You're Doing Confession Wrong!

Despite its popularity, the sacrament of confession is rarely practiced as the Church envisions it. Many use the phrase "bless me father for I have sinned," which is fine, but the actual Rite of Penance (1973) does not include these words at all. What does this rite include, and what did the framers have in mind?
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[@1019lms]

"Bless me, Father, for I have sinned ..." is how we were taught in Catholic school. 😊

[@shortnessoftime8783]

This video is NOVUS ORDO!!

[@charis128]

He is incorrect

[@anthonykaiser974]

We were taught the same in the late 70s.

[@inhonorofmary6825]

Yes me too

[@lindahilas4940]

@EmTen This was NOVUS ORDO NEW MASS. I go to the Traditional Latin Mass

[@loydmcintire5954]

I’m 73 years old and I was taught the “Bless me Father” and I intend to continue using this formula.

[@coffeepeachesplans]

That's a great and humble way

[@vivavita3769]

Me too!

[@Pinkrose64]

Me too!!!!

[@lynnweber842]

I agree! What he’s saying is smithing I’ve never heard.😊

[@dukeofpurl]

I'm coming 77 and I agree with you! That's how the nun's taught me in the early '50s. That Franciscan is spewing Novus Ordo craptitude. VaticanII messed *everything* up and let it a lot of garbage. Let's all get back to pre-VaticanII, Traditional Catholic Church basics. Amen! God Bless you all!

[@drvijil]

Since I recently went to confession for the 1st time since the late 70’s, I guess I did alright. The priest greeted me, I did the sign of the cross, but I did say “forgive me father for I have sinned, it’s been 40 something years since my last confession” as I was taught. Confessing 40+ years of sin was a daunting task, but the priest did a great job and created a comfortable environment of forgiveness. I recommend everyone who hasn’t confessed in a while, to do it and not allow decades to pass in between confessions.

[@joshkellemen5931]

How long did it take, have my first in ten years soon

[@drvijil]

@@joshkellemen5931: I didn't keep tabs on time, but it was moderately long. The task was so overwhelming, I talked with my priest and reached an understanding. I had broken virtually all the commandments countless times, and I confessed that fact, but I specifically confessed all my vices of the past, and the sins that still weighed on my conscience. Afterward the priest asked some general questions about my current mindset and the state of my relationships with my parents and family, to see if I had any significant unresolved conflicts. He then absolved me of my sins and expanded it to all my past sins even those possibly forgotten. He told me should some suppressed sinful memory come up, I was absolved but to bring it up in a future confession if I feel it necessary. 10 years is a long time but it's not 40+ years, but just discuss it with your priest on how to deal with the long time away. In my case, we had to be pragmatic, because to have confessed every single sin would have taken hours. Regardless, it's well worthwhile. God bless.

[@nidiaquevedo9824]

Thank you for sharing, that’s wonderful! May I ask you, what moved you to go to confession?

[@drvijil]

@@nidiaquevedo9824: I had asked forgiveness for my sins in my mind, aka the protestant way. When I returned to Catholicism I wanted to experience the certainty and the lighthearted cleansing sensation of relief that only comes from the sacrament of confession.

[@kimcarrillo3124]

How wonderful!

[@mrsc5053]

The answer is not to say "when there are 15 people waiting in line for Confession you got to move things along." The answer is to make confession more available.

[@greatpretender83]

Amen!, A Hail Mary for that.

[@MissPopuri]

I felt a little angry at the priest who said that to me. Thinking, if there are 15 people in line, you shouldn’t be limiting it to a half hour once a week or the occasional confession before mass.

[@joekr_]

His point was many people try and use Confession as a mini spiritual direction session. You should be respectful of the others in line who are equally stressed there's only one confession a month on a full moon between 8:17 and 8:23 AM before 8:30 AM Friday Mass.

[@Jkp1321]

All you need is absolution. If you need more, schedule it with your priest

[@maritzaperrault4836]

Hah!! My church can get over a hundred people in line for confession on certain days and at least 30-50 on ordinary days.

[@rezitatorin]

"Father, I am thoroughly fed up with being a sinner." (Occasionally, my first line.)

[@Dan-no6dm]

Amazing opener

[@patquint3291]

Now aged 69 and “back in the day” my priest would actually lay his hands on my bent head while forgiving. That was nice. I felt like I was being touched by Jesus.

[@veronicav575]

Pat Quint - wow, how cool. I am a new catholic and have had a few less than great confession experiences. Some priests don’t even ask me to give an act of contrition! Or any penance at all! I’ve come away afraid my reconciliation wasn’t valid.

[@wms72]

In the Byzantine Catholic Church, the priest covers the penitent with his stole.

[@brettneville2351]

@@veronicav575 Whenever the priest has not asked me for an Act of Contrition, I just say it afterward. Very rarely have I not received a penance, only a couple of times. Your confession is definitely still valid!

[@Catholic1391]

@@wms72 how does it go?

[@dianemarie8873]

@@veronicav575 that is indeed strange.🤔 You can pray it as you prepare for confession and for sure afterwards, before you pray your penance. God knows if you are, that you are, contrite. Every priest I have been to, after telling me what my penance should be, specifically asks me to "please say an act of contrition." Always.

[@mommy9830]

I am 83 years old and went to Catholic school for 13years..Bless me Father was what I was taught and as a CCD teacher for over 50 years...However, there are priests who could be kinder. My son went to confession at confirmation and had a learning disability and the priest yelled at him for not memori zing the act of contrition . He never went back to confession for 40 years. Before he went to hospital for cancer surgery, my husband got him to go and we printed out an examination of conscience...He died 3 years later.

[@1234poppycat]

SOME of the older priests really got it wrong and in your sons case gravely wrong . In fact what the priest did was a sin! Hopefully he confessed this in his next confession .. I just feel you are a wonderful person & sorry for your loss

[@cuervosbc1518]

You could have talked to the priest about his learning disability or taking him to another perish. 40 years is way too long and could have been avoided, not all priests will do that.

[@Fedko3037]

I’m so sorry that happened to your son. It wasn’t right. I know that he is in heaven with our lord. 🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️

[@mrbill2600]

I have a friend whose husband abandoned her after twelve years of marriage. She was a practicing Catholic so she went to her family priest for counseling and got a "too bad ... nothing that I can do for you." That was in 1972. I encouraged her to seek out another priest but tragically this destroyed her faith and that was the last time she ever entered any Catholic Church. I continue to pray for both her and that priest.

[@joshkellemen5931]

@@cuervosbc1518 not the right response here, not charitable at all for a grieving mother of a now dead son

[@lindahandley5267]

A couple of weeks ago, I went to confession for the first time in 35 years, so it was almost like THE first time. It was a little different than I'd remembered. Like you said in this video, the priest was very welcoming and put me at ease. I had fretted and worried for months about it. I made it hard on myself, but let's face it. It's not supposed to be easy I guess, when you have to tell your mortal sins, but I felt like the weight of the world was off of my shoulders. I have a clean slate to become the child that God wants me to be! I will receive Holy Communion tomorrow afternoon and I'm so excited. I'll be so happy when we can actually go to Mass again.

[@charityfyock9928]

This is what I too felt after my '30' yrs. absence from His Church/Confession ,GOD IS GOOD

[@tresajoey6636]

Thank you father for the theological explanation, I would love to be there for a confession

[@Raasker]

I don't usually comment, but I wanted to say congratulations, and welcome home. Jesus loves you.

[@lindahandley5267]

@@Raasker Thank you so much! I cannot believe it has already been a year! I'm so happy to be able to receive communion. Even with all of the chaos around, I'm much happier. Thanks for your comment! It's great to be home again! Jesus loves you too!

[@neverforget6901]

Congratulations sister..for me I plan to go confession this week guide me o Lord Jesus..i am very excited to receive the body and blood of our savior ..teary eyes when i attend mass without communion ..😢

[@e_rock_3149]

One time when I said "Bless me, Father..." the priest actually made a sign of the cross and blessed me silently. Free blessing! So for that reason, I will continue to say "Bless me, Father."

[@Denis-fs2ip]

Same, there is 1 priest who does this every time and I love it.

[@mandyv8524]

Blessings should always be free! You can ask a priest for one anytime. (But I get your point).

[@JewelBlueIbanez]

You asked him to bless you, which is what he did. Our priest would pray, “May God give you strength and courage that you make a good and worthy confession.”

