[PanzerKardinal]

Everybody goes to communion.

Nobody goes to confession.

Must not be any sinners left.

[AnAmericanMother]

When I converted, I asked our rector whether I should schedule an appointment to make my first confession. He responded, "Oh, just come at the usual time." (Saturday afternoon before Mass). I said, "Well, now, you know, Monsignor, I'm 47 years in arrears here, and this will be the Mother of All Confessions." He winked and in that inimitable Irish accent said, "Oh, just come at the usual time. There aren't very many sinners in this parish!"

. . . actually, Monsignor and his assistants have been preaching the virtues of the Sacrament of Confession over and over again -- when the parish does a penance service, the lines are out the door. But on your average Saturday there are maybe 20 people in line and a few more trickle in until Mass begins.

[red irish]

Here where I live you very seldom see anyone NOT go to communion but on Sat. confessions you might see eight people standing in line. Or maybe just a couple. It's like adding 2+2 and getting 3 don't add up. We have about 1500 families in our parish and yet almost all of the parish go to communion on a regular basis.