Confession...

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

quick question is there light in a confessional so that one could read off a "cheat sheet" about how to recieve the sacrement or is it completley dark?

[Fidei Defensor]

There is a light.

[Aloysius]

have you never been? there's usually enough light to see... if you find one that's dark-- bring a flashlight. there's nothing that says it has to be dark, and many people do bring cheat sheets.

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

thanks a lot.

[Guest Eremite]

Does anyone even use the old confessionals anymore? All I see today is a big living room with an option for staying behind a screen.

[Carnanc]

I almost always have something written down. it is also usually pretty bright.

[Aloysius]

I use the old confessionals now.. because I go to Latin Mass and they offer confession a half hour before each mass (if I were pope I'd make this a requirement for all churches with enough priests to do it (i.e. TWO PRIESTS at a parish is enough)

[philothea]

[quote name='Aloysius' date='May 28 2005, 03:17 PM'] I use the old confessionals now.. because I go to Latin Mass and they offer confession a half hour before each mass (if I were pope I'd make this a requirement for all churches with enough priests to do it (i.e. TWO PRIESTS at a parish is enough) [/quote]
Woo! Aloysius for pope!

I think parishes need way more confession times. If people don't show up, fine. Make 'em sit there and wait for mass to start and look at the little green light. Maybe someone's conscience will nibble at them.

(I either bring notes, or memorize a mnemonic. I must sound like a freak. Ah well.)

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

what the difference between am old and a new confessional.

I went to my first confession today and it didn't go to well....

[homeschoolmom]

The old kind would be the kind you see in the movies. A "phone booth" type room next to another such room with the little sliding partition.

The modern kind would be like a little room that has a screen, but if you were to walk around the screen, the priest would be sitting there and an empty chair would be awaiting you there. It would be a face-to-face confession vs. the annonymous old fashioned kind. You can have an annonymous confession in a modern confessional... just don't go on the other side of the screen.

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

what if it is built into the Wall?

[Aloysius]

that's usually old school. wooden structure, a bit ornate usually, there is a screen and a kneeler right there.

[homeschoolmom]

old.

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

the ones at the Cathederal i sometimes go to look like this:

the walls are stone and then there is an opening and a curtain on either side of a door were the priest is and you can enter either curtain then their is like a vent and through that you can see the priest and you kneel on this wooden block. we have like 10 confessionals in the Cathederal

[KizlarAgha]

I love the old style. The super liberal parishes up where I go to college didn't have an option for anonymous confession. It made it really hard to confess things face to face.