Confession question

Cruxis117 · #1 May 10, '12, 10:18 pm

Recently I went to Confession last Sunday for some mortal sins. There was a new priest in the parish (not replacing the current one, but just staying there instead). When I went to him for Confession, he only said "May God absolve/forgive you of your sins" and that's it. I listened to a Jimmy Akin podcast saying that it's possible that if the proper form isn't used, the absolution wouldn't be valid. So I went to another priest that I knew gave me proper absolution before. I explained to him the situation, and he only prayed the beginning prayers and again did not include the part which includes "...and I absolve you of your sins". I've been praying and really worried that I'm not properly absolved. What should I do?

**Bookcat** · #2 May 11, '12, 7:13 am

In this case -- go to another priest....

**Bookcat** · #3 May 11, '12, 7:27 am

[edited]

The Priest here seems to not have done his job...so he needs to go to another Priest.

Most Priests do their job....but some well some had not good formation at some particular place or time ..and some are old and forgetful etc etc.

One of my professors when was at University studying Theology told the story of being on vacation with his family. He and his nephew went to a church for confession (note HE was a Priest). He went in first. When he got to the absolution the Priest did not use the form but did what the Priest above did basically. So he said to the other Priest --Father those where not the form of absolution. The Priest responded --oh -- then how does it go? So he lead the Priest step by step ..sentence by sentence through them and he repeated them after him. He told the class jokingly then -I did not know if he was absolving me or I was absolving him! He then took his Nephew elsewhere....

Now again ...most know what they are doing ..but on occasion one gets one who does not...or for some reason does not give the the proper absolution (I had a elderly Priest have a senior moment -- the blessed me instead --I right away corrected him and he apologized and gave me absolution).

fred conty · #4 May 11, '12, 7:39 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bookcat

In this case -- go to another priest....

I agree.

The church has given clear directions for carrying out the sacraments. If not followed they are invalid because the church is the care keeper of the sacraments. The priest is the administrator of the church and must be careful and be faithful to that charge, and ignorance and carelessness is no excuse. Apparently some have a problem with obedience or training.

Pray for them.