The Passio Domini prayer IS one of the options to conclude Confession in the revised form. It's just one of way too many options and only a trad friendly priest would think to use it.
The fact that the Rite of Penance actually *went out of print due to lack of demand* prior to the new translation tells you that it was effectively vetoed by priests.
I am a recent convert so I don’t even know, but I can say forcefully that I have been so appreciative of those parishes that still have the screen and the box that at least permits me to believe in the preservation of my anonymity. I am in a small area and it’s all NO and some of them are open rooms. You’re just face to face! With someone who knows your family. Which can be deeply embarrassing if your sins pertain to them at all.
If I lived in a bigger area I’d *always* choose a parish other than the one I attend with the box and the screen
It’s actually your canonical right to have a fixed screen, and obviously very important for the priest as well. Besides the reasons you mention, the scope for abuse and false accusations is limitless!
This is making me grateful to be in a more conservative part of the country; all the churches in my area have a screen or curtain - something! - in the confessionals. Some are retro-fitted because churches here were also torn up in the 70s, but I would say it’s the norm to have something there to preserve at least the idea of anonymity.
Vatican II was a travesty; but as always, God makes everything good. Pope Francis and the rabid suppression of the old ways has helped many recognize the beauty and importance of them.
I'm 19 and still in college, so can't pay for a subscription to T&S. I was very sad when I saw Dr. Kwasniewski post this article on a Monday, because as much as it scares me sometimes, I love the traditional rite of Confession. I haven't been to a NO confession in nearly two years now, and I don't think I can go back. It's too formless -- too... meh. I don't even feel like I can ask the priests a question when I need to. Like the NO itself, it doesn't work. I'll take the Hollywood, old-fashioned rite of confession anytime!
With all due respect, I don't know why you feel you can't ask the priest a question. It is totally normal for a penitent to say, "Father, I have a question" or "Can you clarify for me?", etc. I'm not aware of anything within the Order of Penance that would dissuade or discourage that. So, I don't mean to invalidate your perception, but I don't think that it is a fair criticism of the rite.
Yes, you are not wrong. Let me clarify what I mean. In 2023, the ritual book was updated/edited. "The Rite of Penance" is the old edition while "The Order of Penance" is the current edition.
Since I made my first confession in the very early 1970s, I’ve confessed regularly. Only once, in all that time, have I encountered the NO rite as the book says it is to be celebrated. The only difference I’ve experienced is the use of the revised words of absolution (form of the sacrament). Neither, in my years as a priest, have I ever celebrated the sacrament “by the book.”
The N.O. Rite is horrible. Clearly it’s the work of people who didn’t celebrate the sacrament on either side of the screen. It’s overly verbose. It makes hearing more than two or three confessions in the half hour allotted on Saturday afternoon impossible. After a while people gave up on waiting since they might not get their turn. Once out of the habit of regular confession they aren’t coming back. The use of a “confession room” is a further deterrent. People don’t like it. They prefer the traditional confessional for a variety of reasons—anonymity and safety being primary. As a priest I will only hear confessions outside the box when there’s no alternative. Today you can’t be too careful. Besides, Confession is not a time for spiritual direction other than answering a question or a terse word of advice about the confessed sins. There’s no need for “face-to-face”.
What is needed in my opinion is for priests to preach about sin and its consequences and ugliness; how to celebrate the sacrament including preparation, necessary acts; and drive home that penance is not an option but a divine command that must be acted on daily. Further, the need to be generous with scheduling times for Confession all week long at times when people can attend. The average Catholic isn’t going to call the rectory to make an appointment. They just aren’t.
The primary work of priests is the salvation of souls which is achieved first and foremost through the celebration of the sacraments and prayer. Everything else is secondary including time off! The salvation of souls demands this.
All you say is correct. But the abandonment of the richness of the old rite has to be examined. Peter Kwasniewski offers a good analysis of what we are missing (embedded article) and I can affirm that for an ambivalent pew-sitter, the assurance that one wouldn't have to make it up as one went along would be very helpful!
