Posted on 03/25/2007 12:52:43 PM PDT by NYer
"Bless me Father, for I have sinned."
The words which usually serve as the opening to confession, a sacrament in the Catholic Church, are being heard more by local priests these days. The reason - confession seems to be making a comeback.
Although fewer people sought absolution in the post-Vatican II era, it appears as though confession, also known as the Sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation, is on the rise in the Diocese of San Bernardino.
The Sacrament of Penance allows Catholics to confess their sins to a priest through a screen in a small closed confessional, under cover of darkness. They were then granted absolution from the priest.
But some things about confession have changed. The pitch-dark stalls of the confessional are mostly a thing of the past. Today, some confessionals have windows and many seeking confession face their priests.
Not all confessions are private anymore, either. Some of the devout partake in communal penance services.
The Rev. Michael Manning, pastor of St. Anthony's Church in San Bernardino, said he has seen the numbers rising at weekly confession services every Saturday and for seasonal penance services.
"Now what we're offering before Christmas and Easter is a communal confession time," Manning said. "We have several priests there, and we share a reflection on Scripture, then people will share one or two of their sins."
Highland resident Donna Rice, who is a practicing Catholic, said she prefers the penance services to whispering in the confessional.
"Speaking for myself, going to confession helps," said Rice, 56. "It's a good thing, to be reconciled back into the community, to hear from a priest, `Yes, you are forgiven.' Some people need permission to forgive themselves."
It isn't just older Catholics who are coming to confession, either. It's a good mix of young and old alike, Manning said.
"I think what's going on is we're living in a world that has become much more sensitive to our spiritual life and afterlife," he said. "The whole challenge of the afterlife is very strong in movies and television, and I think the media is simply mirroring the concerns of people these days. People are realizing they need more.
"There's an awareness of fragility of our own lives, with the war and the accounts of so many people who are dying. The security we once had we don't have any more with the gangs, violence and the war."
Rice agreed and said events such as Sept. 11, 2001, the war in Iraq and the sexual abuse that occurred within the church, may be driving people back to confession.
"I think people are just looking for answers as to why these things are going on," she said.
Michael Houran, a professor of religious education and pastoral theology at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, said a communal service could be socially appealing.
"Nationally, there has been much written about Catholics' interest in a form of reconciliation that allows them to publicly celebrate their desire to be forgiven of their sinfulness," Houran said.
"This seems to me to be a positive trend because it recognizes that our sinfulness has social consequences. Therefore, why wouldn't you want to celebrate forgiveness in fairly large social context rather than only one-on-one with a priest?"
In the Diocese of San Bernardino, the 10th-largest diocese in the country, church officials say confession is on the rise.
In Hesperia, at least one church had been taking two hours for confession, and a penance service in Rancho Cucamonga this week served more than 1,000 people, officials said.
"The Catholic Church has always treasured the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation," said the Rev. Howard Lincoln, spokesman for the San Bernardino Diocese, which encompasses San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
"And confession is increasing in our diocese."
Lincoln attributed the rise partly to the diocese's already large population. Catholics number more than 2.1 million in both counties.
Another reason is that the diocese is growing and there is a major influx of new residents from ethnic backgrounds that tend to be Roman Catholic.
Post-Vatican II, Catholics began to neglect the practice of confession. A 1980 University of Notre Dame study showed that 26 percent of active Catholics never attended confession.
The Rev. David Fitzgerald, pastor of Our Lady of Assumption in San Bernardino, said he too, has noticed confession making a comeback.
"There's no arguing that it was on the decline, but probably in the last five years, it's definitely making a big comeback," Fitzgerald said. "I encourage people to go to confession not just for renewal, but because it plays a role in their overall psychological and spiritual health and helps people live more balanced lives."
Two years ago, Our Lady of Assumption Church remodeled its confessionals, putting in windows to bring in natural light and widening the doors to make it more accessible for the disabled.
After the remodel, the number of confessions increased so much that the time for Fitzgerald to hear confessions jumped from 30 minutes to three hours.
"I am never, ever sitting in the confessional waiting for someone to come in," he said.
Penance is similar to a hangover, and in more than one way - for, like a hangover, it ends in drinking more of the same stuff used the evening before.
???? Maybe I am a little slow, but not sure I understand your comment ????
Say what?
Well, "starting a new life' usually means continuing in the old vices with a renewed vigor. Ditto for the absolvees.
Ever been to confession?
So you are mocking the Sacrament?
been to hangover. And I'm an atheist.
Hey thanks for the link to todays scripture GSlob....
oh high and mighty GSlob, cast away the first stone!
I just love the communal reconcilation mention, aways makes me groan
Actually, I was quoting, as both the imagery and the expression are not mine[forgot whom I was quoting - must be either Mencken or Bierce]. But that's OK, you could take it as mockery.
It's different. I was an Episcopalian before, and they have general (communal) confession. The first time I went to auricular confession, I knew I was in the presence of God. It is an awe-inspiring experience.
Repeated or besetting sins are handled differently by an astute confessor. And with grace and faith even they can be overcome.
Not saying it's easy -- but it's easier than trying to go it alone.
I know its an open thread, but disagreements and mockery are not really necessary either.
The Communal Penance Service does nothing. It isn't valid because it is only authorized in certain circumstances (imminent death, military deployment). A priest cannot hold a communal penance service for any reason and grant blanket absolution. At least I know the Chicago Archdiocese has prohibited Communal Penance Services that grant general absolution.
The best thing I've found for overcoming is "Noah the Patriarch" Armenian brandy, XXX- 30 years old, at $45 a bottle. One 750ml bottle could suffice for 4-5 overcomings, and with the unsurpassed grace on the palate. It is truly uplifting, ad coelum levavit, as Michelangelo used to say [but he was more into Trebbiano].
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That's my point. And this dippy article is talking about it like it's a great new "reform" thing. Like they know the difference.
They seem to be unaware that going to a "communal penance service" is basically just preparation for going to individual confession. Communal penance is not a magic wand. I think the Bishop needs to do a bit more catechesis in that diocese!
"Two years ago, Our Lady of Assumption Church remodeled its confessionals, putting in windows to bring in natural light and widening the doors to make it more accessible for the disabled.
After the remodel, the number of confessions increased so much that the time for Fitzgerald to hear confessions jumped from 30 minutes to three hours.
"I am never, ever sitting in the confessional waiting for someone to come in," he said."
Can't argue against that though, certainly positive development.
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