Real Problems - Useless Responses
"Hoover Dam Breaks - People Urged To Bring Buckets and Towels"
"Giant Asteroid Headed For Manhattan - People Advised To Hide in Basements"
"Use of Confession at All Time Low - Vatican To Publish Handbook"
A Handbook? Yeah, that ought to do it.
Perhaps if they use the handbooks to beat people over the heads, that might be a start.VATICAN CITY (AP) — A Vatican official is lamenting that many faithful no longer confess their sins, and says some confuse a psychologist's couch for a confessional booth.The archbishop said in the interview Tuesday that if faithful don't have a sense of sin, they might "confuse" confession with "the couch of a psychologist or a psychiatrist."
Archbishop Mauro Piacenza has told Vatican Radio the sacrament of penance has been experiencing a "deep crisis" for decades. Piacenza, an official for the Vatican office on clergy, says fewer people distinguish between good and evil, and as a result don't go to confession.
He says the Vatican plans to publish this year a kind of handbook on confession to drum up enthusiasm among Catholics toward the sacrament.
I think Archbishop Piacenza is right to lament the lack of use of this very important sacrament and also to point out that the psychologists couch is no replacement. However, I don't think a handbook is going to cut it. Nothing is going to change until every priest in every diocese preaches relentlessly about the need to return to this sacrament. Oh, and as an added incentive why don't we try having confession more often than 15 minutes on Saturday afternoon or by 'appointment.' How 'bout every Bishop makes sure that nobody in the Diocese must drive more than one hour from 7am to 9pm to have their confession heard. How 'bout a handbook for that?
Actually, there is an idea. Why not create handbooks for Bishops, Priests, and Pastors about the need to preach on the subject (often) and make it more readily available. Then maybe, just maybe, we might get somewhere.
26 comments:
The handbook is a good idea - especially if it presents an honest format for examination of conscience and confession of sins.
We've already got the handbook, it's called the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
If it comes in hardback, I just might get a copy to beat someone over the head until it gets through
I've used references to both Catechism and Canon Law (Canon 989, Catholics required to confess grave sins at least once a year), not to mention countless pamphlets. Patrick is right, there needs to be preaching, and they need to be adamant. Particularly on what grave sins are, actually - and, that it needs to be a priest, not yourself (for some reason, this was excluded in RCIA classes? what the heck...)
You're dead on, Patrick. But unfortunately, with my 12 years of Catholic School education, I need that handbook!
Re: "Nothing is going to change until every priest in every diocese preaches relentlessly about the need to return to this sacrament."
You're absolutely right. If people have lost the sense of sin, then there is nothing to confess. Or if people have lost the fear of God, then there is no need to confess.
"The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available from 3:37 PM to 3:43 PM on the first Sunday after the first Wednesday of every month, which has a date which is also a prime number..."
Perhaps a handbook for priests? A handbook that would urge them to show up for the scheduled times? Sins against charity are increased when the father is a no-show. Then I need confession even more.
They've lost their Catechism -- the whole bunch of them.
To anon.. who got stood up:
Some priests, if not all, hear confessions by appointment.
I hate to say it, but we have a priest who regularly doesn't show or is 1/2 hour late for a one-hour confession time slot.
Our church used to have lines for confession on Saturday. Since he became the tardy confessor, we usually have 2-3 people, if that.
May God have mercy on him.
At my parish, confession is available before and during all Sunday masses! Everyone sees their fellow parishioners lined up for confession, and the result is that we all set an excellent example for each other.
Of course, the Fathers do regularly mention the need for confession during their homilies, too.
How about "2010-2011 - The Year of Penance". Maybe that will get the clergy focused on it?
Hear, hear, Patrick!
How about a return to the old-fashioned confessionals. The face to face rooms frighten some people away.
Kenneth - most offer a choice, now. You can stay behind the screen or come around and face the priest.
Echoing everyone else, yes, we need to hear about the benefits of confession a lot more often. It is God's gift of mercy to us to be able to be absolved of our sins and to do suitable penance on earth. It meets our needs as humans with a spiritual AND material nature, in a way that simply composing oneself and feeling forgiven could never do. And a good portion of the saints were known for spending hours hearing confessions, and having people traveling miles out of their way (often on foot, in the old times) just to get there.
