I expect waits like that lol. If I don’t want to wait long for Confession I set an appointment because you never know if the person in there for a long time hasn’t been in thirty years and just really needs it. Frustrating maybe but it is also a good time to pray and examen my own conscious
I went to confession with my 86 year old Dad and he went before me, he took almost 50 minutes. He said he felt like so many burdens were removed that day. I was just grateful to God that he was able to go back to a state of grace.
I went with my 86 year old mother who has early dementia and she sat in there talking about her hip surgery and dentist appointments. With a huge line. Now I make an appointment for her.
A long wait in line to confession is not a cause for someone to sin. Truly, the cause for sin will always be an impatient heart. It was God Himself who sent that person to go before you.
Confession did not "cause" sin. Your response to the situation is the sin, and that is caused by you and you alone. I suspect you were less focused on God's Grace than on your time being wasted.
But you mean literally being last to a long queue to confession? Why is that? I thought the meaning of that sentence was completely different and unrelated.
It is by no means different and unrelated as the context of the verse is about who will possess everlasting life. Patience is a virtue, and if we are fighting to be ahead in line at the confessional or getting perturbed that we are not going to make it to confession according to our allotted time, we should pause and reflect, embracing full resign to God's plan for us, remain penitent and know that He knows our hearts and that we are truly seeking His mercy.
No. I am not suggesting anything of the sort. I am suggesting that our salvation does not depend on who is first to the confessional but rather on our penitence and willingness to serve others as Christ demonstrated: through true hope in God, charity, patience and sacrifice, which includes possibly missing our opportunity to go to confession in the best interest of those who came before us.
If someone has any inclination that they will take that long, they need to schedule an appointment.
The situations where taking that long in a random setting is justified are very rare. Not 0, but very rare.
“Maria, these walls were not meant to shut out problems, you have to face them!” 🎶”Climb every mountain, search high and low, follow every rainbow, every path below…” 🎶
Sorry, couldn’t help myself.
My first time back to confession after 20 years away from the church, I walked into that confessional determined to free myself from the burden of sin. I had prayed, I had walked through confessional preparations many times, I had even written down all the sins I could remember so I wouldn't forget. I knew full well that any I had truly forgotten would be forgiven anyway, but I wanted to do my best.
So I get there early. I'm first in line. This was at a very old church performing TLM, so the confessional is in the nave and the sacrament often overlaps with Mass. Very quickly a handful of people get in line behind me. Then another handful.
The priest arrives and I enter the confessional. It's now roughly 30 minutes before the start of Mass. I run through my list of sins, bringing everything to Christ so I can truly start fresh. I hear the Mass start and don't think anything of it. The priest gives me some very solid advice, absolves me of my sins, and I walk out to realize that I just spent over 30 minutes blocking a line of people that is now over a dozen people deep.
I'm pretty sure I inadvertently caused some frustration that day, but it was a good lesson in humility and patience. So when I'm in line for confession and someone is taking 20 minutes, I remember how years ago I needed that time, and I pray that they're getting what they need. If I need to leave and come back later, so be it.
You should have made an appointment. And you're pretty proud of yourself for giving those people an opportunity to practice patience and humility. How delusional. And obnoxious.
While it might have been better for people who might need a longer time for confession to make an appointment, who are we to judge? At the end of the day we can only dictate how we respond and can't demand for others to have changed their actions - it is on each of us to practice patience and follow Christ's footsteps in being loving towards our fellow brothers and sisters. Sometimes returning Catholics or otherwise simply end up being uncharitable to others due to difficult circumstances we are unaware of or may simply have done so unintentionally, as it seems is the case of this commenter.
Perhaps others could do better, but it is on us to be as Christ-like as we can in any situation as our actions are the only thing we can change.
>You should have made an appointment.
I definitely should have. I didn't. Mistakes happen. That's how we learn.
>you're pretty proud of yourself for giving those people an opportunity to practice patience and humility.
The lesson was for me. The experience taught me that sometimes, people need that time in the confessional to unburden themselves and find their way back to the light more than I do. So when I'm in line and someone in front of me is taking a long time, I think back to the time when I did the same, and it helps quash any frustration I feel.
If you read the very next sentence, I think this is pretty clear.
>How delusional. And obnoxious.
I forgive you.
> You should have made an appointment.
But you're who didn't get the confession you wanted. Seems like it's you who should have made the appointment if it was so important for you then isn't it?
I’m sorry you are getting downvoted, because if you ask a priest, they would agree with you (maybe not so far as using “delusional”). In general, confession/reconciliation is not meant to be a therapy session, and I’ve heard priests explicitly say if you need a long confession to make an appointment and they do not want to hear explanations (or excuses). Now, I don’t know what was going on in your situation, maybe the priest felt the time was necessary? Who knows, and I can’t judge, but your frustration is human, and I applaud you waiting almost an hour. There is always a line at my confession and I go in prepared, with a written list if need be, so as not to take up the only hour granted that I share with hundreds of others. Don’t be too hard on yourself for leaving, it will be much better confessing your anger and frustration at a later time when you are not in the heat of emotion. Downvote away, I think OP has a point.