Watch the video -- it's really crazy how it only increases the anxiety that one would be caught not doing the right thing!
Oh, I’m not defending the N.O. It cannot be defended. It’s utterly deficient in everything even if it is valid. I apologize for not being clear about that. The N.O. needs to be consigned to the ash heap of history. And I’ve read Dr. Keasnewski’s article and seen the video.
And a word on the use of the word “form” when referring to the sacraments: form has a specific meaning and without it the sacrament is invalid. In the article the word is used, I think, to mean structure or schema or process. The form of the Sacrament of Penance is “I absolve you…” It is not the structure or schema or process one follows in the celebration of the sacrament.
Yes, that is a good distinction. You are right, I am talking about the form of the rite as a whole, and not "the matter of the sacrament" which as I affirm, is done validly in the NO.
But speaking generally and in the vein of Martin Mosebach who writes about the formlessness of the NO, a form or structure is what is missing and contributes to people's reluctance -- and the video I'm referencing only serves to underscore the problem!
This is a topic that has fascinated me for a long time, partly because, as one of the priests above commented, the “new” rite is almost never celebrated as described. Almost every priest I’ve been to, esp if you choose to kneel behind the screen (I have no idea what happens if you sit face to face, was forced to do that for my First Confession and have never done it again), follow a very traditional procedure.
And I’ve wondered about that video and the fuss over the new rite, and the fact that confession in reality doesn’t seem to have changed to that “new ideal form” Fr Cole raves about. And I really wonder if it’s because Confession is an individual, private sacrament? They could force a whole church full of people to do whatever they make them
Do at Mass, but one on one, people are going to revert to whatever they were used to doing in confession and it’s hard, from behind a screen, with no script, to force them to follow along!
I have also wondered why they try to force first confession children to do the little “give thanks to the Lord for he is good” dialogue when a priest has never ever said that to me in “real life” in decades of doing this.
> Father denigrates the quick confessions of the past in which we “blurt out some sins” and breezily emphasizes “savoring the moment” and other subjective, emotional responses we have come to expect
Contrast this with the advice given only half tongue-in-cheek by a dear friend and priest of the FSSP:
> Begin, be brief, and begone!
Confession at his parish was offered plenteously, and the lines were loooong. He explained in more than one sermon and conference that longer-form counseling is available outside the confessional, how to prepare ahead and well for the sacrament, and that within the confessional, it’s best if the penitent is concise without skipping any important details.
I found your article interesting, but not at all reflecting upon my experiences. Convert here, came in through RCIA with my then 10 year old son in 1990. We were given an outline of how the process of Reconciliation would go and informed of what we were expected to say at the beginning and at the end. We were given the option of going behind a screen or being face-to-face with the Priest. It’s never occurred to me to hide behind the screen. I’ve always felt that the Sacrament was very important, but I didn’t treat as such.
I fell in love with the Advent and Lenten Penance services, the candles in the sanctuary, the music playing ever so gently in the background, the prayer service at the beginning, standing in line with my fellow parishioners as we waited out turn. But then I got to reading first from this Saint, and then another. And the more I read, the more I was convinced that more frequent confession is more desirable than less.
But what really convicted me was reading Susan Tassone’s book, Praying with St. Faustina for the Conversion of Sinners. Great little book, and a little surprising from The Purgatory Lady. St. Faustina wrote in her diary:
“Daughter, when you go to confession, to this fountain of My mercy, the Blood and Water which came forth from My Heart always flows down upon your soul and ennobles it. Every time you go to confession, immerse yourself entirely in My mercy, with great trust, so that I may pour the bounty of My grace upon your soul. When you approach the confessional, know this, that I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I myself act in your soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy. Tell souls that from this fount of mercy souls draw graces solely with the vessel of trust. If their trust is great, there is no limit to My generosity. The torrents of grace inundate humble souls.” (1602)
I wish I could underline it on my iPad the sentence: “I Myself am writing there for you.”
