Every year about this time, priests in some regions start gathering for the nearly ubiquitous Penance Services. These services are often in the evenings, and contain the Liturgy of the Word with a short reflection or homily and an examination of conscience. Then, if the service is run properly, the gathered priests will disperse to various parts of the church for private confession and absolution. After a short closing prayer once all confessions have been heard, assuming anyone is left other than the priests, the people disperse to their homes and priests to their parishes.
In themselves, the penance service can be a good thing, encouraging those who may not regularly receive the Sacrament of Confession. However, I’ve been seeing a trend, at least in this diocese, that regular use of Confession has all but been lost. I’ve spoken to parishioners who feel that the only time they need to confess their sins is when the parish has its Lenten or Advent penance service. These penance services have all but replaced regularly scheduled opportunities for confession in many parishes.
In contrast to this view, we need to be receiving the Sacrament of Confession more often, not less. Canon Law requires that all Catholics over the age of reason (generally about 7 years old) have to confess their grave sins at least once a year. To truly grow spiritually and receive the benefit of the graces that come from confession, we need to confess more frequently. I usually advise lay people that once a month is a good idea, even if they do not have grave sin on their souls.
Of course, this is where I run into problems with the mindset behind penance services. If Catholics regularly confessed their sins, a penance service would be another opportunity to receive the sacrament, and to do it in a communal manner. The practice I’ve been seeing is to consider the two penance services a year to be sufficient. Of course, this leaves a large part of the year in which the Sacrament of Confession isn’t being received. It usually works out that they will attend the Advent service in December and the Lenten service in March, but will not receive the Sacrament of Confession between the start of April and the end of November.
What can we do instead of penance services to overcome this two times a year mindset? First, I’m working to increase the amount of time I’m easily available for hearing confessions. Before and after daily Masses and scheduled times throughout the week, I will be in the church, if not the confessional itself, for the purpose of hearing confessions. My hope is by making the sacrament readily available, more Catholics will avail themselves of it.
Second, I’ve preached on the Sacrament of Confession before, and will continue to do so on a regular basis. In fact, that’s how I conclude my homily this week. In recent years, catechesis has suffered within the Catholic Church in the United States, and many Catholics may not be aware of the need for regular reception of the Sacrament of Confession. This is especially serious if they have grave sins on their soul which they have never had the opportunity to confess.
The Sacrament of Confession should be an important part of any Catholic’s life, but has seemed to diminish rapidly in importance. Sadly, I don’t see penance services helping this situation. Instead they appear to accelerate the problem.
Exactly what I think as well. Well said.
Father,
I belong to a parish that has Confessions scheduled before or after every Daily Mass (we have 3 per day), and people go.
I have observed this: After the morning Masses, the Priest heads into the Confessoinal, and if someone doesn’t enter within 3-5 minutes, he leaves.
The evening Mass is different, as he enters at 5:15, and there is ALWAYS a line, if not before, then the second he walks into the confessional.
The secret is this: people don’t want to be known in their sin. Make the times known, don’t just be “available” but GO, sit there, and WAIT for a specified period.
At first it might be nuthin’. But, once it is known that you are there and there is no chance that between X time and X time, you won’t be exiting, people know that if they enter they won’t meet you face to face when they intend to meet you only through a screen.
Yes, everyone knows it’s Jesus…but they also know the human dimension, and that’s that’s the scary part.
So go. Pick a time, sit there all by yourself for 6 months if you have to…but they will come.
Besides…if they don’t come, what better thing do you have to do than pray?
I agree with the rational, but I would encourage you, then, to find additional opportunities for another confessor to be available, and advertise that they’ll be there. Perhaps make a big deal about it when the priests living in Miles City come up to the parish. Not everyone is comfortable going to the local priest for confession and some may not get away enough to find another priest who is available for confession when they are thinking about it. Another option would be to have additional penance services during the year, not just at Lent and Advent, but maybe about the time of Pentecost and again about the time school starts in the fall.
I do know the people in your parishes have had regular preaching, in season and out, about the need to avail themselves of the sacrament of confession. I hope it is starting to sink in. We usually had a nice crowd in Circle when we ended Mass with adoration once a month and I spent the next 20 to 30 minutes hearing confessions and then had Benediction with time for additional confessions if necessary.
Keep up the good work in helping the people live out the faith. I’m about to head to Great Falls Central for a penance service, but will make sure I stress the need to go to confession frequently. not to wait until we do this again next December. 😉
I think the same thing