Posted on 12/08/2014 1:03:52 PM PST by NYer
.- Responding to an invitation from Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera to seek reconciliation with Christ during the season of Advent, nearly 5000 Catholics stood in line for hours to receive the Sacrament of Confession.
According to the Archdiocese of Mexico City's News Service, some 30 priests spent 12 hours in shifts hearing confessions at the Cathedral of Mexico City Nov. 29.
Cathedral officials said many people also attended an Advent talk given by Father Julian Lopez Amozurrutia entitled, “Coming Home.”
Although the lines generally kept moving, the number of penitents was so large that some stood in line for up to four hours to go to confession.
Cardinal Rivera granted the priest confessors the faculty to absolve the sin of abortion, which according to Canon Law is normally reserved only to bishops.
One penitent, Alejandro, who had not been to confession for almost 25 years, expressed gratitude to Cardinal Rivera for the marathon penance service.
“My work schedule doesn't allow me to go to my parish for confession. After carrying the burden of many sins for so long, to hear the absolution of the priest makes you feel incredibly good,” he said.
Cathedral officials said they hoped to repeat the service next year, and to offer penitents a guide to confession, more spiritual talks and perhaps exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
John 20:23 - Jesus says, "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained." In order for the apostles to exercise this gift of forgiving sins, the penitents must orally confess their sins to them because the apostles are not mind readers. The text makes this very clear.
Ping!
Amen, and great work priests!! Congratulations to all of the penitents. We all need to go, and regularly!
The Number One thing our priests could do to nurture the faith, would be to seriously, zealously, regularly promote the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
I’m not sure my nearby St Isabella in San Rafael even hears confessions anymore. Maybe it’s done by email these days, it wouldn’t surprise me.
They do 3:30-4:30 Saturday
Considering we have 1,200+ on the Parish rolls, having 9-10 standing in line on a given morning or evening isn't a very impressive turnout. Not when everybody goes to Communion!
People think Communion is everybody's right, and Communion takes care of everything. It replaces all the other Sacraments.
It's really wrong. I do think I'm going to have a chat with my pastor about that.
This is wonderful!
I am fortunate to live in Pittsburgh where I am a parishoner at the Cathedral....right around the corner from the Ryan Catholic Newman Center, where the Oratorian fathers here several hours of confession EVERY DAY & the lines are frequently pretty long!!
I am sorry to hear/know that it isn’t the same everywhere. Even within my own family. My aunt tells me she doesn’t need to go to confession because she doesn’t really sin. Ummmmmmm ok
Amen to that! It is also a great way to nurture one’s relationship with God! I must be like a pain in the neck teenager to Him!
Very nice!
That’s a big problem. We have very limited hours for confession in my parish (the Cathedral) and while our new bishop wanted more, he wasn’t forceful enough about it and the priests simply resisted. I don’t know what they think we pay them for...
According to the Archbishop of Chicago, Communion forgives the sins of pro-abortion politicians.
This is not surprising. I've fallen prey to this thought process, as well. In looking at the 10 Commandments, my life seemed ok; I had not delved below the surface to recognize that gossip, losing one's temper, being judgmental .. were all sins. It took a good examination of conscience before I truly opened my eyes to the subtlety of sin. In contemporary society, moral relativism prevails. The next time you visit your aunt, or perhaps contact her via email, you could gently broach the topic by giving her an example of the types of sins you confess (not to say you should confess to her). Oftentimes, people don't know what to say. You may want to also provide her with an Examination of Conscience. This one is pretty simple yet to the point. More importantly, pray for guidance on how to restore her to the sacrament. God answers prayers.
I think its yet another indicator of present day society, where as much as is possible, no one is to be ‘judged’ by others, and personal responsibility is seen as a pleasant surprise, or a show of stoicism, by others, not something automatically expected from another adult.
On their webpage — http://stisabellasparish.org/
Reconciliation
Saturday
3:30-4:30 pm
I’m sure that at Christmas they will schedule more.
Thanks for the info.
It’s a beautiful Gothic church, very wide, with roomy (padded) pews, vaulted ceilings, and triptychs of stained glass, donated from families in the parish. I often visit, alone, when I feel a bit troubled and the need to contemplate or slow things down a bit.
At my church
Weekly:
Wednesday 6:30 – 7:00 pm (till all finish)
Saturday 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Christmastime Penance Service with eight priests
Dec.9: 7:00 pm
Other Opportunities for Reconciliation
WED Dec 17 6:30pm-7:30pm
THURS Dec 18 12:30pm-1:30pm
FRI Dec 19 12:30pm-1:30pm
SAT Dec 20 3:30pm-5:00pm
In addition to what you said, much good advice often occurs when making a confession.
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