All the reading and then that passage, and I knew that the Saints were right!
And then not too long after that, while listening to EWTN Radio, which I’m always listening to, one of the Priests on regularly in the afternoon, either Father Mitch Pachua or Father Virgilio, said that we should organize our confession according to the Ten Commandments. “I violated the 4th Commandment 5 times” which would have been me on a daily basis near the end of my mother’s life. They also recommended that if a confession was going to be involved covering years instead of weeks, make an appointment to meet with the priest.
How can anyone be apprehensive about confession if they know that Jesus, Our Precious Lord and Master, will personally be there?! Perhaps my enthusiasm comes from being closer to death at 71 than to birth (not to be morbid, it’s just fact), and that I have come to really and truly appreciate any and every chance I have to actually BE with Jesus. I have a great devotion to Holy Hour spent in Adoration, which affords me the chance to be toe-to-toe with Jesus should I want to be - I mean, He’s right there! I love my time with Jesus, and I loathe and despise every time I do something stupid that offends Him or hurts Him. The afternoon of the Holy Saturday Vigil Mass I got frustrated with my cats, three adorable babies, but they really pissed me off, and before I knew it, I had taken the Lord’s name in vain! Not once, but twice, and it’s just not something I do. When I took it to confession the next week, the Priest, who is very dear, chuckled a little when he heard that my offense had come because of my cats.
Reading all the comments, I fear I have entered stranger territory indeed. I hope my comments about my experience with Confession will lie quietly and not offend anyone. Peace 🕊️
The Passio Domini prayer IS one of the options to conclude Confession in the revised form. It's just one of way too many options and only a trad friendly priest would think to use it.
The fact that the Rite of Penance actually *went out of print due to lack of demand* prior to the new translation tells you that it was effectively vetoed by priests.
I am a recent convert so I don’t even know, but I can say forcefully that I have been so appreciative of those parishes that still have the screen and the box that at least permits me to believe in the preservation of my anonymity. I am in a small area and it’s all NO and some of them are open rooms. You’re just face to face! With someone who knows your family. Which can be deeply embarrassing if your sins pertain to them at all.
If I lived in a bigger area I’d *always* choose a parish other than the one I attend with the box and the screen
It’s actually your canonical right to have a fixed screen, and obviously very important for the priest as well. Besides the reasons you mention, the scope for abuse and false accusations is limitless!
Well that’s actually really good to know!
https://www.olrl.org/snt_docs/fewness.shtml
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMUPBFeI5Hc
One of our priests uses that prayer at the end of confession - he's the first one I have ever had use it. He was just ordained last year.
This is making me grateful to be in a more conservative part of the country; all the churches in my area have a screen or curtain - something! - in the confessionals. Some are retro-fitted because churches here were also torn up in the 70s, but I would say it’s the norm to have something there to preserve at least the idea of anonymity.
Vatican II was a travesty; but as always, God makes everything good. Pope Francis and the rabid suppression of the old ways has helped many recognize the beauty and importance of them.
I'm 19 and still in college, so can't pay for a subscription to T&S. I was very sad when I saw Dr. Kwasniewski post this article on a Monday, because as much as it scares me sometimes, I love the traditional rite of Confession. I haven't been to a NO confession in nearly two years now, and I don't think I can go back. It's too formless -- too... meh. I don't even feel like I can ask the priests a question when I need to. Like the NO itself, it doesn't work. I'll take the Hollywood, old-fashioned rite of confession anytime!
With all due respect, I don't know why you feel you can't ask the priest a question. It is totally normal for a penitent to say, "Father, I have a question" or "Can you clarify for me?", etc. I'm not aware of anything within the Order of Penance that would dissuade or discourage that. So, I don't mean to invalidate your perception, but I don't think that it is a fair criticism of the rite.
She's saying something it would be well for priests to understand... see if you can look between the lines and get it.
