Tag Archives: confession

ASK FATHER: Father didn’t make Sign of the Cross at absolution

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I went to confession this morning preparation for Ascension Mass, the priest was wonderful, yet when it came to the absolution part, i could see through the holes of the screen that the priest didn’t make the sign of … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ACTION ITEM!, GO TO CONFESSION, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged , ,
4 Comments

ASK FATHER: To whom does Seal of Confession apply?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Does the seal of confession bind the penitent in any way? Background: Talking with a friend awhile ago I mentioned something I was told in confession. My friend said he was very uncomfortable with this – implying that … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged , ,
20 Comments

Pope Francis did two really cool things

First, yesterday, Pope Francis went to a parish near Ostia (Rome’s ancient port where St. Augustine’s mother, St. Monica, died – today is her feast in the traditional calendar). Before saying Mass, His Holiness heard confessions! Fathers… hear confession! Second, … Read More

Posted in Francis, GO TO CONFESSION | Tagged , ,
9 Comments

ASK FATHER: Can non-Catholics go to confession?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: My mother is a non-Catholic who sometimes attends mass with me (a convert). She has considered entering the Church (her mother–as a side note–became a Catholic in her late 80’s, with me as her sponsor.) A good friend of … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged , ,
13 Comments

Feedback and a confessional story

From a reader… I went to confession! It had been 10 years. Your encouragement helped me get up the nerve to go. The hardest part was actually going to the church. I wrote down every single thing I wanted to … Read More

Posted in Fr. Z KUDOS, GO TO CONFESSION, Reader Feedback | Tagged , , , ,
12 Comments

ASK FATHER: Dressing up for confession

From a reader… QUAERITUR: A blessed Holy Week to you! I just had a question about proper attire for confession. We hear a lot about attire for Mass, rightly so, but I’m wondering if we should dress up for other sacraments, like confession? … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, GO TO CONFESSION, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged , , , ,
11 Comments

ASK FATHER: Confessor interrupted and I didn’t get to confess everything

From a reader… QUAERITUR: This Sunday I went to Confession for the first time in ~2 years. As you always say, I tried to make a good examination of conscience. One problem is that Father chimed in with comments or … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, GO TO CONFESSION, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged , ,
35 Comments

ASK FATHER: Can confessions be heard during Mass in the Extraordinary Form?

From a reader: Is it appropriate for a priest to be hearing confessions while Extraordinary Form Mass has started? My priest seemed to think it was never done in the “old” days as he called it. Yes, confessions were often … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, GO TO CONFESSION, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged , , , ,
23 Comments

Both kind and number

From a reader: A positive anecdote from the penance service from my parish last night (a different parish than the aforementioned one): The retreat master (a Jesuit) was prepping the penitents for confession and said “…AND I DON’T WANT TO HEAR … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, GO TO CONFESSION, Liberals, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged , ,
15 Comments

ASK FATHER: Confession and absolution via text message? Phone? VOIP?

A question pops up once in a while and I have dealt with it before.  Can you be absolved over the phone or by internet?  NO.  That would be INVALID. I was alerted to this post at the site of … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, GO TO CONFESSION, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged , , , ,
26 Comments