Confessional with a real window in the room.

[Lady Bug]

I went to confession at a different parish recently and when I went into the confessional, there was a real window in the room - the first time I've ever seen this. I liked it, actually. It was a beautiful sunny day and the light just beamed into the window beside me. I don't think this kind of thing is very common, is it?

 

[Michie]

I went to confession at a different parish recently and when I went into the confessional, there was a real window in the room - the first time I've ever seen this. I liked it, actually. It was a beautiful sunny day and the light just beamed into the window beside me. I don't think this kind of thing is very common, is it?

We have a window but it’s a window that shows the inside of the Church. There is a curtain drawn during confession. I figured the window was there because it is used as a cry room when needed and the parents can still view the Mass when they are there with their children.

 

[mourningdove~]

I went to confession at a different parish recently and when I went into the confessional, there was a real window in the room - the first time I've ever seen this. I liked it, actually. It was a beautiful sunny day and the light just beamed into the window beside me. I don't think this kind of thing is very common, is it?

Question:
When you say 'confessional', do you mean the old time 'confessional booth' -or- do you mean the modern 'reconciliation room'?

I grew up spending alot of time in the confessional booth. (Lol ... when you go to Catholic grade school, you go to confession often!!) There were no windows in them, except for in the parish where I previously lived (nearly 20 years ago). When the new pastor arrived, he put windows on the confessional booth doors, including his. The windows faced into the church. So persons in the church could see persons in the confessional booth.

I honestly think I've only been in a reconciliation room once. It was sort of an office room with a partition between the priest and the penitent. I don't recall seeing any windows.

Your experience sounds nice. Ever said your confession in the old-time confessional booth? I really liked the anonymity of them. And being pretty dark in there, it was very easy (for me) to not get distracted by the presence of the priest.

 

[Lady Bug]

We have a window but it’s a window that shows the inside of the Church. There is a curtain drawn during confession. I figured the window was there because it is used as a cry room when needed and the parents can still view the Mass when they are there with their children.

There is a thin window on the door itself, too. The window in the room is a regular window, though. I think there were blinds on it, not sure (if there were blinds, they were open, because the room had a healthy sunlight beaming in).

Question:
When you say 'confessional', do you mean the old time 'confessional booth' -or- do you mean the modern 'reconciliation room'?

I grew up spending alot of time in the confessional booth. (Lol ... when you go to Catholic grade school, you go to confession often!!) There were no windows in them, except for in the parish where I previously lived (nearly 20 years ago). When the new pastor arrived, he put windows on the confessional booth doors, including his. The windows faced into the church. So persons in the church could see persons in the confessional booth.

I honestly think I've only been in a reconciliation room once. It was sort of an office room with a partition between the priest and the penitent. I don't recall seeing any windows.

Your experience sounds nice. Ever said your confession in the old-time confessional booth? I really liked the anonymity of them. And being pretty dark in there, it was very easy (for me) to not get distracted by the presence of the priest.

I don't know if I've ever been in an old-time confessional booth. I was in a reconciliation room. Those rooms still have the ability to go "behind-the-screen" and kneel behind where the priest is sitting on the other side of you, and of course he doesn't see you.

I hope I don't needlessly cause confusion on what otherwise might be a simple post, lol.

 

[Michie]

There is a thin window on the door itself, too. The window in the room is a regular window, though. I think there were blinds on it, not sure (if there were blinds, they were open, because the room had a healthy sunlight beaming in).

I don't know if I've ever been in an old-time confessional booth. I was in a reconciliation room. Those rooms still have the ability to go "behind-the-screen" and kneel behind where the priest is sitting on the other side of you, and of course he doesn't see you.

I hope I don't needlessly cause confusion on what otherwise might be a simple post, lol.

Yes we have a screen area too.

 

[mourningdove~]

There is a thin window on the door itself, too. The window in the room is a regular window, though. I think there were blinds on it, not sure (if there were blinds, they were open, because the room had a healthy sunlight beaming in).

I don't know if I've ever been in an old-time confessional booth. I was in a reconciliation room. Those rooms still have the ability to go "behind-the-screen" and kneel behind where the priest is sitting on the other side of you, and of course he doesn't see you.

I hope I don't needlessly cause confusion on what otherwise might be a simple post, lol.

No ... you did not cause confusion.
Yes ... your post was simple.
It was just me, wanting to be sure I understood your question.


The 'old time' confessional booths do still exist in some churches, usually the very old ones. But since Vatican II, it seems many churches have stopped using their booths (or removed them completely) and have gone to using a 'reconciliation room'.

When I say confessional booth, I am referring to these things:

There are many different styles. These are quite ornate ones; the ones I've seen were much simpler and often look 'built into' the wall. If someone didn't know what they were, they might think they were a closet.

You used to see these in older movies, when there was a scene involving a person going to confession. I've been watching a series on BritBox that was made in the late 1990's, and they often have confessional scenes. The series uses these older boxes for those scenes.

The booths seem very normal to me ... afterall, I grew up in them ... but I can see where most folks nowadays would probably see them as being archaic and weird! (Hey! That sounds abit like ME --> archaic and weird!!! lol)

Been nice chatting with you. Glad your confession experience was a pleasant one for you.

 

[Lady Bug]

No ... you did not cause confusion.
Yes ... your post was simple.
It was just me, wanting to be sure I understood your question.