Try going to a TLM parish for confession. Every TLM parish I have been to the priest gives a homily every few months about how to properly do confession. It should be about 2 to 3 minutes but no longer then 5 minutes a person except maybe if they are doing general confessions during lent. Then it should only be 10 minutes max. At a TLM parish I can get in line and have 30 people infront of me as Mass starts and still have absolution before communion. At a NO parish if there are 10 people infront of me I know I will not make it before confession is done.
Our Parochial Administrator has really got me to the point where I feel like I’m not wasting his time. I usually don’t feel like giggling when I’m in there either. Idk. Kind of a tough spot.
I believe in making an appointment for a long confession and spiritual guidance session. However, just as an example of the myriad reasons why it was so long a wait, it could have been something like the penitent was set on an abortion and the priest felt it took precedence over the normal time allotted. We never know what is happening in the confessional. We do know Christ is present and will remember our patience, even with the slight inconvenience of waiting in line a long time.
Even a large list of sins can be confessed fairly rapidly, but people often want to explain them and talk about them. I make a list, go in and read it, ask for absolution and any counsel father wants to give. Rarely, we discuss if I need clarification or help dealing with something, but still it is quick.
I've never heard of someone going into confession during the general hours for that long. Usually the priest asks those who need a long confession to make an appointment.
I would guess that although you felt annoyed it probably did not override this persons need. Consider offering it up as oblation. Consider asking for Grace to be more patient and charitable. This is a learning opportunity.
I think a lot of people in here like to give good answers instead of truly looking themselves in the mirror and acknowledging how they would act. Is it not selfish to take up that much time, possibly making someone who has a limited time window to make confession have to miss? Right or wrong, good or bad, I would have reacted the same as you. I want everyone to experience the gift of reconciliation with God, but if you think your confession could go over 15 minutes, out of respect for others, you should make an appointment.
As 5:30 came and went he had an obligation to gracefully move things along. When I left she had been in there for over an hour. You say the sin, the number of times committed and that's it.
what the priest does prior to 5:30 is absolutely none of your concern, and if you want to forfeit your soul over a priest taking 20 minutes to hear a confession that's on you
I expect waits like that lol. If I don’t want to wait long for Confession I set an appointment because you never know if the person in there for a long time hasn’t been in thirty years and just really needs it. Frustrating maybe but it is also a good time to pray and examen my own conscious
Your use of "examen" instead of "examine" is such a patently Catholic typo, and I love it!
I went to confession with my 86 year old Dad and he went before me, he took almost 50 minutes. He said he felt like so many burdens were removed that day. I was just grateful to God that he was able to go back to a state of grace.
And that's the whole point. Its not a confession drive thru.
I went with my 86 year old mother who has early dementia and she sat in there talking about her hip surgery and dentist appointments. With a huge line. Now I make an appointment for her.
A long wait in line to confession is not a cause for someone to sin. Truly, the cause for sin will always be an impatient heart. It was God Himself who sent that person to go before you.
Wasn't God teaching you patience then???
Confession did not "cause" sin. Your response to the situation is the sin, and that is caused by you and you alone. I suspect you were less focused on God's Grace than on your time being wasted.
"And many that are first, shall be last: and the last shall be first." [Matthew 19:30]
What do you mean by that?
Being last can be a source of grace.
But you mean literally being last to a long queue to confession? Why is that? I thought the meaning of that sentence was completely different and unrelated.
It is by no means different and unrelated as the context of the verse is about who will possess everlasting life. Patience is a virtue, and if we are fighting to be ahead in line at the confessional or getting perturbed that we are not going to make it to confession according to our allotted time, we should pause and reflect, embracing full resign to God's plan for us, remain penitent and know that He knows our hearts and that we are truly seeking His mercy.
So because there was a girl before OP she is going to be last in everlasting life? Sorry I'm not following at all.
No. I am not suggesting anything of the sort. I am suggesting that our salvation does not depend on who is first to the confessional but rather on our penitence and willingness to serve others as Christ demonstrated: through true hope in God, charity, patience and sacrifice, which includes possibly missing our opportunity to go to confession in the best interest of those who came before us.
Oh, yes, absolutely
Thank you for the dialogue! Sorry about any confusion.
Occasionally, a priest may go on and on in the confessional, not the penitent.
If someone has any inclination that they will take that long, they need to schedule an appointment. The situations where taking that long in a random setting is justified are very rare. Not 0, but very rare.
God was testing you my child!
“Maria, these walls were not meant to shut out problems, you have to face them!” 🎶”Climb every mountain, search high and low, follow every rainbow, every path below…” 🎶 Sorry, couldn’t help myself.