If I may offer a small point of correction/clarification: The current ritual for confession is entitled "The Order of Penance."
My reference is to the book, which is called "The Rite of Penance" -- the priest is holding it up and I can see what the title is.
Yes, you are not wrong. Let me clarify what I mean. In 2023, the ritual book was updated/edited. "The Rite of Penance" is the old edition while "The Order of Penance" is the current edition.
Since I made my first confession in the very early 1970s, I’ve confessed regularly. Only once, in all that time, have I encountered the NO rite as the book says it is to be celebrated. The only difference I’ve experienced is the use of the revised words of absolution (form of the sacrament). Neither, in my years as a priest, have I ever celebrated the sacrament “by the book.”
The N.O. Rite is horrible. Clearly it’s the work of people who didn’t celebrate the sacrament on either side of the screen. It’s overly verbose. It makes hearing more than two or three confessions in the half hour allotted on Saturday afternoon impossible. After a while people gave up on waiting since they might not get their turn. Once out of the habit of regular confession they aren’t coming back. The use of a “confession room” is a further deterrent. People don’t like it. They prefer the traditional confessional for a variety of reasons—anonymity and safety being primary. As a priest I will only hear confessions outside the box when there’s no alternative. Today you can’t be too careful. Besides, Confession is not a time for spiritual direction other than answering a question or a terse word of advice about the confessed sins. There’s no need for “face-to-face”.
What is needed in my opinion is for priests to preach about sin and its consequences and ugliness; how to celebrate the sacrament including preparation, necessary acts; and drive home that penance is not an option but a divine command that must be acted on daily. Further, the need to be generous with scheduling times for Confession all week long at times when people can attend. The average Catholic isn’t going to call the rectory to make an appointment. They just aren’t.
The primary work of priests is the salvation of souls which is achieved first and foremost through the celebration of the sacraments and prayer. Everything else is secondary including time off! The salvation of souls demands this.
All you say is correct. But the abandonment of the richness of the old rite has to be examined. Peter Kwasniewski offers a good analysis of what we are missing (embedded article) and I can affirm that for an ambivalent pew-sitter, the assurance that one wouldn't have to make it up as one went along would be very helpful!
Watch the video -- it's really crazy how it only increases the anxiety that one would be caught not doing the right thing!
Oh, I’m not defending the N.O. It cannot be defended. It’s utterly deficient in everything even if it is valid. I apologize for not being clear about that. The N.O. needs to be consigned to the ash heap of history. And I’ve read Dr. Keasnewski’s article and seen the video.
And a word on the use of the word “form” when referring to the sacraments: form has a specific meaning and without it the sacrament is invalid. In the article the word is used, I think, to mean structure or schema or process. The form of the Sacrament of Penance is “I absolve you…” It is not the structure or schema or process one follows in the celebration of the sacrament.
Yes, that is a good distinction. You are right, I am talking about the form of the rite as a whole, and not "the matter of the sacrament" which as I affirm, is done validly in the NO.
But speaking generally and in the vein of Martin Mosebach who writes about the formlessness of the NO, a form or structure is what is missing and contributes to people's reluctance -- and the video I'm referencing only serves to underscore the problem!
This is a topic that has fascinated me for a long time, partly because, as one of the priests above commented, the “new” rite is almost never celebrated as described. Almost every priest I’ve been to, esp if you choose to kneel behind the screen (I have no idea what happens if you sit face to face, was forced to do that for my First Confession and have never done it again), follow a very traditional procedure.
And I’ve wondered about that video and the fuss over the new rite, and the fact that confession in reality doesn’t seem to have changed to that “new ideal form” Fr Cole raves about. And I really wonder if it’s because Confession is an individual, private sacrament? They could force a whole church full of people to do whatever they make them
Do at Mass, but one on one, people are going to revert to whatever they were used to doing in confession and it’s hard, from behind a screen, with no script, to force them to follow along!