The 'old time' confessional booths do still exist in some churches, usually the very old ones. But since Vatican II, it seems many churches have stopped using their booths (or removed them completely) and have gone to using a 'reconciliation room'.

When I say confessional booth, I am referring to these things:

View attachment 367116

There are many different styles. These are quite ornate ones; the ones I've seen were much simpler and often look 'built into' the wall. If someone didn't know what they were, they might think they were a closet.

You used to see these in older movies, when there was a scene involving a person going to confession. I've been watching a series on BritBox that was made in the late 1990's, and they often have confessional scenes. The series uses these older boxes for those scenes.

The booths seem very normal to me ... afterall, I grew up in them ... but I can see where most folks nowadays would probably see them as being archaic and weird! (Hey! That sounds abit like ME --> archaic and weird!!! lol)

Been nice chatting with you. Glad your confession experience was a pleasant one for you.

I've seen those kinds of booths in pictures but I have not had the experience of coming across one in real life.

 

[Chrystal-J]

The church I go to now used to have beautiful confessionals, but they took those out and now you sit in a folding chair next to the priest. I liked it the old way.

 

[RileyG]

I went to confession at a different parish recently and when I went into the confessional, there was a real window in the room - the first time I've ever seen this. I liked it, actually. It was a beautiful sunny day and the light just beamed into the window beside me. I don't think this kind of thing is very common, is it?

In my old parish where I grew up, there was a stained glass window of Jesus the good shepherd.

 

[RileyG]

The church I go to now used to have beautiful confessionals, but they took those out and now you sit in a folding chair next to the priest. I liked it the old way.

Me too. Thankfully, it’s anonymous in my parish and I think the confessional booth is the norm in my diocese. At least in the parishes I’ve attended in the city.

 

[RileyG]

There is a thin window on the door itself, too. The window in the room is a regular window, though. I think there were blinds on it, not sure (if there were blinds, they were open, because the room had a healthy sunlight beaming in).

I don't know if I've ever been in an old-time confessional booth. I was in a reconciliation room. Those rooms still have the ability to go "behind-the-screen" and kneel behind where the priest is sitting on the other side of you, and of course he doesn't see you.

I hope I don't needlessly cause confusion on what otherwise might be a simple post, lol.

In my parish growing up, we had the option to go face to face or behind the screen. You would kneel at the screen.

The Church was built in 1976.

 

[Gnarwhal]

I went to confession at a different parish recently and when I went into the confessional, there was a real window in the room - the first time I've ever seen this. I liked it, actually. It was a beautiful sunny day and the light just beamed into the window beside me. I don't think this kind of thing is very common, is it?

That sounds nice, like it added a measure of tranquility to the experience.

Sometimes I wish confession could happen outside in like the middle of a meadow lol.

In my parish growing up, we had the option to go face to face or behind the screen. You would kneel at the screen.

The Church was built in 1976.

I miss the screen, man. That's the only part of the restoration work they did at my parish that I think missed the mark. The confessional is just like a room and face-to-face confessions seem to be the only option because there's no screen or curtain or anything. I'm kinda hoping that our next priest is more traditional-minded just so that he notices things like that and maybe addresses them.

 

[Lady Bug]

That sounds nice, like it added a measure of tranquility to the experience.

Sometimes I wish confession could happen outside in like the middle of a meadow lol.



I miss the screen, man. That's the only part of the restoration work they did at my parish that I think missed the mark. The confessional is just like a room and face-to-face confessions seem to be the only option because there's no screen or curtain or anything. I'm kinda hoping that our next priest is more traditional-minded just so that he notices things like that and maybe addresses them.

A scenario where face-to-face is the ONLY option sounds unethical IMHO.

 

[FaithT]

A scenario where face-to-face is the ONLY option sounds unethical IMHO.

I agree.

 

[FaithT]

I went to confession at a different parish recently and when I went into the confessional, there was a real window in the room - the first time I've ever seen this. I liked it, actually. It was a beautiful sunny day and the light just beamed into the window beside me. I don't think this kind of thing is very common, is it?

Ours have windows that look into the church with a curtain on them. We have the choice of confessing behind a screen or face to face. The thing I wonder about is there’s a curtain to cover the space between the screen and face to face but every time I’ve been in there there’s always been a gap in the curtain so the priest can see us walk in. I was wondering if there’s been a threat of some kind and wonder if the priest is purposely putting that gap there, like for his safety. I go behind the screen and don’t really see the point since Father can see me walk in.

I went to confession at a different parish recently and when I went into the confessional, there was a real window in the room - the first time I've ever seen this. I liked it, actually. It was a beautiful sunny day and the light just beamed into the window beside me. I don't think this kind of thing is very common, is it?

 

[RileyG]

A scenario where face-to-face is the ONLY option sounds unethical IMHO.

In college that was my only option. It was always in the priest’s office. Oh well.

 

[Michie]

In college that was my only option. It was always in the priest’s office. Oh well.

Aw! You know that was okay!

 

[RileyG]

Aw! You know that was okay!

Absolutely! I don’t think they even used the old confessionals in the chapel.

 

[Michie]

I thought of you @Lady Bug. They changed our confessional at Church. There is no longer the option of face to face confessions. It’s behind a screen only now.