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 Saturday 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 everyone goes to communion?
I do not know, I go to the Latin Mass and lines at the confessional range from minutes to hours.
I usually make an appointment for confession. Since I know the parish priest, now, sometimes I catch him when he has a moment at church and I am doing some errand there.
He also stays after church meetings, to hear confessions. He is ready any time to help reconcile sinners to Christ.
My son came back from a year in Korea, and went to confession. I asked him what penance he got, and he said that the priest told him to go worship God in the beauty of His creation (a national park) and ponder for an hour on how much Christ loved him. I once confessed an argument with my husband, and the priest (different one) told me to make my husband his favorite dinner, and give him a week of peace. LOL! Oh, and a decade of the Rosary. ;-D
At other times, I have wept tears of shame, and found peace before Christ the Lord.
It is truly one of the loveliest sacraments, to me.