[@carolquella257]

Awesome!

[@darkmoon8400]

A free blessing 🙄🙄 They are free

[@benedictxavier812]

Father, I am old school, I received my First Holy Communion in 1968, i was 10, my Catechism was beautiful and I was taught to say "Bless me Father for I have sinned" and I do it to this day. I am not concerned what happened in 1973 and what Rite it is whether it is written in a book or etched in stone. I love the Old Mass, the incense, the Priestly vestments, the Tabernacle, the Chants & Prayers, modernizing the Church robbed it of its Glory giving Reverence to Almighty God our Creator and Savior. The Priest and the congregation became the center rather Almighty God. I could go on. So I enjoy being in Church, its Holy Sacraments. All the new things that keep coming I am not concerned.

[@emilchandran546]

I was born a generation after Vatican II and my mother doesn’t remember it. There are so many problems with all of the comments I see in this section. The new mass did not rob the church of its glory. If you no longer see the glory of the church that is on you as many hundreds of thousands of Catholics celebrate the new mass and glorify the church. Also, the Latin Rite is still a valid one. And this video began by saying that the old way of confession is still valid and acceptable. So why are you lamenting a change which doesn’t affect your practicing of the faith? The church and the sacraments go right back to the time of Jesus. They were not originally in Latin. The church has alway undergone change and renewal. There is nothing about the Latin Mass which Jesus or Peter contributed which has now been discarded. I am willing to entertain the idea that something about the Latin mass was more profound and reverent. Maybe I will go (as they are still said) and see for myself. But what I find much more discouraging than a less impressive mass is people who want to go back to a time when the church was so desperate for change and renewal that it was willing to risk schism and loss of vocations and a crisis of identity to be able to continue its mission in a rapidly changing world. The beliefs and teachings of the church did not significantly change with Vatican II. Mass is about the Eucharist and the readings and the homily and the prayers but especially the Eucharist. If you still believe that you are receiving the body and blood of Christ, it is not very important what language the priest invokes the Holy Spirit in. You are there to receive the host. As an added benefit of the new mass, you can understand what is going on. If that’s not what you believe or not what you’re there for I don’t think you are in a position to instruct the church on how she should conduct the sacraments.

[@tomassimatovic]

@@emilchandran546 Unfortunately, this is another example how the novus ordo is a different set of dogmas (beliefs required to be believed in order to be a catholic. You said beliefs and teachings did not significantly change, I will give an example. The catholic church has always taught through her authority that one must adhere to the eucharistic fasting rules and be in a state of grace (not in mortal sin). Nowhere in this video is mortal sin mentioned. It is an even greater mortal sin to receive communion if you are in a state of mortal sin to begin with. This is not taught in the new rite (because that is what it is; a new rite). I'm sure you're familiar with mortal sin and that one goes to hell if unconfessed before death, but very few people are taught this in the new faith. Another example. If you ask a priest what the mass is, you will most of the time get an answer that's vague, or incorrect (some priests know what it is, thankfully) The Mass is the Holy Sacrifice, not the last supper. It is Christ's one and only crucifixion represented on the altar. While one should study the mass and be present and know the mass, it doesn't matter if you "know what's going on" because the priest is driving the ship; he's not talking to us, he's talking to God. When the priest turns around and faces the people instead of the altar, it becomes a show, a comedy skit, a monologue, and becomes more man-centered, not God-centered. The new rite was developed with the help of protestants, pagans, and representatives from other religions to make the mass more acceptable to our "separated brethren". The church invited protestants and others to give tips on how to change the mass in a way that would be more appealing to protestants and other religions. The church has not disappeared, nor will the gates of hell prevail against it. You mentioned the loss of vocations, and schism. I will leave you with this last and final question. Why is it that we go to such lengths to allow muslims, and people from other religions to receive communion, when we say that those who have practiced the faith of 2 millenia are "potentially schismatic"? We have a statue of martin Luther in the vatican, but those who adhere to the original dogmas and beliefs are "Rigid and schismatic". One last point, God is incredibly merciful. He is giving so many of us time to learn, time to study, time to get our lives together, time to repent and return to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. If you keep searching for truth, you will find it; look no further than the One, True, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. These are very confusing times, but through prayer, God will guide you to the truth and protect you from the errors of our times. May God bless you and bring you to the tradition and protect you from the errors and heresies of our age.

[@fernandoazouth8501]

Novus ordo did not introduce any dogmas. It only changed the perspective of our existing faith. I encourage you to read the vatican ii documents if you have not. You might be surprised about how much is not stated there, that people attribute to the counsil

[@judybernegger469]

I made my First Confession in 1959, and I still confess as I was taught in Catholic school so many years ago.

[@perrybonney9090]

Heck. I was born in 1958! May God bless!

[@etc3776]

"Bless me Father, for I have sinned" is the OLDER way of starting the confession. This is prescribed in the "A Manual of Prayers for the use of the Catholic Laity" published by the third plenary council of Baltimore in 1889. Fr Casey is referring to the new rite published in 1973.

[@JoshJimenez_]

Thanks

[@sineadmaire1729]

Thanks I was wondering

[@hjm5885]

Seems the world began in 1973

[@lordjesuschristhavemercyon3251]

So, Fr. Casey seems wrong when he says that isn't the rite. Because IT IS!

[@malcolmkirk3343]

"...since 1973..." indicates that, "Bless me father, for I have sinned, it's been (period of time) since my last confession..." is not an odd outlier. It was an established tradition. Evidently, many older Catholics (self included) have not been informed of the formal changes. The newer rite sounds good. But how is a priest to hear confession in this manner, when the time given for hearing confessions is VERY limited. In fact, during the current pandemic, I had to call the office to line up a time for confession. Even though all public Masses are cancelled, they allotted just 10 minutes per confession. That hardly seems to fit the 1973 standard for getting down to business with all one's sinful thoughts, intentions of the heart or mind, as well as actions via one's body.

[@vinodsailesh5858]

We normally confess as "Bless me Father for I have sinned. It is a month since my last confession. I ask pardon for all my sins including those that I may have forgotten".

[@colleengolesh9785]

The more we’re educated on the actual Rites of theChurch and then incorporate them into our practice and hearts, the more effectively we can communicate to others and help enhance their faith. Confession has always (as a convert) been a struggle for me. I have a hard time identifying and articulating sins to the priest, not because I don’t think I sin but more because I tend to deal with mistakes and put them out of my mind. I also have a terrible time with rushing when there is a line behind me and I know confession time is ending - I don’t want others to miss their chance! Thanks, Fr. Casey!

[@queenofhearts7726]

Colleen Golesh Don’t worry over it. I’m a cradle Catholic who “slipped away” for 25 years, but I still remembered how to make a confession from before Vatican II. The words I was taught and made to memorize were the “Hollywood” ones, though they weren’t Hollywood back then because everyone had to memorize them. I’ve been back in the church for almost a year now and confession can still be daunting. I got a password protected notebook app on my phone and use it to take notes on what I want to say. My priest is getting used to me walking in there, sitting down and reading my confession from my phone app! 😂 I don’t need notes for the first part, though... that’s likely to be in my brain, and in my confessions, until the day I die!

[@wolfthequarrelsome504]

I know that a priest cannot refuse you confession. So take your time.

[@goldenarrow3]

I have a hard time too & have been Catholic all my life. It might help to do a daily examination of conscious & then to just concentrate on 3 or 4 sins you are trying to eradicate at a time. Also, praying for the grace to make a good confession is obviously a good start. I also have gone in sometimes with notes. The prayer book from Auxilium Christoriam has a long list of possible sins to help you verbalize what you are trying to confess & the prayers in that book are awesome too.

[@colleengolesh9785]

Pat, they can if time is limited and they have to leave to get vested for Mass! That’s the issue of lines at 8am.

[@queenofhearts7726]

Can you do confession by appointment at your parish? That might help.

[@ConnorPatrickNolan003]

Before 1973, the way to start confession was “Bless Me Father for I have sinned. It has been ___ since my last confession. I accuse myself of...”

[@BreakingInTheHabit]

And after 1973, for the past 45 years, it has not appeared.

[@CableFlame]

Breaking In The Habit so that’s where it came from: pre-1973? (Which I’m guessing means pre-Vatican II?) Interesting! I wish you would have put this little tidbit in the video.

