Posted on 04/01/2013 6:23:47 AM PDT by marshmallow
Pope Francis joined a prominent Vatican official and seven priests for lunch on Holy Thursday and emphasized the importance of hearing confessions, according to a priest who was present at the meeting
Archbishop Giovanni Becciu has a longtime custom of inviting priests to join him for lunch on Holy Thursday – a custom that predates his 2011 appointment as sostituto, the deputy secretary of state responsible for the internal affairs of the Roman Curia. When Pope Francis heard about the meal with the priests, most of whom work with the poor, he said he wanted to attend.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicculture.org ...
Ours has confession once a month.
Not nearly enough time for the parish at only three hours.
I’m always amazed (not really) at how long the line for Communion is and how short the line for Confession is.
Our’s has 30 minutes before Mass and by appointment.
They lock the doors at my Church in the evening.
Unfortunately the Priest forgot to lock the doors a couple of weeks ago and the poor box got robbed, Torn right out of the wall.
We have confessions every Saturday and twice a week during lent. I would guess only 10% of the parisioners bother to go.
For Catholics who have a 9-5 job, it is very convenient to have noontime weekday confessions.
The one in Hartford always has a line of 20.
My own parish only offers it on Saturday. There is rarely a line.
Here are the times for Confession at our parish:
Reconciliation: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Saturday: 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Sunday: 6:00 am - 6:00 pm
We even have Confession during Sunday Mass, the priest only taking a break to help distribute Holy Communion. The amazing thing is that the lines for Confession are ALWAYS long. Build it, and they will come.
We have confessions every Tuesday and Saturday before evening Mass and during Lent they added Wednesday evening and by appointment. All of our RCIA class went to Confession even the ones being Baptized and one of those came out sobbing. It’s strongly encouraged in our parish. We also have archdiocesian Penance services before Easter and Christmas. Those are always crowded. I wish that they would do them more often. Always lines here. Too bad some parishes neglect this wonderful sacrament. Step 5 baby. Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Remember - the priest is there representing Jesus. I focus on that truth. I know that the Protestants don’t want that intermediary but Step 5 from AA and Al-Alon makes it clear that having another person in the mix is very powerful.
An hour before the vigil mass for a bigger parish sends the message that it must not be too big of a deal. That’s 4 hours a month. Bare minimum once a year confession is something like 80 people in an hour, less than one minute confessions. 3 hours once a month would be even worse, one less hour. Are several parishes sharing a priest or something?
Freegards
How about calling for disciplining Democrat Catholic politicians who believe in abortion and gay marriage?
We have confession Wednesday evenings, Saturday afternoons, and ‘anytime you want confession, just stop one of the priests. That is our first priority.’ The lines are always long. It is the sign of a healthy church, I believe.
As a priest who has two sizable parishes and a small financially struggling school, I offer Confession at one of the churches once a week and any time by appointment. I find it amusing that some folks think we padres are machines that are not supposed to get tired, wear out or burn out. In addition, if only, like St. Padre Pio, I could figure out how to bi-locate. All I ask, pray for many holy vocations to the priesthood.
We are blessed at our parish, a minor Basilica, to have a half hour of Confession before every Mass: two daily, and seven on the weekends. And there are almost always lines.
While acknowledging all you say about priests being over committed and spread too thin, please do not forget that many people find confession difficult. They require anonymity to muster the courage to approach the Sacrament. Confession by appointment does nothing to encourage such penitents, who frequently need the Sacrament as badly as anyone.
BTTT.
Confession twice a week here and sometimes they go far over the one hour the priest alots for them.
PS. The signs of a great church are twofold: Long Confession lines and Lots of vocations.
Once per MONTH???? Our is every Saturday for 1.5 hours, and then 30 minutes prior to each mass, including weekdays 8 AM mass. Plus by appointment. I feel blessed!
our parish church is about 4 minutes walk away and has confession during each Sunday mass. But there are 3 others in walking distance that have confessions during the week and there are quite a few churches around Warsaw
We can be thankful that our Great High Priest Jesus never closes His door to us...and is open and avaiable to us 24/7......He doesn’t have store hours.
No need to be coy. Just say that you do not believe in auricular confession despite what Scripture teaches. Show us what kind of a spine you have or are you simply an invertebrate?
"Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven." Matthew 18:18
"When He had said this, He breathed on them; and He said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained." John 20:22-23
"If then any be in Christ a new creature, the old things are passed away, behold all things are made new. But all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Christ; and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. For God indeed was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing to them their sins; and He hath placed in us the word of reconciliation. For Christ therefore we are ambassadors, God as it were exhorting by us. For Christ, we beseech you, be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:17-20
"Is any of you sad? Let him pray. Is he cheerful in mind? Let him sing. Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man: and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess therefore your sins one to another: and pray one for another, that you may be saved. For the continual prayer of a just man availeth much." James 5:13-16
So does the Jesus that Catholics worship.
So we have something in common.
But does your church offer Confession?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.