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When Do Priests Go To Confession?


Dave

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Since most of the time confessions are heard on Saturday afternoons, most priests would be hearing confessions at that time instead of making them. So I'm wondering ... do priests make appointments with their fellow priests for that? Or if there's more than one priest in a parish will they confess to each other?

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phatcatholic

my guess is that a priest goes to confession whenever he wants to, simply by seeking out a fellow priest. priests, just like us, can make an appointment w/ a priest for confession whenever they need to.

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Plus, I'm sure there are some parishes that have confessions at different times. For example, here in Indianapolis, there is a parish that has confessions every day just before the daily Mass as well as on Saturdays ... I went Friday and there were people lined up for confession. I don't know if any of those people were priests, but they could've been. It was kind of cool, actually, to see people lined up like that.

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My priest goes to confession with his spiritual director, a fellow priest. I don't think it would be a good idea to go to confession with some one you shared a house with. Just IMHO.

peace...

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Crusader_4

ACtually its funny you should mention that Pedro X my semi-spiritual director (he really is but not "officially") basically told me that it was not always wise to go to your spiritual director for confession since it is a different sort of relationship then a confessor...and i think he mentioned that St. Ignatius said that as well. So just a thought.

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Crusader_4. I had heard that, but in my case it has been a wonderful experience. However, I do confession outside of spiritual direction, just with the same priest.

peace...

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Norseman82

[quote name='Sojourner' date='May 17 2004, 02:17 PM'] Plus, I'm sure there are some parishes that have confessions at different times. For example, here in Indianapolis, there is a parish that has confessions every day just before the daily Mass as well as on Saturdays ... I went Friday and there were people lined up for confession. I don't know if any of those people were priests, but they could've been. It was kind of cool, actually, to see people lined up like that. [/quote]
True. I went one Saturday and guess who was inline in front of me? A classmate of mine from high school who went on to be ordained.

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Well Monks have it Great...

And so do students near an Abbey, Confession was avaiable 24/7 at Benedictine, I am going to miss that.

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Birgitta Noel

More often than not though if it is a small religous community or rectory then another priest will be brough in to hear confessions. It would be hard to confess to someone with whom you lived, or who was your superior, for various reasons. For example, if you were embarassed to confess something or had committed a sin against that person and attempted to hide it or didn't go becuase of the confessor available then you are putting your soul in danger.

Confessors have special graces to forget stuff they hear, but these situations can be difficult.

BTW, here's an encouraging thought, we aren't the only ones who go to confession and then have to go back just a few hours later. I did that once and was lamenting that I couldn't even stay out of trouble for a day and the priest replied, "sometimes I don't even make it through the first hour". -_- Sigh...we are all in need of God's mercy!

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[quote name='Birgitta Noel' date='May 20 2004, 08:11 PM'] More often than not though if it is a small religous community or rectory then another priest will be brough in to hear confessions. It would be hard to confess to someone with whom you lived, or who was your superior, for various reasons. For example, if you were embarassed to confess something or had committed a sin against that person and attempted to hide it or didn't go becuase of the confessor available then you are putting your soul in danger.

Confessors have special graces to forget stuff they hear, but these situations can be difficult.

BTW, here's an encouraging thought, we aren't the only ones who go to confession and then have to go back just a few hours later. I did that once and was lamenting that I couldn't even stay out of trouble for a day and the priest replied, "sometimes I don't even make it through the first hour". -_- Sigh...we are all in need of God's mercy! [/quote]
we are ... i wish i had 24/7 confession then i wouldnt have to live the week trying to stay alive so i dont get damned

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saintwannab7

this is slightly off topic, but have any of you ever gone to a priest that couldn't hear well? or you prefer going to a different priest for Confession? would that be considered parish-hopping? one of our parish priests is being moved to another parish. would it be wrong to go there for Confession? I know that it is valid either place, I just feel like he understands a little bit better and gives more relavent penance and advice (I know there is a name for that, but I can't think of it so I will call it advice).
so I guess priests go to different priests for Confession. doesn't the Holy Father go to the same one? maybe I am just making it up, but I thought there was one priest who was the Pope's confessor.

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Saint wannabe (aren't we all?)

I go to a priest for confession who is not my parish priest. I simply feel that my confessor is better at confession, while my parish priest is stronger in some areas. There is nothing wrong with this. The one thing I would encourage is that you stick with one confessor. This way they can really give good direction and fit penances to suit your soul.

peace...

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[quote name='PedroX' date='May 22 2004, 11:28 AM'] Saint wannabe (aren't we all?)

I go to a priest for confession who is not my parish priest. I simply feel that my confessor is better at confession, while my parish priest is stronger in some areas. There is nothing wrong with this. The one thing I would encourage is that you stick with one confessor. This way they can really give good direction and fit penances to suit your soul.

peace... [/quote]
If you're consistently going to one confessor, is it better to do it face to face rather than behind the screen? Does it get easier to go face to face after you do it a few times?

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Birgitta Noel

It would seem to me that it would help to go face to face so that he knows that it's "you again".

As for it getting easier that varies from person to person. I know my confessor very well and see him socially as well as at Mass and Confession so I am very comfortable with him. But not everyone has this advantage, esp since a lot of parish priests are stretched very thin and don't have time to "hang" with people. On the other hand, you could always make an appointment to see the priest so you can get to know him a little better and he can get to know where you are spiritually as well. Remember he also gets special graces from the Holy Spirit that allow him to discern what to tell you, especially since when we confess we are having a conversation with Christ.

If you're not sure who to go to for confession look for a holy priest. You can pick them out by watching how they celebrate Mass and especially the consecration!

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