[@ichthusthree]

@@CableFlame Vatican 2 was convened from 1962 to 1965. It took a while to implement & the good ole USofA hierarchy did Not do the greatest job of that.

[@BreakingInTheHabit]

Cable Flame I cannot confirm what the original commenter said. All I'm saying is that it has not appeared in the official documents of the Church since 1973. If it appeared before then, I'm not sure.

[@phillipmarshall2982]

Yes. In the 1962 Roman Missal that is the described formula for Confession Connor. The current form of the sacraments is the progeny of Annibale Bugnini.

[@live_free_or_die7260]

I start my confession "Bless me Father for I have sinned". Fell away from the church and came back 18 years ago. I've always started this way and I also found the more I go to confession, the easier it is.

[@joanmaltman9580]

I am 87 and we always started confession with Bless me Father for I have sinned. This is the way we were taught. We heard Mass in Latin. It is as clear as if it happened yesterday when I heard that we were to hear mass in our own language. I felt that it was going to divide the Church. There is very little reverence in the Novo Ordo. We need to be of one mind and body, it strengthens us.

[@gracelily.]

We also start confession with "bless me father " And no priest ever said its not right way ,

[@peaceout7517]

Thank you. You're absolutely correct

[@pauloscar6271]

And do not call anyone on earth `father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called `teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ

[@pauloscar6271]

@@gracelily. And do not call anyone on earth `father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called `teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ Mathew 23

[@slavicgypsy5535]

I have been going to confession since 1963 and it's always been bless me father for I have sinned my last confession was.....

[@1234poppycat]

Well now we have the option .... its really all going in the same direction ... its really good being a Catholic .. Thank God.

[@arturoglez4529]

In Mexico the priest usually greets "Ave Maria Purisima", and one answers "sin pecado concebida" (Hail Mary most pure, conceived without sin) and then one starts to confess.

[@shane8037]

I get that once in a while here in in southern California, and we almost always say it before and after the Spanish homily.

[@the_defaultguy]

idk what that word means,until now,i just remember me saying it on a Rosary prayer a long time ago,ive never heard it on confessions here in philippines

[@the_defaultguy]

i miss those times...

[@mariaarredondo7642]

That’s why I like spanish confession because with English sometimes I don’t know when to start

[@sandyjeannette4617]

Beautiful

[@nemoanon5615]

The main thing is that you make as good and sincere a confession as possible. The feeling when the "shipping container" then lifts from your shoulders is one of life's best moments.

[@alifewithluna4134]

I reverted back to the faith a year ago, and I remember the day that I was going to go back to confession after 10+ years of not having partaken it it. I got a lovely priest who greeted me with “what is your confession, real quick “ I was taken aback. I had done a big deep and shame-ridden examination of conscious and this priest was rushing me? I felt horrible, I felt like I had done a terrible job of confessing. Even worse was what I felt was his penitence, just a few hail Mary’s; for over a decade of mortal sin? It made me dread the sacrament and feel like i was getting nowhere with it. I joined a new parish and the priest that has been confessing me has so much to say and so much guidance to give, i feel like I’ve had a spiritual breakthrough and i love going to confession now. I go (ideally) twice a month and I welcome the advice, it’s helping me break the Chains of repetitive sin. We as Catholics are so blessed and privileged to have this beautiful sacrament! I pray more people take hold of it.

[@italianboy2005]

Welcome back, glad u found a good priest

[@junkerju58]

I was born, raised and educated all through college the Catholic way. Have experienced at my young age of 16 were a priest cursed and yelled at me in the enclosed air conditioned confessional booth for having committed sins that perhaps shouldn't be committed by a kid like me. No it wasn't drugs, murder or anything of that sort it was more related to teens in the height of their puberty. I was so ashamed and just went on with the ritual of finishing the confession but I knew it was a bad confession. The faithful near the vicinity of the booth where all starting wide-eyed as I stepped out of the door. I fled the church and only returned after much prodding from church counselors after several years. The are teachings of the church that needs to be modernized to enable Catholics to remain in the church. Confessions, allowing priests to get married allowing nuns more participation in church services would certainly Invigorate Catholics.

[@italianboy2005]

@@junkerju58 I agree with u, confession to me is traumatic enough. A priest needs to be understanding, especially with a teenager.

[@kristasears5645]

@@junkerju58 wow! I have never heard of any priests ever cursing anybody in confession that's unfortunate! as far as modernizing our church it is already gone too far in the ways of the world God doesn't change his ways for us we change our ways for him and I think the church has forgotten that especially in the liturgy

[@winebarimunsi4732]

Lovely life with Luna,,so true the kind of priests we have in our parishes also says alot about how we approach our sacraments especially penance or confession..am glad you are happy with the new parish priest...thank God you value this sacrament anew...

[@mulg1]

The old way "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned..." is an excellent opener and is not forbidden. It reminds the penitent that he should seek to please God so that he might receive God's blessing. It also reminds him "for I have..." that Christ came not for the Just, but for sinners. He is reminded of his relationship to the priests, and that the priest is "Father" and should speak as such. Finally he realizes that "I have sinned" not someone else, we do not go to confess the sins of others, and that indeed these are sins, not just errors of judgement. We always start by admitting our sinfulness, as at Mass.

[@alexescalante9810]

Father Casey, I'm a mexican catholic and you are my favorite catholic youtuber. God bless you. I needed this video

[@barbaragonzales5944]

Listen to Jesse Romero, a true Catholic who already has facial hair and a lot of experience. He's on Virgin Most Powerful radio. Such a nice boy, this guy here, but he'll lead you to Hell with that warm fuzzy feeling inside, convinced that "I'm good enough, and smart enough, and doggone it, people like me "

[@marjchapman3369]

Barbara Gonzales I’m tc

[@rudybernal7735]

Tapale el ojo al macho!

[@vivrowe2763]

Well I was taught to say Bless me, father, for I have sinned and it's been ...... years, months or weeks since my last confession, and I will keep doing it this way. I am sick of changes, or anything that is happening in the church at this time, and while we still have this sacrament, I will use it the way I was taught.

[@davep2999]

Page 2350 in The Roman Missal 3rd Edition tells me I may begin my confession with "Bless me father for I have sinned". Page 69 of the 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal says the same thing.

[@sandygrogg8209]

Dave P s. Same in first and second editions..

[@anellenbach1]

Bless me Father for I have sinned is taught in the Baltimore catechism. Catholics have lost the faith in droves since clergy and schools have stopped using it.

[@mollytrudeau4189]

AMEN!!!

[@MsTEXASJO]

I do not like to go to confession these days. I converted in 1948. I went to a convent school for three years and learned a lot about our religion and my girl friends became nuns. Now, they got out! And, I will always say bless me father. Each priest I confessed to were so different. One, from another country, advised me to marry, and, he didn't know I'm 84 and never want to marry after three failed marriages. I've confessed little things and gotten big penances, and big things and gotten three "Hail Mary's" for the penance, and we do not say the closing prayers anyway. I liked the Absolve te or whatever they say and you are forgiven sort of ending. The only thing one priest was interested in is that my son may have been abused, furthermore, he leaked it out in a way. I want to go to confession as it has been four years, but I'm afraid to. This is ridiculous. I confess to God for now.

[@daniel8181]

@@MsTEXASJO "three failed marriages" Wth is with Americans? Did you even watch the video? Penance isnt punishment.

[@carolquella257]

Because we are not different anymore - we don't preach absolute Truth. If you don't need the Catholic church to get to Heaven, why not go where it is easier - Presbyterian, Methodist, any other Christian denomination. The largest church in my town has a coffee bar and they take it into church - no crosses that might offend people. 20 minutes of praise and worship and then a sermon - chosen by whatever the pastor wants to talk about and his interpretation of the scripture. There are faithful people there but the Catholics that have switched over - it amazes me. Walking away from Truth and the Eucharist. :( Lots of social activities. It feels good. Absolute Truth makes people uncomfortable - we have become the church of nice and the church of social justice. In my diocese it is beginning to turn back - praise God.

[@jannelaineeleodinmuo2442]

It makes me laugh when Catholics blame Vatican II for the problems in the American church instead of the rampant paganism, abortion, divorce, homosexuality and other problems in the American culture at large. As if THOSE THINGS have no significant impact on the faithful. We should all remember the church is UNIVERSAL and the problems in the American church are NOT universal, much as we like to think our problems are the worlds problems....