However, I'm not down on the handbook at all. In fact, there are such volumes already available. If getting people to give good confessions is the goal, then the more information the better, and this can help. The only danger is that slothful parishes will simply hand out the booklets in leiu of teaching.
The extraordinary popularity of self-help books is strong evidence that the need and the hunger is still there - it's just redirected to lesser measures, in some cases doing great harm. We need to reach folks with the real deal, and not try to gussy it up to be more palatable. Trust the sacraments and the faith! They can make their own case in the hearts of the people who live them.
why is it necessary for people to seek out a therapist? Simple, the minute you start talking to a Priest about issues that you are in need of counsel, and then the Priest pawns you off on a therapist. Many times it is difficult to divorce the sin from the deeper rooted cause. Just my .02 cents anyway.
We were all happy to be getting the Catechism, and rightly so. It has been a boon. But as soon as a handbook for confession - which might actually include advice for priests - is mentioned, this post and most of these comments use it not as a time of rejoicing, but as as a reason to run down people. It would seem eveyone, including us in this circle of commentators, needs to refresh our need for the Sacrament. Perhaps a handbook from the Vatican...
1. The Holy Father needs to mandate that all confessionals preclude the option of face to face. The screen should be mandatory.
2. It should be mandated that confessions be heard for at least half an hour before each public Mass. During these confessions, the penitent should be directed to confess only the number and type of sin committed. Those seeking extended spiritual direction should make an appointment.
3. In addition to having the priest preach on good and evil, the Church as a whole needs to return to the three hour fast before receiving Holy Communion. This would cut down on the number of people receiving Holy Communion in a state of mortal sin.
Then, we might start to get somewhere.
Good points in the original post, and I like Jim's suggestions too.
On the other hand... I'm not saying we don't need better "customer service", but I do get a little tired of complaining that "The Church should do X, Y, and Z." It's still incumbent on us *ADULT* lay Catholics to take responsibility for our own needs, even if it means a lot of inconvenience. Consider it penance, and let it deter you from sinning again. Let it teach your children how important it is, that you will drive across town, wait in a long line, miss several hours of TV or other leisure time, etc., to go to confession.
Also, let's be the woman who begged the judge every day until he relented and appeased her if for no other reason than to get rid of her. Let's request so many appointments that our pastors decide it would be easier to schedule more regular hours.
Father Tom,
Your response was witty I will give you, but ultimately misses the mark.
Is it to run down people to suggest that the notion of handbook, while nice, is inadequate to the nature of the problem?
Is it to run down people to note the fact that the average Catholic rarely, if ever, hears the call to confession from the ambo?
Is it to run down people to note the fact that in the vast majority of parishes here in the US, confession is available in only the most minimal way?
Is it to run down people to suggest some actions that we believe would help remedy the situation?
I don't think so. To tell the King "Hey dude, you are naked. Might wanna put on pants" is not running down the King. It is to point out the obvious.
Extending the metaphor of the naked king, the handbook is like asking the naked to king to cover up his nipples. It is progress, but it doesn't really get the job done. Know what I mean?
Dear Patrick: Thank you for your observant follow-up response to my comments and the kind way you expressed them. Thank you also for allowing me my earlier comments.
Here on long Island we have many parishes with only one or two residing priests. They must be extroadinarliy busy.
I'm thinking that has to be a major reason to the limited confession times.
christopher
Carlos - something along your idea has already been masterminded by our great Pope: 2009-2010 is announced to be the Year of the Priest, under the patronage of St. Jean Vianney (the Curé d'Ars)- I understand this saint heard confessions 16-18 hours/day (and this without bi-location I may add).
My guess the Pope's intention is in part to remedy the problems described here. I think and pray that St. Jean Vianney will inspire zeal for the Sacrment of Penance for both priests and penitents.
Before making assumptions about what the Vatican intends to do, I would suggest reading what Mr. Jimmy Akin has to say on the subject: http://www.jimmyakin.org/2009/06/vatican-says-.html
Let's not put the onus only on priests. Many, many times I've been the only person showing up for Confession. Yes, priests need to mention it more but we can also encourage others to accompany us when we go. The more people that show up, the longer the priest will need for Confessions. Just a thought. Oh and I'm looking forward to the Handbook (I'll take any opportunity to buy a new book).
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