I have also wondered why they try to force first confession children to do the little “give thanks to the Lord for he is good” dialogue when a priest has never ever said that to me in “real life” in decades of doing this.
Good questions! That last one... that's always happening. Some new "tradition" but then it doesn't take hold, and just leaves one confused.
People will revert IF they have something (a memory) to revert to. I didn't. Hence, my terror!!
> Father denigrates the quick confessions of the past in which we “blurt out some sins” and breezily emphasizes “savoring the moment” and other subjective, emotional responses we have come to expect
Contrast this with the advice given only half tongue-in-cheek by a dear friend and priest of the FSSP:
> Begin, be brief, and begone!
Confession at his parish was offered plenteously, and the lines were loooong. He explained in more than one sermon and conference that longer-form counseling is available outside the confessional, how to prepare ahead and well for the sacrament, and that within the confessional, it’s best if the penitent is concise without skipping any important details.
Your priest is simply being prudent! And wise!
I found your article interesting, but not at all reflecting upon my experiences. Convert here, came in through RCIA with my then 10 year old son in 1990. We were given an outline of how the process of Reconciliation would go and informed of what we were expected to say at the beginning and at the end. We were given the option of going behind a screen or being face-to-face with the Priest. It’s never occurred to me to hide behind the screen. I’ve always felt that the Sacrament was very important, but I didn’t treat as such.
I fell in love with the Advent and Lenten Penance services, the candles in the sanctuary, the music playing ever so gently in the background, the prayer service at the beginning, standing in line with my fellow parishioners as we waited out turn. But then I got to reading first from this Saint, and then another. And the more I read, the more I was convinced that more frequent confession is more desirable than less.
But what really convicted me was reading Susan Tassone’s book, Praying with St. Faustina for the Conversion of Sinners. Great little book, and a little surprising from The Purgatory Lady. St. Faustina wrote in her diary:
“Daughter, when you go to confession, to this fountain of My mercy, the Blood and Water which came forth from My Heart always flows down upon your soul and ennobles it. Every time you go to confession, immerse yourself entirely in My mercy, with great trust, so that I may pour the bounty of My grace upon your soul. When you approach the confessional, know this, that I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I myself act in your soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy. Tell souls that from this fount of mercy souls draw graces solely with the vessel of trust. If their trust is great, there is no limit to My generosity. The torrents of grace inundate humble souls.” (1602)
I wish I could underline it on my iPad the sentence: “I Myself am writing there for you.”
All the reading and then that passage, and I knew that the Saints were right!
And then not too long after that, while listening to EWTN Radio, which I’m always listening to, one of the Priests on regularly in the afternoon, either Father Mitch Pachua or Father Virgilio, said that we should organize our confession according to the Ten Commandments. “I violated the 4th Commandment 5 times” which would have been me on a daily basis near the end of my mother’s life. They also recommended that if a confession was going to be involved covering years instead of weeks, make an appointment to meet with the priest.
How can anyone be apprehensive about confession if they know that Jesus, Our Precious Lord and Master, will personally be there?! Perhaps my enthusiasm comes from being closer to death at 71 than to birth (not to be morbid, it’s just fact), and that I have come to really and truly appreciate any and every chance I have to actually BE with Jesus. I have a great devotion to Holy Hour spent in Adoration, which affords me the chance to be toe-to-toe with Jesus should I want to be - I mean, He’s right there! I love my time with Jesus, and I loathe and despise every time I do something stupid that offends Him or hurts Him. The afternoon of the Holy Saturday Vigil Mass I got frustrated with my cats, three adorable babies, but they really pissed me off, and before I knew it, I had taken the Lord’s name in vain! Not once, but twice, and it’s just not something I do. When I took it to confession the next week, the Priest, who is very dear, chuckled a little when he heard that my offense had come because of my cats.
Reading all the comments, I fear I have entered stranger territory indeed. I hope my comments about my experience with Confession will lie quietly and not offend anyone. Peace 🕊️