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Question Title Posted By Question Date
priest leaving before all confessions are heard? Marie Wednesday, December 22, 2004

Question:

Brother,

thanks for all of the hard work that you do on these forums, i know it helps a lot of people.

i went to church today to go to Confession before Christmas, and after waiting in line for about 10 minutes, the priest came out and said that he couldn't hear anymore before Mass, and that he would not be back after Mass to hear anymore.

In the whole diocese, this is the last possible time i could go to Confession before Christmas, as I have to work the 23rd and the afternoon of Christmas Eve. I did go a few weeks ago, but fell into sin again and needed to go before attending Mass on Christmas.

So i guess my question is, will I be sinning by attending Christmas Mass and not recieving Communion? (I am a new convert, and don't really know if this is like the Easter duty or not.) and is it OK for that priest to not hear anymore Confessions when there are obviously many people in the same situation waiting to confess?



Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Marie:

It is not necesary to go to only sceduled confessions. It is also permitted to make a personal appointment with a priest for confession. Thus you might try that though given that Christmas is only two days away, it might be difficult. Nevertheless, hearing confessions is one of the most important duties for a priest. I would hope they would make time.

In any event, whenever you gravely sin, you should make an act of Perfect Contrition. Doing this gives you forgiveness of the sin immediately, but there is an obligation to bring that sin to the Sacrament of Confession at the earliest opportunity. One is not to receive the Eucharist, however, until after Sacramental Confession.

If you cannot arrange for the Sacament of Confession before Christmas, or before any Mass, then you attend the Mass anyway, but remain in your pew and offer a Spiritual Communion when others are going forward to receive.

We are obligated to attend Sunday Mass regardless of whether or not we are in a state of Grace. It is a sin to miss Sunday Mass without a serious reason (i.e., illness, bad weather, etc.).

In those times in which we need to go to Confession but haven't before Mass, then always attend Mass anyway, but refrain from receiving the Eucharist.

For your convenience, here is a Perfect Act of Contrition:

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy upon me, a sinner. Amen.

Here is an Act of Spiritual Communion written by St. Alphonsus Liguori:

My Jesus, I believe that Thou are truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. I love Thee above all things and I desire Thee in my soul. Since I cannot now receive Thee sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.

(Pause)

I embrace Thee as being already there and unite myself wholly to Thee. Never permit me to be separated from Thee. Amen.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

 


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