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When I came back to the Church 15 years ago (I had not gone to mass since 1968), the local parish church that I went to, only had communion between 5 and 6pm on Saturdays, or else “by appointment”. I would go every Saturday, and see like 5 or 6 people there during that hour. The church had like 6 masses with a total of like at least 3000 on Saurday night and Sunday, and practically ALL went to communion. This change from my pre-1968 days surprised me, as I remember back then long lines for confession on Sundays, and that like 33% of the people didn’t go to communion.

A short time later I discovered the Latin Mass and never went back to my local parish. I’m wondering if it is the same all over, that is practically no one goes to confession and evryone gores to communion?

The dissident contingent within the Church belittled confession after Vatican 2 and persuaded a fair number of people that it was no longer necessary.

Not true.

Frequent confession is a good idea—maybe once a month, or whenever one commits a serious sin. But the requirement of an annual “Easter confession” remains on the books. That means that everyone really should confess AT LEAST once a year during the long Easter season, from Ash Wednesday to Ascension Day.

Leoni, we go to three different churches, two in the neighborhood on weekdays and, on Sunday, one that has Tridentine and Novus Ordo Latin Masses in Chicago. The two in the 'hood typically have had short lines at the confessional. But the one in Chicago has confession before, during, and after all their Sunday Masses, and there's always lines. The church is run by the Canons Regular and one of their big interests is bringing parishioners frequent reconciliation. That combined with the fact their Masses are "ultra" respectful, brings folks into the confession lines.

Because of extreme hearing loss, it is necessary for me to have face-to-face confession. Since St. John Cantius is not formally set up for such, I get to use the room shown in this picture, a former chapel in the back of the church that is now mostly used for [holy] storage. Finally I have a wonderful reason to embrace my hearing loss! It's beautiful!

Traditional Latin Mass to be Restored to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima