Dear Faithful,
As the Sunday Masses are slowly coming back to something a little closer to the norm, the Sunday confession lines are growing. This has occasioned some frustration and complaints: “The line was too long,” “I was waiting for 40 minutes and Father walked out,” “Mass was over and I still did not get to go,” etc…
To lessen frustrations and clarify expectations, allow me to reiterate some points regarding the confessional:
There is nothing traditional about Sunday being the day to go to confession. Nothing. The priests hear confessions during Mass on Sundays at St. Joseph’s because we are a non- territorial parish and we have many parishioners who work all week or who drive a very long way to get here and who cannot otherwise make it during the week. We hear confessions during Sunday Mass (as opposed to only before Mass) because on most Sundays, we are blessed to have more than one priest at our parish.
Regarding the time a penitent takes, in Christian charity, we have the obligation to always give someone the benefit of the doubt. The opposite is harsh judgment which is sinful. That being said, the “three B’s” of Confession should be strived for: “Begin, Be blunt & Be gone.” (If someone knows a confession will take a long time, an appointment should be made.)
A confessor must be morally certain a penitent has sorrow for his sins and a firm purpose of amendment in order to absolve. Otherwise, it doesn’t work and we’re not into sacrilege here at St. Joe’s.
Going to confession during Sunday Mass is a gamble. Let’s do the math: some confessions take 3 minutes, some take 5, some take 7, some take longer and some take much longer. This means a priest could hear 10 confessions in 30 minutes at most. But hearing confessions is not just about quantity but also quality; if a confession takes about 5 minutes, then a priest would be able to hear about 6 confessions in 30 minutes. If a confession takes 7 minutes, then a priest would hear about 4 confessions in 30 minutes. If Sunday Mass is a low Mass, give or take, it will last about 1 hour. If the priest hearing confessions is also the one preaching, and stops confessions at the Consecration to adore (the whole purpose of attending Sunday Mass), and stops confessions to distribute Holy Communion, there is not much time left for hearing confessions.
If you have to go to confession during Sunday Mass, and if it is available: go! But consider this: could you have made it during the week? And if the answer is yes, then how important is confession to you? Is it just a matter of going when it is convenient to you?
Every time a penitent is absolved in confession, the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord is shed upon that soul, to cleanse them of their sins and to strengthen them. The Blood of Christ is the price of our being forgiven. The forgiveness we receive was not cheap. It was bought at the steepest price. Is this something we take for granted?
Keep the Faith!
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