penance services

[epiclesis]

okay, if anyone has anything in girm, catechism, or anything else that can post real quick, please post.

i'm having a discussion/argument with my parents right now...
there's a penance service at our church tonight, not the type where you go to a priest, but where you all sit in the pews and they read off an examination of conscience and then the priest says "I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
and i'm trying to tell them it's not valid. i believe that it's not, and i know i found out somewhere and i don't know where.

does anybody have anything to help me out for proof of it? ASAP, if possible please.

 

[ZooMom]

Hey, Steph, Geo just did a thread about these. Maybe there is something here that will help you.


Peace be with you.

Sandy

 

[epiclesis]

I just read through it and it doesnt exactly tell me what i'm wanting to know.... it's talking about the group ones where the priests HEAR confessions....

i'm talking about the one where you don't even SAY your sins... i don't believe it's valid!

 

[ZooMom]

Never heard of one, or been to one like that... I wouldn't think it would validly absolve grave sin, either. Might be ok for venial....

*shrug* Sorry!

 

[faerieevaH]

I believe it says something in the catechism (or another book, not certain, sorry) that a 'general absolution' can or should only be used in cases of 'extreme need', like a war, earthquake, or other disaster....

 

[FullyMT]

Priests are not supposed to give general absolutions (which do forgive all sins) except in extreme circumstances, such as a fire, a crashing plane, etc. I have been told by one priest, however, that the USCCB had decided that priests in the U.S. are never to give general absolutions. Whether or not the sacrament is still considered valid...I'm not sure.

 

[Mystery5]

There is a penance service at a town nearby where they will have 8 priests for confessions. I had a friend go to it last Lent, and she was forced to confess face to face, I suppose because they don't have enough confessionals.

I would never feel comfortable confessing face to face. Anyways, I see no problem going to confession at the regularly scheduled times, there's never a big line at all and it's convenient for me.

 

[ProCommunioneFacior]

Here you go:

CCC

1483 In case of grave necessity recourse may be had to a communal celebration of reconciliation with general confession and general absolution. Grave necessity of this sort can arise when there is imminent danger of death without sufficient time for the priest or priests to hear each penitent's confession. Grave necessity can also exist when, given the number of penitents, there are not enough confessors to hear individual confessions properly in a reasonable time, so that the penitents through no fault of their own would be deprived of sacramental grace or Holy Communion for a long time. In this case, for the absolution to be valid the faithful must have the intention of individually confessing their grave sins in the time required. 92 The diocesan bishop is the judge of whether or not the conditions required for general absolution exist. 93 A large gathering of the faithful on the occasion of major feasts or pilgrimages does not constitute a case of grave necessity. 94

 

[Mystery5]

One time with the last priest here (who only lasted a couple of years), he conducted one of these penance services with several priests. It was really hokey because he brought a big TV and played a touchy feely video on penance that was pretty syrupy. But, I've never been to any General Absolution service. Frankly, it sounds like a lazy way to get absolution. How can you improve yourself if you don't even bother to speak your sins aloud? I find that the most helpful part of confession in formulating what I'm going to say. I think it takes more courage and is more spiritually edifying.

 

[epiclesis]

Here you go:

CCC

1483 In case of grave necessity recourse may be had to a communal celebration of reconciliation with general confession and general absolution. Grave necessity of this sort can arise when there is imminent danger of death without sufficient time for the priest or priests to hear each penitent's confession. Grave necessity can also exist when, given the number of penitents, there are not enough confessors to hear individual confessions properly in a reasonable time, so that the penitents through no fault of their own would be deprived of sacramental grace or Holy Communion for a long time. In this case, for the absolution to be valid the faithful must have the intention of individually confessing their grave sins in the time required. 92 The diocesan bishop is the judge of whether or not the conditions required for general absolution exist. 93 A large gathering of the faithful on the occasion of major feasts or pilgrimages does not constitute a case of grave necessity. 94

I found that late last night. We have a pretty liberal bishop, so I figured he probably is just allowing it here because we have two churches in our parish, with only one priest. Confessions are half an hour Sunday afternoon. But I don't see a grave necessity for it, there's never a line, and you're lucky if three people go in during that half hour....

and like someone said, a lazy way to do it, and i think so too....


Thanks everyone for your responses, and i think i finally convinced my parents that it's not 'appropriate'... but they weren't very nice about it, and it wasnt a great night because of it.... but thank you all!

 

[geocajun]

Steph, at least tell them that the general absolution is only valid if accompanied by an intention to get to private confession as soon as it is available to them.