[@rosegilbert3025]

Thank you for explaining that. I've always wondered why Catholics go to confession... Because Jesus is the one who forgives, why does a priest need to involve themselves. It makes so much more sense now, and I see it as a beautiful working of the body of Christ exhorting and encouraging one another.

[@Kathrynlove]

In the Bible it says " Confess your sins, one to another"....Catholics literally do that and in so doing, speaking the Truth, the soul is allowed to release their sins instead of holding them inside causing sickness. Catholicism the longer and longer I am a Christian is really a very spiritually deep church. They have what it takes to help saints to heaven. After being a Catholic and becoming Protestant and back to Catholic...it's hard to be In a church without the depth and beauty and richness of the Church.

[@JC-li8kk]

@@Kathrynlove So you’re saying all your sins are against the priest? Do you live in the same house with him or something?

[@JoseLuis-xh2il]

​@@JC-li8kk "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Matt 16:18-19

[@KH-vp4ni]

Jesus told the apostles that those they forgive are forgiven...priestly apostolic succession says the same 😊

[@geordiewishart1683]

The context of John 20:23 is that Jesus was speaking to the disciples (v. 19). He breathed on them to receive the Holy Spirit (v. 22). There is nothing in here about priests having the authority to forgive sins. There is nothing here (or anywhere else in the New Testament) about apostolic succession that says priests have the authority to forgive sins and that it is passed down. The Bible does mention appointing elders (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5), and that the disciples of Jesus had special authority (Matt. 16:18). It speaks of the laying on of hands to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:19) as well as ordaining men to the ministry (1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6; Titus 1:5). At best, the laying on of hands deals with ordination-not apostolic authority being passed down. After all, they were ordaining elders and not apostles; and it was the apostles who were given the authority by Christ to do miracles and write scripture. Nothing is said here about apostolic authority being passed down. Have been forgiven In John 20:23 the words “have been forgiven” is the single Greek word aphiami. It is the perfect passive. The perfect tense is “I have been.” The pluperfect is “I had been.” The perfect tense designates an action that occurs in the past and continues into the present, i.e., “I have been eating.” The disciples were not doing the forgiving but pronouncing the sins that “have been” forgiven by God. We find that the Psalmist says, “Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; and deliver us, and forgive our sins, for Your name’s sake,” (Psalm 79:9). Also, consider the following: “Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 But there were some of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 And immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, *said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? 9 “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your pallet and walk’? 10 “But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”-He said to the paralytic- 11 “I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately took up the pallet and went out in the sight of all; so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this,” (Mark 2:5-12). Jesus forgave sins; and the Scribes, students of the Law, rightly stated that only God forgives sins. If they were wrong about that, then why didn’t Jesus correct them? Instead, he affirms their claim, states he has the authority to forgive sins, and then heals the paralytic. It should be clear that only God forgives sins; and Christians, as representatives of Christ, pronounce to people what has already been forgiven them by God. So, John 20:23 is not saying that Catholic priests have the authority to forgive sins. It is saying that Christian disciples have the authority to pronounce what sins “have been forgiven.”

[@mysticalsoul2u419]

I've been a Roman Catholic since birth in 1956 and have never heard of this new Rite. We were taught in Catholic school using the Baltimore Catechism and the form "Bless me Father for I have sinned" . More than what the framers had in mind and before all the new revisions in my opinion, is the penitents deep desire for a valid confession & the absolution through the Priest.

[@drewaskins8377]

The best Confession I was able to go to was my first Confession after Covid. I had a lot weighing on my heart, and asked a Priest after Mass to hear my confession. Since it wasn't part of a regular service, he was able to take his time with me. It was a real conversation with the priest giving me guidance on how to renew my walk with Christ. I understand though why that's not always practical during Confesion, but it was a great experience I hope more people can have. It made me realize that a lot of times Confession feels like it's being rushed through by both the Penitent, and the Confessor

[@barbaralynch5139]

I was taught in "CCD" to start off with "Bless me Father, for I have sinned...my last confession was...". This was in the late 70's/early 80s.

[@sandyjeannette4617]

I learned the old way in 1954. I'm ready for a change.

[@asburyfox]

"It's not the actual rite of the Church, but whatever." That's pretty flippant Father. It actually is part of the rite of the Church. The 1962 rites. This rite of Confession is still being used in the Church, by TLM communities and by request. It exists alongside the 1970s rites.

[@JulieAnn02261990]

Yet, never did Jesus, or any biblical scripture give man the authority to forgive sins. Only God can forgive sins. Jesus was a Jew, from birth until he died and was resurrected. Never did he say to stray from His religion. He said to keep His Father's laws and yet, I see statues in the Catholic church of Mary which goes against "Thou shalt have no graven images of anything on earth or in heaven". Why don't the vast majority of Christians worship on the last day of the week? They distanced themselves from Christ years ago when they changed the Sabbath to the first day of the week - Sunday. I follow Christ, not the white men that decided to stray from Jesus' religion. The first Christians were Jews that followed Christ, but somewhere along the line, men felt it necessary to turn against Judaism and how Jesus worshiped.

[@asburyfox]

@@JulieAnn02261990 "When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them: and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained." John 20:22-23

[@JulieAnn02261990]

@@asburyfox See what you did? You ignored everything I said. Why? What does that verse have to do with what I said above about graven images and Jesus worshiping on the last day of the week, while Christians worship on the first day of the week. If you want to comment, at least stick to the subject and don't deflect, like Trump, to something else.

[@JulieAnn02261990]

@Leonardo's Truth Are you referring to me or asburyfox? I was baptized in 2007 and don't belong to any cult.

[@JulieAnn02261990]

@Leonardo's Truth I follow Christ, which makes me a Christian. More specifically, I am a gentile for Jesus, learning the Jewish religion so that I can be more like Jesus. The term Christian was not originally used by His followers, it is what the Jews that followed Christ were called by others. I see that instead of addressing anything I've said, you are demanding that I answer to you about my faith, even though I have already stated that I was baptized in 2007. What part confuses you about being baptized by water as a follower of Christ?

[@partydean17]

So reading these comments it seems a lot of upset older people. I'm 23 in university and I have to say this sounds beautiful and pretty much puts to rest all of the protestant criticisms of what they thought confession was. I was taught the old way too but this accomplishes the exact same thing but with so much more to offer and sounds more in line with Scripture. This is why it is good to be Catholic :)

[@Fruity_White]

I'm an atheist and I don't care about appeasing Protestants, I want a Church attached to its traditions and right now that's looking a lot more like Orthodoxy. P.S. I'm 22

[@kingsdie2123]

@@Fruity_White changing stuff around in a church is what makes the church flourish, catholicism is everywhere but orthodoxy is still mainly Eastern Europe. Catholic means universal for a reason. God Bless 😇🙏🏽

[@coffeepeachesplans]

Elders can be upset but they usually just tell the truth

[@Auroradiluculum]

I didn't notice anyone was upset. Just comments. "Older people?" You're a bit sarcastic, young man. Sounds to me like you're an arrogant "young person."

[@AnaRamirez-is8yy]

It's good to hear those words from a young person! Thank you!!! And let's ask God to have mercy on us and bless us all in this panel. Continue to stand up and be proud of being Catholic!!!

[@theresabrown7290]

Excuse me but I actually learned the "Bless me Father..." which was in the Rite when I made my First Confession in 1967. This priest is teaching the modernist way as if it is the most correct. He is very young, does he realize that the other way preceded what he appears to think is the best way? The Church began to "envision" a lot in the 1960's, including stating that Jesus is not the only way to salvation as they write in the Vatican II document Lumen Gentium. Can we get a traditional Catholic to explain this sacrament?

[@lindahilas4940]

I say the Act of Contrition before I leave the confessional

[@charis128]

He is incorrect.

[@pamelaglover5159]

Dr Taylor Marshall has some great videos ❤

[@charis128]

Theresa Brown We have a great infiltration of freemasonry happening in the Church since the Vatican lost the war with masonic Italy in 1870. Read Pope Leo XIII & Pius X. They (the Modernists who are Masons) were in full control by the 1950s then they created the harlot church of Revelation thru the Vat II council. She is called the harlot because this new church mixes religions. We are called upon as Catholics to return to the original Church, Mass & teachings. The Novus Ordo Mass is invalid. The modern ordinations are invalid. Their teachings are incorrect (not Catholic).

