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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
confession seems pointless	Lorie	Thursday, January 24, 2008
Question: I have started going to confession more regularly, but feel pushed away by the priests. When I go behind the screen, they are generally reading the paper and turning the pages as I confess my sins. Then they say "whatever" and give me sketchy advice. Actually, one time I went to confession and then to church after and the priest made a parody of something very idiosyncratic that took place in our confession to make a "point" to the congregation and to me that seemed very inappropriate and disrespectful.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Lorie: There is no such thing as the Sacrament of Confession being pointless. Your reconciliation with God and His Church is not pointless. Your restoration to a State of Grace, and thus salvation from hell is NOT pointless. Even if the priests are jerks, inattentive, bored, terrible confessors, or whatever, when they grant you absolution you are forgiven of your sins and restored to friendship with God. That is not pointless. We need to remember that the Sacrament of Confession is not a counseling session. It sole purpose is to grant forgiveness of our sins and thus restore us to a State of Grace, to reconcile us with God and His Church, to return us to friendship with God. If the priests are bad advisers, so what? That is not the main purpose of the Sacrament, and the Sacrament is still valid. It is unfortunate that your experience with priests has been a negative one. I have had some negative experiences myself. But, the Sacrament is still valid, even if the priest is an idiot, even if the priest gives wrong advice, even if he is disrespectful. The salvation of your soul is never pointless. The only thing that truly matters is that your soul is restored to God. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

confession seems pointless

Lorie

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Question:

I have started going to confession more regularly, but feel pushed away by the priests. When I go behind the screen, they are generally reading the paper and turning the pages as I confess my sins. Then they say "whatever" and give me sketchy advice.

Actually, one time I went to confession and then to church after and the priest made a parody of something very idiosyncratic that took place in our confession to make a "point" to the congregation and to me that seemed very inappropriate and disrespectful.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Lorie:

There is no such thing as the Sacrament of Confession being pointless. Your reconciliation with God and His Church is not pointless. Your restoration to a State of Grace, and thus salvation from hell is NOT pointless.

Even if the priests are jerks, inattentive, bored, terrible confessors, or whatever, when they grant you absolution you are forgiven of your sins and restored to friendship with God. That is not pointless.

We need to remember that the Sacrament of Confession is not a counseling session. It sole purpose is to grant forgiveness of our sins and thus restore us to a State of Grace, to reconcile us with God and His Church, to return us to friendship with God. If the priests are bad advisers, so what? That is not the main purpose of the Sacrament, and the Sacrament is still valid.

It is unfortunate that your experience with priests has been a negative one. I have had some negative experiences myself. But, the Sacrament is still valid, even if the priest is an idiot, even if the priest gives wrong advice, even if he is disrespectful. The salvation of your soul is never pointless.

The only thing that truly matters is that your soul is restored to God.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum