In One Church, Confession Makes a Comeback (Catholic Caucus)

NY Times ^ | 02/20/2009 | Samuel G. Freedman

[verga]

I made my first Penance in second grade 41 years ago the pastor was a kindly old man who made it his mission to aquaint everysingle child with the sacrament. Our teacher took us into the Church and this wonderful priest took the time to open up the confessional and show us what it looked like and where we would be and where he would be.

He then took the time to hear the confession of every single one of us (There were over a hundred making first Communion that year) My sisters class had even more the next year and had to be split into two groups.

God bless you Father Schwartz you and your kind are sorely missed.

[Salvation]

We have a nice room where you can walk in and kneel behind the screen or take two more steps and sit and talk to the priest face to face.

I prefer the face to face version.

[Salvation]

**The sacrament is taking place between me and God. The priest is acting in place of Christ (In Persona Christi). **

Correct, there!

 

1449 The formula of absolution used in the Latin Church expresses the essential elements of this sacrament: the Father of mercies is the source of all forgiveness. He effects the reconciliation of sinners through the Passover of his Son and the gift of his Spirit, through the prayer and ministry of the Church:

God, the Father of mercies,
through the death and the resurrection of his Son
has reconciled the world to himself
and sent the Holy Spirit among us
for the forgiveness of sins;
through the ministry of the Church
may God give you pardon and peace,
and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[Salvation]

**First off, my pastor called Confession by it’s real name from the pulpit on Sunday - PENANCE. **

My priest has been using the word “Penance”, too. Wow!

After all, repenting of our sins is part of the process.

[Salvation]

I have heard it said that there are two indicators of a good parish:

1.) The length of the Confe3ssion lines. (Our priest always goes over before the Vigil Mass and had to add more time after a Mass during the week.)

2.) The number of vocations in your parish. I think more and more priests are starting to realize this.

[Salvation]

**Makes one wonder when the last time that McBrien was in a confessional as a penitent let alone as a Priest.**

All priests have to go to Confession too. Good question.

[Salvation]

Repentance is one of the themes of Lent.

Our priest mentions it probably every two weeks — and during Lent, very week.

Guess we are pretty lucky.

[Salvation]

Just during Advent and Lent?

I can’t handle it if I don’t go to Confession at least once every four weeks. More often if I can. The reason is that the more you receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the more aware you become of your sins.

It really is wonderful!

PS. (I’m not trying to brag here.)

[Salvation]

**Historically, confessional booths did not come into the Church until after the Reformation.**

I was waiting for someone to come through with the history.

It was always face to face for a long, long time!

[Salvation]

From Our Lady's Warriors

Fr. Richard McBrien

Claims that a future Pope must overturn the infallible document disallowing women "priests" (Ordinatio Sacerdotalis).

 

Fr. Richard McBrien

Says, among other things, that Jesus did not establish the Catholic Church, and calls into question the virginal conception of Jesus and the perpetual virginity of Our Lady, and promotes dissent.

[Carpe Cerevisi]

I get misty every time I heard the words used in absolution.

[jjm2111]

This is the parish I stumbled into when I moved to Stamford 2 years ago. I credit this pastor’s and the other priests holy reverence at Mass and the frequent offering (and my use) of the sacrement of Confession with a sincere transformation to Christ.

After years of going to the average Catholic parish, this was the spiritual food I was longing for.