[@ryanlister2433]

He is a modernist, and attrition is the only state of heart needed. He also seems to forget that the council of Trent guarantees anonymity. The shorter form, which he says is a wrong practice comes from Trent and leaves no room for a chat fest

[@bonniemelielo5446]

May God, who has enlightened every heart, help you to know your sins and trust in his mercy. I LOVE this beginning and only one of our priests uses it. :-(

[@janicemorabeto9800]

I've never heard of this and I've been a Catholic since childhood. I would love to go to a priest who uses this rite. Thanks brother. This video made me cry. The love of God is so evident here.

[@johnmccrossan9376]

As someone who stayed away from church for many years out of fear the priest being welcoming and willing to help you along when you clearly don't know what to do and are embarrassed makes such a huge difference. If I had encountered a dismissive or overly stern priest, one who judged his penitents for not knowing the procedures I likely wouldn't have felt able to make a full and honest confession and would have kept living with the stain of sin. My priest was wonderful and I'm amazed that he was so calm throughout the whole thing as I was half expecting to be struck down for mentioning some of the things I had done during most of it. The fear of God can bring you to confession but once you're there it's the love of God that keeps you coming back

[@cbumgmtinc7864]

I went to 12. years of Catholic School and was taught Bless me Father, for I have sinned. I'll ask my pastor about this.

[@dansedevie123]

I've never been to confession like this. Every confessional I have been in has had on the wall/ on a pamphlet "Begin with bless me Father..."

[@hugotang7936]

Thank you Fr. Casey! It's the worst when the priest doesn't say anything and you just start confessing your sins!

[@JC-li8kk]

Why don’t you confess your sins to the person whom you sinned against? Imagine if James said “confess your sins to a priest” instead of “confess your sins one to another.” That would have ended the gospel of Christ as we know it. Yet here Catholics are doing just that, as if Christ accomplished nothing.

[@Sarahbetho]

I’m so so so glad you just said that Penance doesn’t equal or mean punishment. I just said these exact words while speaking to one of my non-practicing friends. Thank you Father Casey!

[@garyworth6046]

I am so glad I found this video. I learned the old "Bless me Father" way and find that it is a good launch point for reciting my litany of sins. So, I will likely keep to it as it suits me best. One suggestion: While I do go to confession at the local church's published hours - and am one of a few others on line - every couple of months I make an appointment with our priest for confession. I leave a message with the parish office for Father to call me back, he does, and we make an appointment. I see him in the rectory. My last time with him was about 1.5 hours - believe me I needed it. I believe most churches offer this appointment option and I find that every few months it affords me the opportunity for a really thorough conscience purge. And no need to worry about holding up the line. Just a thought. Thank you Father, and God bless!

[@omnius28]

I've been going to confession for years. I never heard it once like this!

[@gadoladonai8296]

Because he made it up

[@splashpont]

It is the one sacrament that you would have to tell the priest you want to celebrate the "Rite of Penance" and not just "go to confession." Fr. Casey shows us that the prayers emphasize God's grace as well as our confession of sin--which is why is it sometimes called Reconciliation.

[@michaelkhairymc]

@@gadoladonai8296 actually he didnt look at all the other branches of the catholic church the Greek, Lebanese, and Egyptian Catholic Rites all have these elements of the sacrament

[@kevinphillips150]

@@splashpont Again. Knowing and understanding the purpose of the sacrament covers this.

[@annehenry6243]

Nope. Me neither. I was taught the "Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned..." model. Sometimes it would be a bit more personal, but, usually, it's a lot of ppl on their lunch break trying to go to confession and noon mass...There just isn't time.

[@greatpretender83]

Padre: "Ave Maria purísima" Laico: "Sin pecado concebida".

[@marikitazerimar9533]

I remember this one... and after that greeting... diga sus pecados...

[@franklinhidalgo3683]

I love this form because it is form of exorcism in itself, also because in a way the two part prayer acknowledges the Catholicism of the penitent

[@ajessm]

This rite sounds like a more comforting and less daunting experience. You are a wonderful confessor, Father. It would be nice if there were more like you.

[@luluq01]

Wow, I am floored! I have never heard the sacrament of Reconciliation go this way. It is beautiful. I am in my 60’s and I don’t recall ever taught that this is the way it should go. Once again Fr. Casey, you have shared a jewel of our faith. Thank you.

[@esiodena1]

He clearly states in the beginning that "Bless me/ Forgive me Father for I have sinned...." is not wrong. He is merely informing of another way in which the confession conference is conducted. So it's silly to become angry while being informed of another method.

[@franzfleischer3476]

Yes! I think some people come to Fr. Casey's videos with the single aim of being angry and complaining.

[@Pinkrose64]

​@@franzfleischer3476Not at all. He insulted the many catholics who for DECADES have been taught Bless me father for I have sinned, saying it was not the correct Rite. He is wrong and yes it does irritate people when we have been taught by actual priests not friars the previous way. Then this young friar comes along and says decades of teachers are wrong. No He is wrong.

[@martellitunes]

Good grief, I’ve been saying, bless me father for I have sinned for over 80 years while starting my confession, now we’re told we have doing it wrong? We had to wait until Vatican 2 came up with a new way, just like they’ve come up with anew way for everything else. I don’t care what anyone says, I will continue to use the teaching’s of the Baltimore catechism when I go to confession and all the other sacraments.

[@undolf4097]

I’m just shook now

[@blindknitter]

I'm Irish, have had confession all over England, Ireland, Scotland and France. The priests on these islands and the mainland of Europe all go by the older practice. When I was at Lourdes I received confession from priests from Africa, America, the Philippines and India. They likewise went by the older rite. I think it's beautiful as is, which must be why despite the seventies publication the sacrement itself hasn't changed.

[@tangledcharlotte]

The "Bless me Father..." is the Rite that generations in the English speaking world were taught. It wasn't mere "local custom" or misguided advice from individual priests/nuns. Each rite has it's advantages. One advantage of the older rite is that it eliminates the awkwardness of waiting for an unseen priest behind a wall to begin. Even many newer churches are still built with "behind the screen" as the default.

[@gadoladonai8296]

Charlotte Odum they obviously removed the screen to make it more difficult to confess and so people would leave the church and none would be the wiser that such a small change could lead souls away from the Church. Now this nonsense Casey speaks is also to harm souls by trying to look cool. Stay faithful to Church teaching not new age personal opinions.

[@tangledcharlotte]

@@gadoladonai8296 No, it's not "nonsense." Neither rite should be denigrated. People shouldn't be encouraged to take sides.

[@splashpont]

You can confess as you walk with the priest in the parish garden. The essentials of confession, absolution, and penance are always there. Fr. Casey is explaining the beauty of the "new" (1973!) prayers and order of worship, just like there is an order of mass.

[@jaqian]

I'm 48 and it's the way I was taught in Ireland.

[@joanwambura]

@@gadoladonai8296 how is it nonsense? And there's a screen in my church and the few I've been to..I doubt it's phased out

[@mitchellsmith4690]

The way you're telling us not to go, is how we were taught to go. In the parishes where the "new way" is enforced...and anonymous confession is discouraged, confession is rare...almost disused. In a parish I know of...not a "Tridintine" parish...wherethe oldway is used and they still have old school confessionals there is always a long line...scores of people.

[@gadoladonai8296]

Mitchell Smith this video and new way gimmicks lead souls away from the Church. Stick with Tradition

[@UnratedAwesomeness]

@@gadoladonai8296 it's impossible for a method of confession to be Tradition (as in dogma). Bad logic leads souls away from the Truth and into schism along with Lefevbre.

[@AndrzejGieraltCreative]

@@UnratedAwesomeness Well, sir let it be known that your comment is extremely misleading on many levels unfortunately. No, Tradition includes the practice of Sacraments - you make the connection no one else makes, that line "Tradition (as in dogma)" is not a correct connection. Tradition includes very many things. That doesn't mean rites can't change. They do change but there is a precedent for process. But, the rite beginning in this way, "Bless me Father, etc, I accuse myself of the following sins", and including all of the other elements in the Sacrament, is beneficial in training the virtues alongside the bare-bones rite of Confession.

[@UnratedAwesomeness]

@@AndrzejGieraltCreative Yet confession was originally public. If the way we _practice_ should we give that tradition a capital T? The two kinds differ in that "Tradition" means immutability and "tradition" does not. As Catholics, we look to the Church for guidance -- part of which is Tradition, part is tradition. Be weary of becoming Protestant like in your interpretation of Tradition. The Church defines Tradition, the Church interprets Tradition, not us.

[@AndrzejGieraltCreative]

@@UnratedAwesomeness It's a good clarification but I'm well aware of the differing levels of that which can change and what cannot. If we shall clarify, let us clarify further - the Church can develop dogma and doctrine towards precision, and also adapt prudential judgments as teachings which change depending on the time, and these judgments are prone to error or at the very least we can say they can either improve or become worse over time. The Sacramental Rites aren't technically going to fit any of these categories. If you want to call something "Capital T Tradition," it seems to me that Sacramental Rites are just about as "Capital T" as you can get - sure the Church has the authority to alter them, but this is not necessarily a good exercise of prudence. The Church interprets Tradition according to Her wisdom but men can make their own decisions which are contrary to the optimal solutions. It seems that at the very least, what is better or worse in one Rite or another can be debated, and at best, we should default to the organic Tradition which has developed naturally, since it has developed for a reason by the guidance of the Spirit. Sorry, that was very long winded but I hope you get my point - essentially, we can't just tamper with that which has come into existence naturally because the default approach should be piety towards the authority of the past... if that makes sense... I lack the vocabulary to formulate this but I hope you understand.

[@anthonybasso35]

I appreciate that you say that there is nothing wrong with beginning the Rite with "Bless me Father, for I have sinned." That was, in fact, part of the beginning of the rite for a very long time in the Church and that the new edition of 1973 prescribes a "warm greeting" does not change this enduring part of the Church's rites. We can't act as though everything pre-1973 (or pre-1962 for that matter) is "wrong".

[@garymccann5079]

I remember reading that Padre Pio could tell you your sins when you went to confession.There have been many witnesses to this and the people would line up for hours to have him hear their confession.

[@msdebra213]

I chuckle imagining what Padre Pio would think of the current feel-good, small talk-y rite. He could be a bear if he thought - or knew, as he often did - a penitent was skipping some sin or being insincere.

[@kristasears5645]

@@msdebra213 Padre Pio was a gift from God the beautiful example four other priests to follow unfortunately most cases that hasn't happened

[@dianatolian]

"My words have a way of being misconstrued." Fr. Casey POPPED. OFF. But in all seriousness, I love your videos you help me understand my faith that much more and in current time, and in a neutral manner. I appreciate the educational standpoint this comes from. Thank you! 🙏🏼😭💕

[@PJ-mp7sv]

I was taught “Bless me Father for I have sinned..”. Also, the Act of Contrition needs to be said. This video does not sound right at all!

[@robertsullivan4773]

Guys or girls. Look at him. He's a kid he's talking about the teaching on the rite as of 1973. I personally had my first confession/communion in 1953. He's part of the Vatican II priests, the new order the church of feel good everyone goes to heaven. Take him for what he is. He did say our understanding and way we do it are fine.

[@SwimminWitDaFishies]

marcokite Are you an atheist or something?

[@SwimminWitDaFishies]

Robert Sullivan I made my 1st confession/communion in 1973 And he was spot on but he did forget to mention Act of Contrition. Well I do believe he is a priest, but it does seem a bit far-fetched that he would be considering the priests that I've ever seen come into service in the churches I've attended were always non-US born.

[@MrAnonimak]

Some how this guy comes across as very protestant, he's going into detail about how confession is (uh hmm) supposed to be, yet doesn't mention the act of contrition, the words act of contrition never come out of his mouth yet the word christian which usually is biword for protestant does more than once, the smart money is we be wary of this wolf in sheep's clothing he's clearly a gobshite pretending to be Catholic, and a Priest no less. Phoney fuckshit he is. GOD BLESS. PAX.

[@CameoAfro]

He's reading directly from the Rite of Penance. The whole point of the video is that what is customary is not necessarily what the actual rite prescribes. He also doesn't neglect the Act of Contrition. That's covered from 8:14 onward.

[@jshields9555]

"Bless me, Father, for I have sinned," was how I was taught in 1981. Of course, my school used the Baltimore Catechism well after the rest of the world stopped! Lol

[@Joe-uw5rv]

Thats too bad, you missed out on those comic book catchesis books we all enjoyed.

[@marialeba6983]

Leave the prayer of Confession as it is.We've been saying for ages:Bless me father for I have sinned...........

[@hubertk7363]

I am from Poland and I was taught the confession rite. Although some priests do not say "give thanks to the lord, for he is good".

[@walterfulmer8172]

Thank you Father I am a Permanent Deacon and I often asked questions about the Sacrament of Penance God Bless you in your ministry and Peace be with you

[@ameliacarter4924]

There have been far too many times in my life where I've stayed away from confession because of crippling social anxiety. I've always thought the format of confession seemed a little bit off and now everything makes a lot more sense. Thank you.

[@JC-li8kk]

That’s the Holy Spirit telling you that you’re righteous by faith in Christ & have no need of an earthly priest. Since Christ has already come & we are under a new covenant that is now the spirit of the anti-Christ that seeks justification outside of Christ. I would be very afraid too.

[@xanderguyer7512]

Guy who goes to confession just to brag: "Applaud me Father, for I have winned."

[@assuntajala9978]

Thank you Fr. Casey for explaining so well about the actual rite of penance.

[@filomenaheartsonsleeves3234]

Oh gosh. This is how I was taught how to confess in 1983 at my first confession and have been doing it that way ever since. Thanks for the heads up !

[@DeliciousPigeonCheez]

Interesting. In England we still use the old form: it's all I've ever known and I was born in the '80s.

[@paulharvey1474]

I was born in the fifties in England and this was the way I was taught also!

[@carleen5345]

It seems to vary from priest to priest. Whether it is their formation or acquiescing to what the penitent is used to, I don't know. I'm from Catholic school in the late 50s and 60s and even living and teaching religion in Catholic schools, from the 70s through the 90's, I didn't run into this rite until a move brought us to a different parish and a younger priest. There do seem to be a lot of these videos popping up now.

[@sophomorov]

My 8year old son just had his first confession and it was the old way. So obviously accepted practice. :)

[@dougg7719]

@@carleen5345 I was born in the 50s also. I too say, "forgive me father for I have sinned..... ..."

[@theguardian6464]

we use that in Estonia as well... "bless me Father" sounds like something Hollywood...

[@sophomorov]

This video keeps on coming up and it's infuriating. Just used this "wrong" form yesterday and still recieved absolution. Father, stop telling people they are doing confession wrong. Simply not true.

[@patrickrex6230]

If they start to hesitate or become embarrassed I always say God already knows the details of your sins. I’m here to reassure and promise you that God forgives and loves you. Throughout I keep a good sense of humor. Before all this lock down I had a line of 30 deep for two hours every Saturday. If Jesus forgives. Then who am I not too?

[@wolfthequarrelsome504]

Opening comment is how I was told how to do confession when I was 6 years old.

[@judyknapp6176]

Me too & I went to a catholic school & we made our first holy communion at age 6 or first grade & we did our first confession before our holy communion . We were taught the way you said we shouldn’t back in 1954 🤔

[@tfava6492]

Opening comment is how I've raised my children (7+9yrs) to do it, using the Baltimore catechism. Not gonna change.

[@drbel382]

They have taken out the confession booths in many churches and they do face to face appointments; this seems less sacred to me. I prefer it the way it was before the change.

[@mrsl5514]

I like the booths too but for me face to face is easier because I have a severe hearing problem. I have a very hard time hearing the priest through the curtain because they're usually not facing me directly. The nice thing is though at the TLM confessions, they don't say much.

[@carolquella257]

No, they have made it so you have a choice. Face to face or behind the screen. I'm pre-Vatican II, have done both ways and both are equally sacred.

[@chalice3571]

I agree, the privacy makes it more like "God and me" " me and God"... it gives freedom

[@rudybernal7735]

@@chalice3571 no, to me it’s GOD and me alone! No ONE else.

[@lolurbad9032]

Oh man, catholicism. How pitiful.

