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Priests Called to [Bring Catholics Back to] Confession as Year Closes
Zenit.org ^ | June 10, 2010 | By Roberta Sciamplicotti

Posted on 06/10/2010 4:41:23 PM PDT by Salvation

Priests Called to Confession as Year Closes


Cardinal Says Decline of Sacrament Is Tragedy of 20th Century

By Roberta Sciamplicotti

ROME, JUNE 10, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The first day of the most numerous international meeting of priests in history was marked by the call to conversion and the need to approach the sacrament of reconciliation with God.

Addressing some 10,000 priests who had already arrived in the Eternal City on Wednesday to take part in the closing of the Year for Priests, Cardinal Joachim Meisner, archbishop of Cologne, affirmed that just as the "Church must always be reformed" (Ecclesia semper reformanda), so bishops and priests "must always be reformed" (semper reformandus).

In the meditation the cardinal gave Wednesday morning, before the celebration of Mass in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, he said that priests, like Paul on the way to Damascus, "must fall off their horse again, to fall into the arms of the merciful God."

"It is not enough in our pastoral work to correct only the structures of our Church so that it is more attractive. It isn't enough! What is lacking is a change of heart, of my heart," he stressed.

"Only a converted Paul was able to change the world, not an engineer of ecclesiastical structures," the cardinal clarified at the start of the international meeting of priests, convoked by Benedict XVI and organized by the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy.

The closing celebrations -- to which every priest of the world was invited -- conclude Friday, feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The culminating event will be a papal Mass in St. Peter's Square with the expected participation of 15,000 priests.

Importance of confession

Cardinal Meisner said that "one of the most tragic losses" the Church suffered in the second half of the 20th century was "the loss of the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of reconciliation."

The lack of participation in this sacrament "[i]s at the root of many evils in the life of the Church and in the life of the priest," he contended. "When Christian faithful ask me: 'How can we help our priests?' I always respond: 'Go to confession with them.'"

According to the German cardinal, "whenever a priest stops hearing confession, he becomes a religious social agent" and "falls into a grave crisis of identity."

"A priest who is not found frequently on one side or the other of the confessional's grille, suffers permanent damages to his soul and his mission," the cardinal declared. "A confessional where a priest is present, in an empty church, is the most important symbol of God's patience, [God] who waits."

Confirming God's love

In the confessional, the cardinal continued, "the priest can cast a glance at the hearts of many persons, and from there arise motivations, encouragement, aspirations for his own following of Christ."

Confession, "allows us to access a life in which one can only think of God," he said. "To go to confession means to begin to believe again, and at the same time to discover that up to now we have not trusted in God in a sufficiently profound way and that, for this reason, we must ask forgiveness."

Cardinal Meisner proposed that "the spiritual maturity of a candidate to receive priestly ordination becomes evident in the fact that he receives regularly -- at least once a month -- the sacrament of reconciliation."

In fact, he concluded, one finds in this sacrament "the merciful Father with his most precious gifts, that is, his commitment, forgiveness and grace."



TOPICS: Catholic; Ministry/Outreach; Prayer; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: catholic; catholiclist; sacraments; yearofthepriest
They say that one of the marks of a growing church is the length of the lines waiting for Confessions.

Our Confessions usually go beyond the time allotted.

1 posted on 06/10/2010 4:41:23 PM PDT by Salvation
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To: nickcarraway; Lady In Blue; NYer; ELS; Pyro7480; livius; Catholicguy; RobbyS; markomalley; ...

According to the German cardinal, "whenever a priest stops hearing confession, he becomes a religious social agent" and "falls into a grave crisis of identity."

"A priest who is not found frequently on one side or the other of the confessional's grille, suffers permanent damages to his soul and his mission," the cardinal declared. "A confessional where a priest is present, in an empty church, is the most important symbol of God's patience, [God] who waits."

Catholic Ping!

2 posted on 06/10/2010 4:42:23 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation

Our parish has confessions 3 times a week—Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. I have been on Saturday when there is a long line. Father has to excuse himself to say Mass at 5 (Confession starts at 3:30), then come back and finish hearing Confessions! We have 1500 registered families in our parish.


3 posted on 06/10/2010 4:45:41 PM PDT by Hoosier Catholic Momma (Arkansas resident of Hoosier upbringing--Yankee with a southern twang)
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To: Hoosier Catholic Momma

I have often wondered about Catholic confession. Let’s say you confess a sin and the priest tells you to pray etc. Is there not some form of counseling with the confession? I’m not Catholic or anything and I was just wondering.


4 posted on 06/10/2010 4:58:28 PM PDT by timeflies
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To: timeflies

The wonderful thing about Confession is that GOD forgives and forgets the sin.

When people say they confess their sins straight to God, they do not know that.

You asked about counseiling of some sort — my priest will usually give me some reading to do as a Penance — last time it was Psalm 51. The counseling was in the Psalm! As I pulled out my Bible and read it, I realized how wise my priest was — sending me back to Holy Scripture.


