Save confession, save the world.
I have oft complained about the lack of availability of confession. I think that in every diocese the should be at least one place or places, within driving distance of anywhere in the diocese, where confessions are always available. No appointments. No Saturday between 4:30-4:45. No, at least 7am until 10pm there should be a priest sitting in a confessional. I know this is tough these days with priests as stretched as they are, but I think the spiritual fruits would be impressive. Decisive.
In the diocese of New York they are going it one better, if only for a day, there will be 24hrs of confession at 20 Manhattan parishes March 6-7.
[Catholic Culture] Round-the-clock confessions will be heard at parishes in New York on March 6 and 7, in a campaign designed to bring lay Catholics back to the sacrament at the beginning of Lent. The “24 Hours of Confession” initiative will begin on Friday morning and conclude on Saturday morning, with priests available during most times at more than 20 Manhattan parishes. Mario Bruschi, who helped organize the event through the young-adults ministry at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, said: “Thousands upon thousands of Catholics line-up to receive ashes on Ash Wednesday each year…imagine if these same thousands of Catholics line-up for confession?”
I have thought for many years, if we would just push confession with everything we had, talk about, advertise it, and promote repent-a-palooza such as this it would go a long way toward the restoration. Confession is the key.
So, if you are in New York on March 6-7, get thee to a confessional and pray for long lines.
February 21, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Patrick, while I agree that having confession available 24/7 within driving distance would be great, have you ever visited a rural diocese? I think your idea is only practical when the diocese itself consists mainly of population centers. Have confession there, great, everyone can make it. In a large-territory, small-population diocese, we’re lucky to get a priest assigned to the parish or mission full-time.
February 21, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Last Lent, the Archdiocese of Washington D.C. had a program where every church would offer Confessions on Wednesday nights. I think is an invaluable means to bring up the spiritual health of the Mystical Body. While we cannot legislate virtue, we can sanctify the members of Christ’s Body by distributing grace through this sacrament. St. John Bosco produced close to 30 canonized saints because of this. Cf. http://divine-ripples.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html#8773976724360591019
And when even a few become holy, the entire body will feel the healing. Kudos to NYC.
February 21, 2009 at 3:59 pm
I am fortunate in my parish, where we have two priests assigned. 45 minutes before mass on Sundays, the priest who won’t be celebrating will begin hearing confessions. The lines get long. He’ll hear confessions during mass up until about the “Our Father,” after which he’ll go and vest and assist with distributing communion.
Under our prior pastor, we had only the one priest, and he would hear confession from about 45 minutes before each mass until about 10 minutes before mass. That hard-working priest was 80 years old.
The lines get long when confession is regularly and easily available.
February 21, 2009 at 6:49 pm
As the availability of abortion increases abortion, so the availability of confession increases confession.
I remember a priest who if you ran into him while stopping by the parish, would simply say out of the blue, “You here for confession?”
Even if you weren’t there for confession, his asking you the question made you desire to make confession.
February 21, 2009 at 8:48 pm
As a segue to that, you all know that you can schedule confession anytime the priest is available. Just call in advance & stop by the rectory.
February 22, 2009 at 3:49 am
I live in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, which has pledged to offer Wednesday night Confession in every single parish during Lent. (Some neighboring dioceses are doing this, too.) Let’s get the word out!
February 23, 2009 at 1:20 am
I live in the Diocese of Lexington, which is primarily rural mission territory outside of Lexington itself. I haven’t heard of any 24-hour confession plans, but my pastor this morning used the Gospel reading about the healing of the paralytic to talk about the Church’s power to forgive sins and urge everyone to make a good confession this Lent. He even spoke of the precept requiring confession at least once a year!
It’s very refreshing to hear plain speaking about sin and confession from the pulpit every now and then.
February 23, 2009 at 9:03 pm
I’m neither Catholic, nor do I know much about the logistics of confession, but this sounds like a very reasonable thing to do. It could even do-able even in rural areas, especially in situations where the rectory is adjacent to the sanctuary.
February 23, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Hi Wendy: One of the blessings of being Catholic is this sacrament where we get forgiven by God through the ministry & instrumentality of his priests. It provides grace to do better next time, absolution – forgiveness, a sense of certainty that your sins are indeed forgiven. Do some searches or ask us. We'll be glad to help.
February 26, 2009 at 10:16 pm
I agree that some coordination ought to occur in the dioceses where there are many churches within a short driving distance. It seems odd to me that every parish offers the sacrament at the same times.