I admit I was not aware of the Catechism requirement on "number of times" for a mortal sin. I appreciate you informing all of us here, and you are truly a blessing.
Yes, from both Canon Law and the Baltimore Catechism it states:
BCatechism:
428. After telling the time of our last confession, what do we confess?
After telling the time of our last confession, if we have committed any mortal sins since that time we must confess them, and also any that we have forgotten in previous confessions, telling the nature and number of each; we may also confess any venial sins we wish to mention.
429. What should we do if we cannot remember the exact number of our mortal sins?
If we cannot remember the exact number of our mortal sins, we should tell the number as nearly as possible, or say how often we have committed the sins in a day, a week, a month, or a year.
Canon Law:
Can. 988 §1. A member of the Christian faithful is obliged to confess in kind and number all grave sins committed after baptism and not yet remitted directly through the keys of the Church nor acknowledged in individual confession, of which the person has knowledge after diligent examination of conscience.
In my personal opinion, I believe the two room confessionals should make a comeback. If I was a Priest, I would be requiring all confessions to be made behind the screen, curtain, or partition and face to face confessions would not be allowed and would not be available. The reason for this is:
1. If an event if I am subpoenaed to testify to what I heard in the confessional, I could truthfully state “I don’t know” thus not breaking the seal of the confessional especially if I heard a bunch of confessions in a single day.
2. The one receiving the Sacrament would be confessing to God and not to me and the partition would reinforce that.
3. The Sacrament would not be treated as a therapy or counseling session and face to face confessions pretty much encourage the sacrament to be treated as a therapy or counseling session and the one receiving the Sacrament may take as long as 20 or even 30 minutes or more, thus, holding up the line. If anybody had any questions or needs guidance, they can call to set up an appointment or see me after Mass. Priests are NOT licensed Psychologists, Psychiatrists, or mental health professionals.
4. During Pre-Vatican 2, there was no such thing as face to face confessions and all confessions were heard behind the screen or curtain.
Sometimes its the prudent thing to do. But all I meant by "last thing" was that we do not want to give people the impression that their concern isn't worth our time. That said, it is worth our time, but by an appointment, and outside of the Confessional in the context explained above.
I admit I was not aware of the Catechism requirement on "number of times" for a mortal sin. I appreciate you informing all of us here, and you are truly a blessing.
Yes, from both Canon Law and the Baltimore Catechism it states:
BCatechism:
428. After telling the time of our last confession, what do we confess?
After telling the time of our last confession, if we have committed any mortal sins since that time we must confess them, and also any that we have forgotten in previous confessions, telling the nature and number of each; we may also confess any venial sins we wish to mention.
429. What should we do if we cannot remember the exact number of our mortal sins?
If we cannot remember the exact number of our mortal sins, we should tell the number as nearly as possible, or say how often we have committed the sins in a day, a week, a month, or a year.
Canon Law:
Can. 988 §1. A member of the Christian faithful is obliged to confess in kind and number all grave sins committed after baptism and not yet remitted directly through the keys of the Church nor acknowledged in individual confession, of which the person has knowledge after diligent examination of conscience.
Excellent!
Most helpful! Thank you!
In my personal opinion, I believe the two room confessionals should make a comeback. If I was a Priest, I would be requiring all confessions to be made behind the screen, curtain, or partition and face to face confessions would not be allowed and would not be available. The reason for this is:
1. If an event if I am subpoenaed to testify to what I heard in the confessional, I could truthfully state “I don’t know” thus not breaking the seal of the confessional especially if I heard a bunch of confessions in a single day.
2. The one receiving the Sacrament would be confessing to God and not to me and the partition would reinforce that.
3. The Sacrament would not be treated as a therapy or counseling session and face to face confessions pretty much encourage the sacrament to be treated as a therapy or counseling session and the one receiving the Sacrament may take as long as 20 or even 30 minutes or more, thus, holding up the line. If anybody had any questions or needs guidance, they can call to set up an appointment or see me after Mass. Priests are NOT licensed Psychologists, Psychiatrists, or mental health professionals.
4. During Pre-Vatican 2, there was no such thing as face to face confessions and all confessions were heard behind the screen or curtain.
If the last thing a priest wants to do is tell somebody to "make an appointment" .... THEN DON'T.,
Sometimes its the prudent thing to do. But all I meant by "last thing" was that we do not want to give people the impression that their concern isn't worth our time. That said, it is worth our time, but by an appointment, and outside of the Confessional in the context explained above.
Could you share more?