, child, butcher, baker, candlestick maker, you need confession. Full stop.

Please be there. Give us 30 minutes.

Fr. Z’s 20 Tips For Making A Good Confession

We should… 1) …examine our consciences regularly and thoroughly;

2) …wait our turn in line patiently;

3) …come at the time confessions are scheduled, not a few minutes before they are to end;

4) …speak distinctly but never so loudly that we might be overheard;

5) …state our sins clearly and briefly without rambling;

6) …confess all mortal sins in number and kind;

7) …listen carefully to the advice the priest gives;

8) …confess our own sins and not someone else’s;

9) …carefully listen to and remember the penance and be sure to understand it;

10) …use a regular formula for confession so that it is familiar and comfortable;

11) …never be afraid to say something “embarrassing”… just say it;

12) …never worry that the priest thinks we are jerks…. he is usually impressed by our courage;

13) …never fear that the priest will not keep our confession secret… he is bound by the Seal;

14) …never confess “tendencies” or “struggles”… just sins;

15) …never leave the confessional before the priest has finished giving absolution;

16) …memorize an Act of Contrition;

17) …answer the priest’s questions briefly if he asks for a clarification;

18) …ask questions if we can’t understand what he means when he tells us something;

19) …keep in mind that sometimes priests can have bad days just like we do;

20) …remember that priests must go to confession too … they know what we are going through.

Taken directly from Father Z’s Blog: What Does The Prayer Really Say?

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Admit it! You feel better when you go to confession.

I do.

In the last 20 years there has been a strong resurgence in catechesis on the Eucharist leading to much Eucharistic adoration and returning many to the practice of attending daily Mass - something that was once much more common. Marian devotion has also been on the rise - gloriously so.

But for many Catholics - and I have been one of them - the practice of regular or frequent confession has not been common. Many times I would think “I’ll get to it later.” Or Saturday would come and by the time I noticed the time - it was too late for me to make it to the set hour confessions were being heard.

What I didn’t really make a plan to do, I never really did much.

Many priests I have talked to have told me that this is something that they have noticed and it has bothered them. Many of them, being troubled by how few are coming during the set hour most parishes have, decided it was time to reconsider how this important source of grace and healing is presented. Many have expanded the hours they are heard, to include weekday - sometimes even daily - times for confession. More than a few parishes have montly times when multiple priests are brought in to aid in the administering of this important mystery.

And for good reason. See: Benefits of Frequent Confession

Take a gander at some of these articles, and see why this is something we might need to reconsider in our own lives.

The YouTube.com clip is the latest installment of That Catholic Show. I have linked to it before… If you haven’t watched any of them, take a few minutes. They are fun, funny, and informative. The presentation of the material in each episode is pretty well done, and at the end of each episode they include some of the out-takes. They look like they are really enjoying themselves while doing this!

Confession and Growth in Chastity

Some Difficulties in the Practice of Frequent Confession and Communion: Two Instructions Given in a Retreat