matters that priest can't understand

archer75 · Sep 14, 2020

I know this sounds bad, but here it is. Does anyone have advice for when there's something that you should talk about with your priest, but he's unable to understand what you're talking about?

I know: confess, get absolution, move on. But if it was so mechanical, no one would prefer to have a priest that speaks the same language they do. Sometimes it is helpful to talk about certain things...but what can you do if your priest just cannot understand?

nutroll · Sep 14, 2020

Just to be clear, you're asking what to do if there is a language barrier between you and your priest? Or something else?

prodromos · Sep 14, 2020

archer75 said:
I know this sounds bad, but here it is. Does anyone have advice for when there's something that you should talk about with your priest, but he's unable to understand what you're talking about?

I know: confess, get absolution, move on. But if it was so mechanical, no one would prefer to have a priest that speaks the same language they do. Sometimes it is helpful to talk about certain things...but what can you do if your priest just cannot understand?

I would ask your priest if he can recommend another priest or layperson who has experience or training in the subject you wish to discuss.

rusmeister · Sep 14, 2020

A lot of people fall into such situations. You can do it by moving to a foreign country, it can happen by having the old priest you trust suddenly felled by illness or death and be facing a priest young enough to be your own son who doesn't really know what a marriage of thirty years is like. Spiritual fathers are not a given, and some have to wander spiritual deserts. In my case, my beloved Englishmen keep me pointed.

ArmyMatt · Sep 15, 2020

you can also get advice from a priest who does understand, and get absolution from yours even if he doesn't understand. just make sure your priest is in the loop.

Hermit76 · Sep 15, 2020

I wrote to a monastery and got assistance. However, depending on the issue, that may not help.

archer75 · Sep 15, 2020

I meant more something that isn't a result of a language barrier, and is something that maybe no one can understand.

Not "can't understand completely" but "can't even get the general idea." I know it sounds nutty, but this is where I am.

ArmyMatt · Sep 15, 2020

it's not wrong to get the POV of a priest who maybe had a similar struggle, just let your priest know.

Frankl · Sep 15, 2020

Sometimes we think that something completely different happens to us, that it's different than anything that was before us.
I don't know about your case, but for me I found exactly same problems I had also was thousand years ago with some differences but essentially same.

So, maybe you should talk with your priest anyway or ask to an another priest as recommended by others.

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matters that priest can't understand

archer75

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nutroll

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prodromos

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rusmeister

A Russified American Orthodox Chestertonian

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ArmyMatt

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Hermit76

You can call me Paisios

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archer75

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ArmyMatt

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Frankl

A Man Searching for Truth

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