5 posted on 06/10/2010 5:02:02 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: timeflies

Often there is some counseling addressing a specific sin and how to avoid it and /or reconcile the situation. They may ask questions to clarify the situation. Both of my recent confessors have been excellent at helping me grow in faith by their wise counsel.


6 posted on 06/10/2010 5:09:42 PM PDT by pbear8 (the Lord is my light and my salvation)
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To: Salvation

When I was younger..I remember the lines from the back of the church all the way to the front pew. People would go in name their sins and leave. The parish I belong to now we have long lines before Mass, but the problem is, people go in and are in there a long time. I’ve seen several times where one person took up the entire confessional time before Mass. I don’t like to get mad at church, and the Priest has meantioned it, but some people don’t care or understand this is not a counseling session, you can call and make an appointment with your Priest.


7 posted on 06/10/2010 5:11:05 PM PDT by Irisshlass
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To: Salvation
They say that one of the marks of a growing church is the length of the lines waiting for Confessions.

Recently, the lines have been unbelievably long.

8 posted on 06/10/2010 5:23:54 PM PDT by Desdemona
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To: timeflies

I went today. Its great. It helps to talk to a person with authority. It comes from the Bible John 20:21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

A psychiatrist told Father Goeschel that if every body went to the confessional he would be out of business.


9 posted on 06/10/2010 5:25:28 PM PDT by johngrace (God so loved the world so he gave his only son! Praise Jesus and Hail the Virgin Mary!)
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To: timeflies
Let’s say you confess a sin and the priest tells you to pray etc. Is there not some form of counseling with the confession?

The counseling comes before absolution and the Act of Contrition. It's usually short and to the point. Penance, the real name of the sacrament, can be formulaic. Go in, make the Sign of the Cross (no priest worth their salt objects to this), say "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned, it has been XXX since my last confession," say what you need to about your sins, receive the counseling and a Penance you must serve before the sacrament is complete (this can be anything from a single prayer to reading a Bible passage to anything the priest wants), say the Act of Contrition, receive absolution. With a screen, it's pretty painless.

10 posted on 06/10/2010 5:30:41 PM PDT by Desdemona
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To: Salvation

hubby, kids and I were on our way to confession today. Got rearended on the highway. I wish churches would make it easier for people to get to confession. Before Sunday masses would be very nice.


11 posted on 06/10/2010 5:52:08 PM PDT by mockingbyrd (Remember in November.)
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To: Salvation

Our Dominican-run church in Louisville, KY has confession 6 days a week - Monday through Saturday. Monday through Friday for 45 minutes before the noon Mass. On Saturday - twice - 45 minutes before the noon Mass and then again 45 minutes before the Vigil Mass. People from all over Louisville come to our church for confession.


12 posted on 06/10/2010 6:00:57 PM PDT by MasonGal
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To: Salvation

Salvation, pbear8,johngrace and Desdemona
Thank you


13 posted on 06/10/2010 6:23:15 PM PDT by timeflies
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To: johngrace

**A psychiatrist told Father Goeschel that if every body went to the confessional he would be out of business.**

LOL! Good line to remember!


14 posted on 06/10/2010 8:05:01 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: mockingbyrd

Are you all OK? Sore?

May the peace of the Lord be with you.


15 posted on 06/10/2010 8:05:58 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: timeflies
Here are the words of absolution -- the priest calls upon God to forgive the sins.

 
enter the Table of Contents of the Catechism of the Catholic Church here
1449 The formula of absolution used in the Latin Church expresses the essential elements of this sacrament: the Father of mercies is the source of all forgiveness. He effects the reconciliation of sinners through the Passover of his Son and the gift of his Spirit, through the prayer and ministry of the Church:
God, the Father of mercies,
through the death and the resurrection of his Son
has reconciled the world to himself
and sent the Holy Spirit among us
for the forgiveness of sins;
through the ministry of the Church
may God give you pardon and peace,
and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.


16 posted on 06/10/2010 8:07:34 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation

Yeah, sore. Worried about my five year old, she was sitting right where the impact was. But she’s wreastling with her brother right now, so things are ok I guess.

This is third time we’ve tried to get to confession recently. Devil’s trying to keep us out of there, or something.


17 posted on 06/10/2010 8:52:39 PM PDT by mockingbyrd (Remember in November.)
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To: mockingbyrd

Sure glad everyone is OK. You’ll make it to Reconciliation. Pray the Rosary, maybe, while you are on the way.

Or just say three Hail Marys.


18 posted on 06/10/2010 8:54:49 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: mockingbyrd

We’re glad that you and your family are o.k. If your little girl is wrestling her brother, I’d agree that she’s probably over it!


19 posted on 06/10/2010 8:55:38 PM PDT by MWestMom (Tread carefully, truth lies here.)
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To: mockingbyrd

good idea!


20 posted on 06/11/2010 4:23:30 AM PDT by johngrace (God so loved the world so he gave his only son! Praise Jesus and Hail the Virgin Mary!)
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