[@patriciawaters6656]

My problem is confession on saturdsy is 55. Minutes long . Them Mass starts. Sometimes there are 15 people in line. Someone will go in and take up 15 minutes. I always feeled rushed. Don't like making an appointment. .

[@timothyfreeman97]

"Bless me, Father, for I have sinned", False? Umm, I just read this form of Confession in my Missal last night.

[@Alwayslearnimg]

I literally went to confession within the hour and asked to make sure as a new convert. He said the “Bless me...and it’s been this long since my last confession...” is proper.

[@carolquella257]

It's not false. He said it's fine. It is the old way and I prefer it. The official new teaching - 1970s - changed it. I've never had a priest do a scripture reading, not even before Vatican II.

[@thadramallama]

I think there are different versions of it! A newer one might contain it

[@spindleforceengraving750]

Short story. About 3 years ago I was in confession, after confessing my sins the Priest gave me a penance and that was: "Pray the Rosary for the rest of your life".

[@tessaben1211]

I hope you did what he said.

[@neacej1]

That’s not a real penance. Praying the rosary can be a penance, but “for the rest of your life” makes it more advice than penance.

[@annesent-doux1536]

It’s a beautiful grace

[@Joe-uw5rv]

Spindle Force Engraving What’s wrong with that?

[@210SAi]

You may have confused his Penance with his advice. That sounds more like advice since it’s open ended

[@johnhantz4351]

After 30 plus years of not going to confession I started back by confessing those sins that not only weighed most heavily on my mind but those most likely to be serious or mortal sins. TWENTY years later I realized I had one more and just confessed it.

[@irienerd8178]

Most confessions at my church feel like we're cattle being herded and quickly run through this sacrament. My local priests give penances that don't seem to tie back with sins I'm suffering with, almost like they just give blanket penances. The best confession I've had in a long while is when my local priest was on vacation and he had another priest fill in. I miss the days when priests really took time to think about their Homilies, when they really got in there and said things like "stop leaving mass after Holy Communion because you aren't receiving your full graces", "Stop allowing your children to disrupt mass...", "Stop talking during church...", "Don't use your phone while in mass"... The two priests we have phone it in A LOT and one thinks he's a big deal because he was asked by the Vatican to go around the U.S. speaking? The one priest is a terrible homilist and the other one take 3 minutes in one room to think about what he's going to say which is just a different way of saying what he said last week. The one that thinks he's a big deal never really has a point, he basically says the same thing 20 different ways while shouting like a protestant preacher, it's really odd. I don't feel the hunger of Christ in either of my local priests I feel like this is just a job for them they don't see it as a calling---SAD.

[@alejandrocanela691]

Hi. Have you ever attended a Traditional Latin Mass?

[@bruno-bnvm]

You complain to much. This isn't about you. Are you sure you understand what you are recieving?

[@irienerd8178]

@@bruno-bnvm LOL, bless your heart I'm not sure you understand much of anything like the difference between the words "to" and "too", but please pray-tell enlighten me with your immense intellect lol. Since you feel the need to assume you have a higher level of understanding please enlighten me lol. Do you understand that Jesus told Peter "FEED MY LAMBS, TEND MY SHEEP"? Somehow I'm not allowed to be upset we're being led by a bunch of limp-wrist lukewarm priests? *EYEROLL* The better question bruno is do the priests know what they are holding in their hands when God consecrates the Host? Then maybe you'll see why I'm so irritated at the lukewarm clergy, it seems maybe it's you that doesn't understand cupcake.

[@iallen7572]

Thank you so much for doing this for us. I am 50 and have wondered for a long time if I’m doing this correctly. I was taught” bless me father for I have sinned” but I was 7 at the time. I’m glad to know the full version of the rite now.

[@museluvr]

"Bless me father, for I have sinned.. it has been one week since my last confession".. is how I have done my 9 confessions. I go by a examination of conscience and write down all the sins I can honestly recall for absolution.. a 'list' if you will. It helps me. The one time I went 'in depth' on my sin I was gently but firmly pulled back to state the sin, and to leave it at that. The penance I have found good.. it makes me work more at stopping the repeating offenses, and shows Christ' mercy and love for us. & Father Casey when I hear my sins have been absolved.. I can't help but smile & spend time after kneeling to give God thanks for being so loving & merciful. I wish everyone could experience confession.

[@JC-li8kk]

So you need a human on earth to tell you that you are forgiven? Do you not know the purpose of faith in Christ? Or are you under the impression the Messiah has not yet come? Trying to understand the difference between unbelieving Jews & Catholics since they practice so many of the same things, vastly different from what the apostles of Jesus & Christians today practice.

[@spike3346]

I've been waiting for this episoded

[@utamihalliday2995]

Thank you Father Casey. God bless you abundantly. And may you be faithful to your vow till the end of your journey as our shepherd. Amen

[@day1678]

Father, when I go to confession, for me the priest does not exist; When I enter the confessional, I see Jesus, not the priest. Confession for me, is a very personal encounter with my Lord. It is also a conversation with the Lord. And I thank Jesus as well for His love and mercy and for the grace to be the person of His loving creation. Thank you so much for your input.

[@lauramcneill363]

I wasn't even aware that there is a "new" rite. My first confession was before 1973. When my children had their fist confession, which was after 1973 - WAY after, they were not taught this "new rite." I wonder why not?

[@sophomorov]

All of my children were taught the "old way". I have never heard this "new way". Obviously reading the comments most people are doing it the "old way", therefore making it the present and accepted practice. Interesting video.

[@meyouw9793]

My Holy Communion was in 1969 in Australia, we were taught to commence confession with 'bless me Father for I have sinned'. And I still use those words today. I much prefer your alternative. Bless you for enlightening us. Praise be to God 🙏🙏🙏

[@user-hn9tn5tm2z]

As a senior citizen Catholic from birth, my confessions have continually grown in depth, preparation, and substance. I’m much more relaxed and confident about the restoration of grace and salvation by God’s infinite mercy and desire for my eternal peace and childlike association with him in heaven. That is, we are the created children of God. All children have parents, and God the father loves us as his own child. Therefore, I keep this in mind during confession that God the father is so grateful and appreciative that out of our love for him he can give us everlasting love. I confess always I’m sorry for all past acts and omissions that were also done by ignorance, inattentiveness, mistake, inadvertence, incomprehension, and even human pride and dumbness, that is, conduct or lack of conduct perhaps not mortal or venial sins according to the Catholic Catechism. I do this because our actions as fallen Adam & Eve humans can nevertheless cause harm to our fellow humans and our world. We are called to be saints and emulate all of the good qualities of Christ and Blessed Mother Mary. So acknowledging this basic principle with a priest in confession is in my mind a higher level of receiving a magnificent benefit and reward rather than just confessing a rote list of sins. So elevating confession to a higher level of expression of sorriness and regret is definitely something I strive to do. The confessional is actually speaking to Jesus directly and the good priest is the intermediary to make the confession a success and pleasing to God. My desire in leaving confession is trusting in God’s full and tender mercy which we humans can’t begin to fathom.

[@neacej1]

I was confirmed and received the Eucharist in 2019 in a Novus Ordo parish as a convert, and I was taught to say, “Bless me Father for I have sinned, it has been (x) since my last confession. These are my sins.”

[@patrick8128]

This what I learned from the Immaculate Heart of Mary IHM Sisters in 1954 in St, Mary's School Manhasset, Long Island, New York -- Bless me Father for I confess to Almighty God and to you Father that I have sinned and I accuse myself of...

[@VoDucQuang]

I also see that formula in the old prayerbooks I use.

[@bankorama]

After attending Catechism classes and preparing myself to join the faith, I must say that confession has grown to become my favorite sacrament.

[@aliciagonzalez1710]

Bless me father for I have sinned is how I learned it after about 10 attempts, father fanning, sighed and asked me what it all meant and I told him. He sighed and said knowing why and for what I was confessing meant more then the wording meant. It took me about 50-55 years to know the rite by heart. I heard mass in Latin and understood it mentally and spiritually. Then mass was said in English. To my mind everytime a Pope or whoever's changes the wording on any prayers, mass changes on adds to confusion. So I'll do my confession according to my original confessor's teaching. Fr. Fanning was a very pious, patient and understanding priest. You just confused the heck out of me. I have no intention to change anything I have learned and I'm to old to do so. God bless

[@niceatrya3477]

While I would relish in taking the time to go into depth for each of the sins I confess to allow for better pastoral guidance in the confessional. But I frequently see how long the line is and do not want to hold up anyone in line behind me, especially those who may have mortal sins to confess. The priest may not have time to hear confessions from those in line. Most parishes these days have 30 minutes slotted for confession 1 day a week. Most are just before scheduled mass so going over on time really is not an option. So I try the old adage of be Bold, be Brief, and be Gone.

