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During an interview with a Portuguese radio station, Pope Francis spoke about his own discipline with the sacrament of penance. HERE
At the end of the interview, the Pope said he goes to confession “every 15 or 20 days” with a Franciscan priest who comes to him at the Vatican. “I never had to call an ambulance to take him back, in shock over my sins!” he joked. He also said he believed eternity would be a “mystery of encounter … almost unimaginable but it must be very beautiful and wonderful to meet with God.”
Were I Pope, for confession I think I’d wander up the path in the Vatican Garden to see Benedict XVI.
How long has it been since YOU have gone to confession?
Examine your consciences and GO TO CONFESSION!
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Blessed me, Father, for I have sinned, it’s been one week since my last confession.
I would go to confession to Benedict XVI too if I were Pope, but that is even more moot for me.
*Bless me, not blessed.
In fairness, it may be a confessor who has known Pope Francis for a long time. That being said, while priests literally have the greatest power in the Universe in their hands (i.e., the ability to stand in for Jesus at Mass and initiate the transubstantiation of bread and wine into Jesus’s body and blood), being the confessor to the Pope must be rather nerve wracking.
The thing is I can’t think of anything to say except trivialities.
I go once a week.
I figure if I’m going to go to Mass once a day, I should at least go to Confession once a week.
More often than not I’m the youngest person in line for Confession, and worse still, I’m usually THE ONLY person in line for Confession…
“The thing is I can’t think of anything to say except trivialities.”
Have you rooted out your predominate fault?
I go once a week. I wish I could go more often. I’m sure my co-workers do too.
It has been two days. I’m not filled with virtue, it had been a few weeks before that. I am trying to work my way down to no more than two weeks between confessions.
I’m about every four weeks on average. Last two times I tried to go were unsuccessful. The first time the church was closed because of unexpected electrical work going on. The second time I showed up three minutes before the start of a 90 minute block of confessions, counted the folks, did some quick arithmetic and realized I didn’t have a chance unless no one took more than 3 minutes. Was glad so see such a good crowd though, including many young people.
I went to confession before Sunday Mass yesterday. It’s rare that I go longer than two weeks.
The Archdiocese of Washington and the Diocese of Arlington encourage frequent Confession, and many parishes schedule multiple Confession times through the week. You’ll often see buses and trains displaying the “The Light is ON for You” advertising placard, especially during Lent. Lines are sometimes long but our priests are patient and helpful. All in all there’s little excuse not to avail oneself of the Sacrament every week or two, or more often should the need arise.
Confession and the reality of Satan have been two areas where Francis gets the nod over John Paul and Benedict. Given this, it is mystifying that he would allow the heretics from Germany so much influence.
My cathedral has scheduled confessions three times a day Monday through Saturday and in my experience there’s always a line. Sadly no confession scheduled for Sundays (the priests are super busy with the 7 Sunday masses), but there’s another parish in the archdiocese I will stop by on Sundays if I need confession- the priests there hear confessions before and after each of the 7 scheduled Sunday masses. It’s really amazing. They literally must be celebrating mass or in the confessional all day from early morning to mid-evening…
Didn’t Pope John Paul II go daily or multiple times a week?
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I prefer going every 3 weeks, that seems to be the perfect duration for me. However our parish “cluster” of two parishes (one of which is a merger of three) offers Confessions only on Saturday, from 3 to 4:20 and from 7 to 9ish. It seems a lack of charity to go so often and hog up Fr.’s time when there are so many of us and only one of him. I usually push it to 5 weeks and then Fr. says, “Why so long?” :-D
For the past couple years I’ve been trying for every four weeks and no longer than six weeks, thanks in large part to Fr. Z’s constant pestering.
Thanks, Fr. Z!
I usually go to confession every week. Lately it has been every 2 weeks. I also appreciate Fr. Z’s telling us to go to confession. In some parishes (I am on the road a lot) I am the only one. In others, there are nice, long lines. What a gift that Sacrament is. If more people only knew.
Ugh. It has been too long.
I’ve been trying for every two weeks, though its been four since my last (but I’m going tomorrow). Half the time I make an appointment, usually with my spiritual director. The normal confession times are entirely inadequate (maybe half an hour on Saturday). I’m quick, but others need the time, and I can swallow my pride and shame.
All of you are such wonderful examples.
I was going once a month but felt the push every 2 or 3 weeks.
I will make an extra effort.
My grand niece has a new pastor who has announced that he only wants mortal sinners for confessions/no venial sinners. Needless to say my grand niece and her husband are looking for a new parish.
Year of Mercy, yeah, sure.
My husband says: “maybe he ought to go every other day”
I said: “maybe he should find a new confessor”
As Fr. Z said: “Were I Pope, for confession I think I’d wander up the path in the Vatican Garden to see Benedict XVI.”
Mother Teresa, I read, used to go every day.
I wonder how the Pope’s confessions are structured? He appears to puts a whole lot of emphasis on personal conscience–as he understands it (which seems much closer to the everyday understanding)–and continually de-emphasizs formalistic, formulaic appraoches to understanding sin.
A few years ago in NYC, someone next to me in line stage whispered: “I wish there were an EXPRESS LANE — 5 SINS OR LESS.” A wag replied: “This is NY. At best it should be 10 SINS OR LESS.”
At our Enormous State University, the Catholic Student Center recently celebrated its 50th year, so I visited the website. I was surprised to find that confessions are now heard every day on campus.
I was active at the CSC and only recall confession before Easter.
http://catholicterps.org/?page_id=1354
(Not to mention that Mass is offered daily also, and there is and Adoration program; maybe 40 hours.) I’m impressed.
Once a week,before or during a Diocesan indult Mass, well a Sunday Tridentine Mass by the Dublin Latin Mass Chaplaincy, if I intend to recieve Communion.
It was last week, I think. just before my discernment retreat.
Every two to three weeks, more often as necessity demands.