ASK FATHER: Priest cut me off while confessing my sins

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

Long-time listener, first-time caller, as it were. I’ve followed your blog for years, and it has been a great source of knowledge and spiritual wisdom for me.
I went to confession today in a cathedral. As always, I kept it brief and succinct but this time, the priest cut me off after 30 seconds, as he was clearly on a schedule. As a result, I missed several sins out and was unable to confess them before absolution. My question is, if this is the case, does the absolution carry for all the sins I had to miss (mortal and/or venial) or should I find another priest and confess the sins I missed?

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From the onset, thanks for that intro, which made me think of the late, great Rush Limbaugh and his “open line Fridays”.

You stated that “he was clearly on a schedule”. I’ll make a guess that he had to say the upcoming Mass and time was getting short.

Sensible priests want to hear the confessions of as many penitents as reasonably possible. Hence, perhaps he thought you were a “rambler”. A lot of people, especially those who have not made a good examination of conscience before hand, can fall into rambling, a bit aimlessly. A confessor ought to interrupt rambling and help the poor person out of their self-torture and get to the point, which is the point of relief, unburdening. Another reason for rambling could be embarrassment. It is best in the confessional just to SAY IT.

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