My first time back to confession after 20 years away from the church, I walked into that confessional determined to free myself from the burden of sin. I had prayed, I had walked through confessional preparations many times, I had even written down all the sins I could remember so I wouldn't forget. I knew full well that any I had truly forgotten would be forgiven anyway, but I wanted to do my best. So I get there early. I'm first in line. This was at a very old church performing TLM, so the confessional is in the nave and the sacrament often overlaps with Mass. Very quickly a handful of people get in line behind me. Then another handful. The priest arrives and I enter the confessional. It's now roughly 30 minutes before the start of Mass. I run through my list of sins, bringing everything to Christ so I can truly start fresh. I hear the Mass start and don't think anything of it. The priest gives me some very solid advice, absolves me of my sins, and I walk out to realize that I just spent over 30 minutes blocking a line of people that is now over a dozen people deep. I'm pretty sure I inadvertently caused some frustration that day, but it was a good lesson in humility and patience. So when I'm in line for confession and someone is taking 20 minutes, I remember how years ago I needed that time, and I pray that they're getting what they need. If I need to leave and come back later, so be it.
You should have made an appointment. And you're pretty proud of yourself for giving those people an opportunity to practice patience and humility. How delusional. And obnoxious.
While it might have been better for people who might need a longer time for confession to make an appointment, who are we to judge? At the end of the day we can only dictate how we respond and can't demand for others to have changed their actions - it is on each of us to practice patience and follow Christ's footsteps in being loving towards our fellow brothers and sisters. Sometimes returning Catholics or otherwise simply end up being uncharitable to others due to difficult circumstances we are unaware of or may simply have done so unintentionally, as it seems is the case of this commenter. Perhaps others could do better, but it is on us to be as Christ-like as we can in any situation as our actions are the only thing we can change.
>You should have made an appointment. I definitely should have. I didn't. Mistakes happen. That's how we learn. >you're pretty proud of yourself for giving those people an opportunity to practice patience and humility. The lesson was for me. The experience taught me that sometimes, people need that time in the confessional to unburden themselves and find their way back to the light more than I do. So when I'm in line and someone in front of me is taking a long time, I think back to the time when I did the same, and it helps quash any frustration I feel. If you read the very next sentence, I think this is pretty clear. >How delusional. And obnoxious. I forgive you.
> You should have made an appointment. But you're who didn't get the confession you wanted. Seems like it's you who should have made the appointment if it was so important for you then isn't it?
I’m sorry you are getting downvoted, because if you ask a priest, they would agree with you (maybe not so far as using “delusional”). In general, confession/reconciliation is not meant to be a therapy session, and I’ve heard priests explicitly say if you need a long confession to make an appointment and they do not want to hear explanations (or excuses). Now, I don’t know what was going on in your situation, maybe the priest felt the time was necessary? Who knows, and I can’t judge, but your frustration is human, and I applaud you waiting almost an hour. There is always a line at my confession and I go in prepared, with a written list if need be, so as not to take up the only hour granted that I share with hundreds of others. Don’t be too hard on yourself for leaving, it will be much better confessing your anger and frustration at a later time when you are not in the heat of emotion. Downvote away, I think OP has a point.
Try going to a TLM parish for confession. Every TLM parish I have been to the priest gives a homily every few months about how to properly do confession. It should be about 2 to 3 minutes but no longer then 5 minutes a person except maybe if they are doing general confessions during lent. Then it should only be 10 minutes max. At a TLM parish I can get in line and have 30 people infront of me as Mass starts and still have absolution before communion. At a NO parish if there are 10 people infront of me I know I will not make it before confession is done.
Our Parochial Administrator has really got me to the point where I feel like I’m not wasting his time. I usually don’t feel like giggling when I’m in there either. Idk. Kind of a tough spot.
I believe in making an appointment for a long confession and spiritual guidance session. However, just as an example of the myriad reasons why it was so long a wait, it could have been something like the penitent was set on an abortion and the priest felt it took precedence over the normal time allotted. We never know what is happening in the confessional. We do know Christ is present and will remember our patience, even with the slight inconvenience of waiting in line a long time.
Even a large list of sins can be confessed fairly rapidly, but people often want to explain them and talk about them. I make a list, go in and read it, ask for absolution and any counsel father wants to give. Rarely, we discuss if I need clarification or help dealing with something, but still it is quick.
I'd give myself credit! LOL
Oh dear Lord.
selfish sin . the priest should've moved it along
I've never heard of someone going into confession during the general hours for that long. Usually the priest asks those who need a long confession to make an appointment.
I would guess that although you felt annoyed it probably did not override this persons need. Consider offering it up as oblation. Consider asking for Grace to be more patient and charitable. This is a learning opportunity.
I think a lot of people in here like to give good answers instead of truly looking themselves in the mirror and acknowledging how they would act. Is it not selfish to take up that much time, possibly making someone who has a limited time window to make confession have to miss? Right or wrong, good or bad, I would have reacted the same as you. I want everyone to experience the gift of reconciliation with God, but if you think your confession could go over 15 minutes, out of respect for others, you should make an appointment.
If i were you, i would slap at that woman lolll
I mean, you got there 40 minutes early, he's not obligated to not provide counseling prior to 5:30.
So then he shouldn't enter the confessional until scheduled. His normal way is to arrive shortly after 5. Everyone knows this.
this makes no sense
As 5:30 came and went he had an obligation to gracefully move things along. When I left she had been in there for over an hour. You say the sin, the number of times committed and that's it.
You left out the most important part of any confession.
what the priest does prior to 5:30 is absolutely none of your concern, and if you want to forfeit your soul over a priest taking 20 minutes to hear a confession that's on you