Can you take your children to confession with you? - Page 3

TheRealJuliane · #31 Mar 8, '12, 8:26 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by MomaMary8

Hi RSW! I see you are expecting! Congratulations! I will keep you in my prayers for a healthy, happy pregnancy.

In some ways your kids sound like mine, except when a new person talks to them: they are instantly quiet! Just huge eyes and quiet lips! haha

It's not "ideal" but God grants you with only so much sometimes, and the rest you have to work out. In the end, we can all get to confession. It just might not be pretty! And besides, maybe our screaming children will remind someone in line of their lack of patience that they forgot in their examination of the conscience!

"Mommy Confession Hour" sponsored by the Daughters of the King...I can see it now...

RedSoxWife · #32 Mar 10, '12, 9:19 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by MomaMary8

Hi RSW! I see you are expecting! Congratulations! I will keep you in my prayers for a healthy, happy pregnancy.

In some ways your kids sound like mine, except when a new person talks to them: they are instantly quiet! Just huge eyes and quiet lips! haha

It's not "ideal" but God grants you with only so much sometimes, and the rest you have to work out. In the end, we can all get to confession. It just might not be pretty! And besides, maybe our screaming children will remind someone in line of their lack of patience that they forgot in their examination of the conscience!

Thanks.

We're very excited!

Yes, whether we take out little ones in with us, or are able to leave them outside, I think the most important thing most definitely is that we go. And we can each kind of figure out individually what we can handle.

I couldn't handle my little one screaming with acquaintances. That would not be acceptable to me. I'd rather have them in there with me (and avoid the dirty looks!). And I don't think there's anything wrong with that. It definitely becomes a personal choice. I just hope we aren't judging parents who take their kids with them because they don't feel that they have another option to harshly (and I'm not saying you are, just the thread in general!), because not everyone does feel comfortable asking people they hardly know (especially at larger parishes) to watch their screaming child who's having separation anxiety at the thought of being left with a person they've never seen before. And I don't think it would be polite of me to impose my screaming child on strangers, trying to pray. So we do differ there. If my child screams we're going outside to have a little talk. I'm not going to make my screaming child someone else's penance.

With several thousand families at our parish there's a good chance I'm not going to know the people at confession (and yes we do go regularly).

But I definitely agree that it always works out! Sometimes more gracefully than others!

I only joined this conversation, and took issue with it, because the idea was brought up that it violates the sanctity of the confession. That's simply not true. I don't think it's a big deal. I've gone it an held a silent child and confessed probably dozens of times. If a parent feels comfortable, I don't think we should be acting like they need to be doing something different.

Z1Z2 · #33 Mar 10, '12, 9:57 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Em_in_FL

I'd call the parish office and see if there are any teens who need volunteer hours (or, minutes - depending on how long you need to confess!) who can sit outside with the kids for a little bit! Maybe this would allow other moms to go as well...

That's what worked for me when DD was in 2nd grade and doing First Communion prep. I had to attend with her, but DH was working and there was no one to watch 3 year old DS. The director of SoR got a teen age girl who needed service hors for Confirmation to come to Church and watch DS for me. It worked out great!

EvelynEVF · #34 Mar 13, '12, 5:24 pm

I have made two confessions at playgrounds

My kids were/are very used to running off to play not too far away while Mom has boooooorrrrrrring conversations on the park bench.

rachella14 · #35 Mar 13, '12, 6:00 pm

Thanks so much for all of the great advice! Yes, my husband was working during the usual confession time. I had just had him come home an hour early the day before so I could try to make it and the priest ran out of time before my confession was heard, plus he was taking two days off of work to watch the children while I went on my trip, so I didn't think I could have him get home early again. I also didn't think I'd be able to get a special appointment as I had been told that on Wednesdays the priests at my parish don't usually hear confessions for some reason.

Anyway, again, thanks for the advice as I might use it in the future! Thankfully it finally occurred to me that my church isn't the only Catholic one in town and I was able to call and make an appointment to see a priest at another parish after their evening Mass. So glad I got that done!