Catholic Confession

[wazhazhe]

I will say for myself, as a kid a few Hail Mary's and Our Father's were the extent of the penance but as you get older the discussions become more in depth and the penance becomes more about how you are going to live your life and really make up for something you did than a few rote prayers. A priest could easily assign a rosary so fifty Hail Mary's is not that much really but he's more likely to tell you to do something to really make up for things.

This was pretty much my experience also, though penance did vary quite a bit depending on the priest hearing the confession. Some seemed to view penance as a punishment with the number of Our Father’s and Hail Mary’s increasing with the perceived seriousness of the sin. Other priests viewed penance as an opportunity for reflection on sin, faith or some other subject.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

"Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. It has been ______ since my last confession."

"What sins have you to confess my child?"

"Twice I took the name of the Lord in vain, etc. etc."

Your penance _________ Absolution blah blah blah. Go and sin no more.

I like the Saw Doctor's version better :

"Bless me Father for I have sinned/
She had big brown eyes and silky skin/
Believer me, Father you no idea what you've missed."

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

Ah, but as I said, you could go further than just adressing errors and saying "that is incorrect", by contributing with a non-error, telling us what IS correct. Or else we'll just keep on guessing wrong. Right?

The contribution to non-error would be "there are guidelines outlined by the Church". I don't have a copy. They're not public information, except that they exist. Like the Confessional Retenti--they exist, but I can't tell you whats in them (priests can keep records and files of confessions).

 

[BreeCarter]

I am writing a story and I want to begin it with a traditional Catholic. All I know about it is what I see in movies and on TV. Can someone give me a brief synopsis of what happens after the person finishes their confession. For example, someone goes on a weekend bender and ends up in a gang bang with a dozen or so people. Would the punishment be somthing like 50 hail Mary's?

Thanks

essentially, yes. after confession the priest will give you so many of whatever prayer he sees fit. or several.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

The contribution to non-error would be "there are guidelines outlined by the Church". I don't have a copy. They're not public information, except that they exist. Like the Confessional Retenti--they exist, but I can't tell you whats in them (priests can keep records and files of confessions).

Wait a minute. I thought the idea of a screened confessional was for anonyminity. The priest ain't supposted to know who his choir boyfriends are boinking. So how can they keep records?

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

The priest ain't supposted to know who his choir boyfriends are boinking.

That's a litte... well, rude.

To your point, though, confessional files are kept--I'm not entirely sure why, though. I've heard a number of answers, but truly have never actually asked a priest about why.

 

[Guest]

That's a litte... well, rude.

To your point, though, confessional files are kept--I'm not entirely sure why, though. I've heard a number of answers, but truly have never actually asked a priest about why.

I am amazed that they would actually keep some sort of record of confessions.

 

[Reshbod]

Thanks for the info. This did help a bit. I was hoping to get some actual examples of a type of penance a priest might dole out for a more outragous sin as mentioned in the OP. But I got enough to work with and was able to add it to my sordid little tale.

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

I am amazed that they would actually keep some sort of record of confessions.

Doctors, therapists, and lawyers /all/ keep records. Priests do as well.

I guess I don't see it as /too/ odd.

 

[Guest]

Doctors, therapists, and lawyers /all/ keep records. Priests do as well.

I guess I don't see it as /too/ odd.

Well, that's ok.

But doctors, therapists and lawyers are charging by the hour or office visit. Of course they must keep records.

 

[Reshbod]

Doctors, therapists, and lawyers /all/ keep records. Priests do as well.

I guess I don't see it as /too/ odd.

I admit, this is one thing I find odd. I understand the need for doctors ect. keeping records, but priests? If I was a religious person, this might make me less likely to use such a service.

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

Well, that's ok.

But doctors, therapists and lawyers are charging by the hour or office visit. Of course they must keep records.

/Some/ doctors, therapists, and lawyers charge by the hour--by no means do all. Past that, I don't think that a therapists' notes are written and kept by them for the purposes of accounting.

I admit, this is one thing I find odd. I understand the need for doctors ect. keeping records, but priests? If I was a religious person, this might make me less likely to use such a service.

I could see that.

 

[Guest]

Never mind, Joe, honestly.

You are treating the topic of this thread like a secret, with details only allowed to members of the club, and those are given sparingly, at that.

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

Fuckit... not going there.