For a time after 9-11 Masses in this country were often packed. Our parish priest at the time said that people were asking him if it was the beginning of the end of the World. He responded no. If it were the end of the World he said, the confessionals as well as the Masses would be packed.
Of course for each of us, someday, our personal World will end. Something to think about as we contemplate going to confession.
I got to experience this kind of massive confession first hand at the Eucharist Revival last year. A double ballroom of the hotel was filled with priests hearing confessions – every day, all day. The lines were so long, the sisters (in habits, of course) kept us organized.
The amazing value of this Sacrament is no longer taught in many parts of the Church. Restoring traditional teaching about confession and the Four Last Things should be Job One of any revival of true sacramental catechesis, along with the Real Presence, of course.
Very pleased to hear so many young folks understand the importance of Confession.
I try to understand how so many of them have figured it out since the quality of catechesis has done nothing but decline 🤔
I think young people are drawn to the Sacrament of Confession because it’s a means for them to talk to another person (a Priest) with full anonymity, without being judged and where truthful advice is imparted, without bias or agenda. That’s rare these days. Particular in the digital age and the age of “me”. Young people also “feel” the Grace they receive when they confess their shortcomings- a lightness. Ultimately many young people are drawn to the traditions of our Faith, and realise that Confession is a powerful weapon against Satan in a world with so much temptations for young people. It makes sense.
Sometimes it takes the absolute absurdity of a culture abandoning God to open the eyes of the half awake. Wokeness has been an eye opener, imo. A culture without God is a prideful thing. Can’t explain what a woman is? That’s just one example.
Strange that this topic arises today. I just got back from the longest confessional line I can remember at our parish church, including folks I’ve never seen before. Our attendance there and at Mass in our parish just south of San Francisco (mine since ’61) has shown a sudden spike, including folks I know are either very new or not parishioners. Anybody else notice this in their parish?
[…] Analysis, Punditry, and News:Confessions – Donald R. McClarey, J.D., at The American CatholicCan Prayers Tip the Scales to Shut Down […]
the Holy Spirit. infinite and perfect Love brings
people to this Sacrament.
The priest, in persona Christi is always there to speak with any person who needs mercy.
Pray to your Guardian Angel before going to confession, asking for help in making a good confession.
And You’ll surely get help!
I must say, in my parish, Confession is well-attended on a regular basis, not just First Saturday.
Our pastor offers Confession for an hour before vigil Mass on Saturdays, an hour after the Spanish-language Mass on Sundays (the logistics of his saying Mass at 2 parishes on Sunday mornings makes offering it ahead of Mass impossible), and an hour on Wednesday evenings for the Newman Center and anyone else who wants to confess. And by appointment and various other occasions.
I am very grateful for these opportunities and confess at least monthly. My dying wish is to be able to receive absolution after Confession 5 seconds before I breathe my last.
We all need to understand the great and vital importance of this Sacrament of mercy, and the necessity of doing our best to remain in a state of grace, especially when receiving Communion. I am very encouraged by the faithfulness of the younger generation of priests (my own pastor is 41 and has been our pastor and our sister parish’s pastor since he was 34). We were blessed by our late Bishop, who, 20 years ago, appointed a committee of religious and laity to assist him in ridding our seminary of every unwholesome and unfaithful influence. We are now reaping the benefits of this, along with the very joyful and faithful leadership of St. John Paul, Pope Benedict, and now our good Pope Leo, and with the duty toward the poor instilled by Pope Francis.
It is a good time to be a Catholic, particularly an American Catholic, and most particularly, a Midwestern American Catholic! God bless and protect all here!