[@wallsign4575]

Unfortunately, many people making their confession don’t properly do an examination of conscience before to expedite the process.

[@210SAi]

Confession is not necessarily the time for Spiritual guidance/counseling. If you feel like you need more time you should request a specific time to speak with a priest.

[@MrAnonimak]

What are you talking about mortal sins, unless someone is a convert or finding their way back to the Church, regular mass attendees shouldn't be committing mortal sins and if they are and have the mental capacity to know they have, they should examine their conscience properly before going to a Priest outside normal confession times to actually receive better guidance and make a proper confession in the mean time if someone is in a state of mortal sin they should refrain from receiving Our Lord in Holy Communion. GOD BLESS. PAX

[@stevecole3192]

I had no idea. I am old and had never been aware of this rite. I thank you Father Casey once again for opening my eyes and heart. God bless you.

[@ichthusthree]

Same here!

[@gadoladonai8296]

Steve Cole stay with Tradition, it’s what the saints used. This is a very misleading video.

[@stevecole3192]

@@gadoladonai8296 If I am understanding you Gadol you say to stay with "Bless me Father..." rather than the rite that Fr. Casey speaks of. Wouldn't that be Tradition as the Church intended?

[@kristasears5645]

@@gadoladonai8296 most of our priests are young and new and only know the Vatican two ways which is sad I love the old and traditional ways it was more humble in reverence to God nowadays it just seems like it's just the ways of the world whatever pleases man not God

[@ChersJourney]

Thank You Father. I am going to church tomorrow for confession & Mass. My heart already feels Blessed. Very well explained🙏🏻

[@tesswilms254]

Fr Casey this is spiritually uplifting, thank you.

[@jackryan8990]

I am a retired priest. Little kids can be really funny. One kid prayed that he was hardly sorry

[@kathleenmacellis7253]

My daughter said that in her First Confession ! She said that Father chuckled and gently corrected her .

[@greatpretender83]

God bless you.

[@roobear5357]

😂

[@DarylSpano]

That has to be the best video (or information, including pamphlets) on confession that I've ever seen. Thank you, thank you.

[@gadoladonai8296]

Daryl Spano it’s rubbish, read the Baltimore Catechism, he’s lying

[@Joe-uw5rv]

Daryl Spano He is totally missing the essential character of it - what it really is. The way he explains confession is undergirded by his theology as a whole. Fundamentally Confession is reconciliation with God, that is, God who first and foremost has been offended by sin is asked to reunite the penitent back to Himself. The order has been restored. But with the Church of Nice theology in which Father Casey has been indoctrinated it is man that is the center of confession. It is all about Man: God is not the end of all but He is rather there to be used as a means to an end.

[@lapun47]

Great to watch this at the beginning of Lent!

[@CGP21178]

Thank you Father Casey- we did learn this in CCD in order to get ready for confession. I now look for priests who provide this type of guidance.

[@SharonCullenArt]

Wow, I wish I could go to reconciliation with you! I have always felt intimidated by my priest, so I would go to communal penance in order to see a specific priest I liked going to confession to. He was a retired priest who helped at my church. Now I have moved, and haven’t found a place I am happy. The churches here are very different than I am used to. I am unhappy, and sad much of the time. I was at my last church 28 years. Now I am in a rural area with very few choices. There is very little to get involved in there, and no music ministry to speak of which I was involved in at my parish. I just feel so lost. If anyone would like to say a prayer that we find our new church home soon I would appreciate it.

[@valerietucker7340]

praying for you!

[@janepeterson3016]

It is so hard to be between churches. I have prayed for you, Sharon, asking God to lead you to the place He has for you.

[@ElPresidenteAndycito]

Praying for you Sharon!

[@wms72]

In Los Angeles, the priest welcomes the penitent with, "May the Lord be in your heart and on your lips as you faithfully confess your sins."

[@PolymorphicPenguin]

Confession is one aspect of Catholic life that I kind of wish we Protestants got into more. Confessing our sins to another person helps us to really be confronted by them, and yet also offers the opportunity for reassurance of God's forgiveness.

[@danstrikker6465]

Well you can always convert

[@PolymorphicPenguin]

@@danstrikker6465 That's true, but becoming Catholic would be a big leap for me. Catholic parishes are so different from the Protestant churches that I'm used to.

[@danstrikker6465]

@@PolymorphicPenguin very true but given the difference between protestants and Catholics, its expected. Do you have any questions out Catholicism?

[@PolymorphicPenguin]

@@danstrikker6465 No, no questions really. I've felt God calling me to love my Catholic brothers and sisters more. I've come to realize in a lot of ways I was looking down on Catholics for having different teachings, teachings I thought of as "inferior". I've come to realize that it is important for Catholics and Protestants to love each other. We've already made tremendous progress, but I think there is still room for improvement.

[@barbaramazzocca4605]

Bless me father for I have sinned... Yes, this is how I have always gone to confession, and never have I gotten into a confessional and had a priest welcome me. It has always been silent until I begin talking.

[@danielcostello4041]

Penance is my least favorite sacrament. It stems from three things. 1. As a teen I gave a confession, as I was leaving Father called my name, I was behind the screen, and said, "Tell your mother I said Hi." 2. I went to confession and a few weeks later Fr. Approached me in front of my friends and asked me how my "problem" was working out. Much to the hilarity of my friends who still don't know what it was. 3. Probably the really real reason, I am worried about the priests opinion of myself and my opinion of myself saying it out loud. It is foolish I know, but it is there.

[@ohmyblindman]

The priest was way out of line even mentioning you, especially by name or your particular "problem." If I tried to mention past sins to priests who might know me, they always say: "I've forgotten."

[@miapiliero1721]

Priests can be excommunicated from the Catholic Church for bringing up your sins outside of confession. Because that means breaking the seal of confession, which is a very grave sin. I’m sorry that happened to you.

[@hito9183]

"May God be in your heart and on your lips so that you may confess all your sins well." Personally I really like when the priest say that to me, it gives me confidence to make my confession.

[@georgebeckydragan6389]

To preface this comment, I should well-versed in the teachings of the Church which I've studied for decades, spent three years in major seminary, hold an M.A. in theology, and have been a catechist for decades, am currently volunteer as an RCIA catechist now, and work for my local diocese as the diocesan religious education director. I've been going to confession regularly since 1970, and I have NEVER experienced the sacrament in the way the Rite envisions it as you have explained it here. In fact, even when I wait for the priest to start, it is only on rare occasion that I receive a welcome. Nearly always, if I don't start, there is just awkward silence as the priest waits for ME to start, and since I prefer a screen and anonymity, I start by blessing myself silently, and say, "Bless (or Forgive) me Father for I have sinned." So, it does no good to teach the laity the rite as envisioned if the priests themselves don't follow it. Why not write the Office for Divine Worship at the USCCB and petition them to dictate to the seminaries in their practicums on Reconciliation how to use the actual rite in a way that doesn't delay the other 30 people in line behind you? It'd be nice if every reconciliation can take 30 minutes, but when a parish only gives you an hour for confessions before Mass, this methodology doesn't give many people a chance to confess. This is why for my RCIA, I coordinate a separate day for their confessions because their first confession should be this experience, but I also explain the time reality of the usual confessions, and not to be offended by it, but to be mindful of others waiting to go, and that if you like to sit down at length for a confession, MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. This is also why I tell my first penitents to use the standard formula AND, "This is my first confession" or "It has been (x amount of time) since my last confession, as this will help indicate to the priest something of the mental state of the penitent (an important consideration to pastorally minister to the penitent).

[@JenniMeer]

I went to confession for the first time during Lent because my baptism in my first faith was valid. I didn’t know what to expect and I was terrified. Father greeted me from behind the screen set up for those those who preferred that way in English first then in Spanish. I said the first thing that came to mind: “Hi, Father. It’s Jenni.” So when I go to confession, I open the door and say, “Hi, Father. It’s Jenni.” This informs Father to use English and this will be face to face.