General Confession

[Basileus]

Just wondering how many of you have General Confession once a month or if it is just an OCA thing.

I just had Saturday Great Vespers and GC and was curious if it was in other jurisdictions or not. We have it on the last Saturday of the month.

 

[MariaRegina]

Just wondering how many of you have General Confession once a month or if it is just an OCA thing.

I just had Saturday Great Vespers and GC and was curious if it was in other jurisdictions or not. We have it on the last Saturday of the month.

I think it is just an OCA thing - Bishop Tikhon allows it here in the West.

However, the priest always tells everyone that if you have a serious sin that needs to be confessed, you must go to private confession and should only come up to receive a blessing at that time, with the right hand held over the left hand.

It's not allowed in most Greek and Antiochian Churches. There are probably some exceptions like major disasters and illnesses.

p.s. To clarify things: The Latin Catholics call their life-time confession a "general confession" whereas we Orthodox call a life-time confession "full-life confession".

pps. The term "general confession" in the Orthodox Church means the same as "general absolution" to Latin Catholics.

 

[Matrona]

Just wondering how many of you have General Confession once a month or if it is just an OCA thing.

I just had Saturday Great Vespers and GC and was curious if it was in other jurisdictions or not. We have it on the last Saturday of the month.

All of my confessions have been quite specific.

 

[Michael G]

All of my confessions have been quite specific.

IMO the more specific the confession is especially when you get into what is really bothering you and keeping you from full communion with God, the better the confession is and the better the priest is suited to help you.

 

[MariaRegina]

IMO the more specific the confession is especially when you get into what is really bothering you and keeping you from full communion with God, the better the confession is and the better the priest is suited to help you.

I'm glad our priests are married. They understand married life so much better and don't give pat answers, but real life experiences from their own life. When they share their own life, it's humbling.

 

[Michael G]

I'm glad our priests are married. They understand married life so much better and don't give pat answers, but real life experiences from their own life. when they share their own life, it's humbling.

Interesting you say that. All during lent Fr. Michael was giving these really hard hitting deep seated homilies about the need to heal old wounds in our lives and all kinds of matters that seemed to hit me right where I needed it. I finally told him that I thought his homilies were aimed at me and his response was that he was actually preaching to himself. Yes, I agree very much with you that the married priesthood allows our priests to be much more pastoral and better equipped to guide the faithful through peaceful times as well as stormy times.

 

[Matrona]

I'm glad our priests are married. They understand married life so much better and don't give pat answers, but real life experiences from their own life. when they share their own life, it's humbling.

Not to mention, the best PKs I've known have been Orthodox ones.

 

[Basileus]

I didn't want to give the impression I don't go to regular confession and/or absolution because I do. Especially, because I serve/Acolyte at the Altar at Liturgy/Vespers and because I won't try to take Communion without it. God Forbid!!!

I think GC is wonderful because in my humanity I am sure to simply over look and/or forget some of my sinful thoughts and actions in my day to day existence. I will have to get a copy and post it of the GC prayer we use. It is really quite beautiful and covers all our human weaknesses and errors I am sure I commit.

 

[MariaRegina]

I didn't want to give the impression I don't go to regular confession and/or absolution because I do. Especially, because I serve/Acolyte at the Altar at Liturgy/Vespers and because I won't try to take Communion without it. God Forbid!!!

I think GC is wonderful because in my humanity I am sure to simply over look and/or forget some of my sinful thoughts and actions in my day to day existence. I will have to get a copy and post it of the GC prayer we use. It is really quite beautiful and covers all our human weaknesses and errors I am sure I commit.

Basileus -- this prayer of General Confession may be online - check the OCA website at www.oca.org and look under confession or prayers. Perhaps Chris has posted it in our chapel under confessional prayers. I"ll see if I can find it. I thought that I saw it there.