Valid First Confession

[FifthMark]

I do, however, say "Forgive me, Father," when I begin my Confession instead of "Bless me."  Any thoughts on this practice?  (Embarassingly enough, I carried this custom from movies I watched as youthful agnostic, although I see no problems with it.)

[Vincentius]

I do, however, say "Forgive me, Father," when I begin my Confession instead of "Bless me."  Any thoughts on this practice?  (Embarassingly enough, I carried this custom from movies I watched as youthful agnostic, although I see no problems with it.)

I think it is perfectly correct.  "Pardon me, Father" is another way.  There is no exact rule how to go about starting confession.  Same goes for finishing it, though I always thank the priest for his blessing before I leave the confessional.  

PS:  One time I went to a N.O. for confession and after the act of contrition, what floored me was the priest giving absolution in Latin.  I lingered on and expressed my astonishment and he told me that's how he has performed absolution.

[dsewing02]

I think the priest should have let her finish her act of contrition. If  the priest has the child say the act of contrition, the least he could  do is wait for her to finish the prayer.
 

[DominusTecum]

This would seem to resolve itself easily, since any act of contrition, whether it is in our own words, or whether it is read from a card in the confessional, or is a memorized prayer, is sufficient. There is no "magic formula" of an act of contrition, which if not said would invalidate the sacrament. The point is to have sorrow (contrition) for sins, which is manifested, encouraged, and magnified through recitation of the act, which is why any act will suffice. As such, even though we are already certain that it was "valid" because it is the interior intention which matters, we may be even more sure, because she DID say part of the prayer, and would surely have said the entire prayer if she were not cut off.

[Vincentius]

Now, this is belaboring the issue, sorry.

While there is no "magic formula" in the Act of Contrition, we shouldn't adlib either, or then it becomes a novelty.  The words in the Act are tried and true and that is the reason we are required to memorize and recite them.  Isn't this the way we have been taught in preparation for First Confession and First Holy Communion.  Why bother with memorizing when our interior disposition is sufficient?  Is that what is taught in the RCIA?  When we start changing words to our own liking and think it is okay, we will end up left to our own devises and be led away from what is the true form of prayer, the rule of faith.  Can the Apostles' Creed, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the holy Rosary, etc., really be reinterpreted in our own words and convey the same meaning?   I don't think anybody can improve on these prayers.  For that matter why do we flay and excoriate against the reformers of Vatican II for "improving" and reconstructing the holy Catholic faith, the form of prayer (the Mass) and then end up saying nothing is wrong with the manner in which the Sacrament of Penance is performed if not followed to the rule?  What if the priest doesn't use the correct formula of absolution and uses his own words, is the sacrament valid?   [Yes, it is valid because we are protected by the principle of "common error"]  But if we insist in saying the Act of Contrition is not essential to Confession, and will not invalidate the Sacrament, that's a novelty worthy of a novus ordite (such as the priest who ordered the little girl to go and cut short her recitation of the Act).  It is true that interior contrition is sufficent, but nonetheless it is required to be recited when the priest asks so.  I know a few Catholics who have been away from the Church for many years and go to confession as though the first time.  One fellow told me he had forgotten the Act of Contrition and told the priest, who led him through the prayers and then gave absolution.The shortest act of Perfect Contrition is, "O My God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee because I love Thee."  This remits sin immediately (with the intention of going to confession ASAP), and is best to say at the moment of imminent death.  Now, this is a formula prayer (a concise form of the longer one but has the same intention) and would be sufficient to say in confession, but is it what the priest expects?  I'll try this the next time I go and see what the priest comments or reacts.  

Anyway, for the children making their first confession, it is understandable that they may stumble on the words and it's not a big deal.  I am talking about adults who are steeped in the Faith and who should know better.  I'm not going to go around teaching whoever (especially new converts) not to worry about not reciting the Act of Contrition as it won't invalidate the sacrament.  It's not how I have been taught.  It's not how the Church teaches.

[sanctamaria]

Thank everyone so much for your replies and for the good points raised.  I told my friend before Christmas, and another one as well who has a boy and a girl also getting ready for First Communion and Confession in the same group, that if I were them I would look for another church.  I would NOT allow this priest to do such important sacraments with my children no matter if I considered the church mine or not.  I am ever grateful my husband and I found Tradition (or it found us!) last June.  My children will hopefully be taking First Communion this summer under the traditional rite. 

 

Sadly, these friends don't see the problems with the NO churches, although they do see the many errors this priest makes.  They also have never considered that the sacraments performed by this man are valid or invalid, good or bad, defective or not.  But then, nine months I had not considered that position either.  However, when they found out how far I now traveled to church on Sunday (50 minutes and close to 45 miles one way), they both commented "No way.  This church here will have to do.  I'm not going that far." 

 

I guess that sums up where they stand at the moment.  Please pray for them.  I will certainly answer questions honestly, and have from several individuals, but I do not think I should bring the matter up without solicitation, the question of valid sacraments that is.  It is one thing to pull the rug from someone's feet who has asked, but another to jerk it without their asking.  I wish they would ask me, but they have not. 

 

Thanks agin for your replies.  I am learning so much on this board.

 

 

[dsewing02]

<> However, when they  found out how far I now traveled to church on Sunday (50 minutes and  close to 45 miles one way), they both commented "No way. This church  here will have to do. I'm not going that far."

 That was my mother's reaction when I wanted to go to an SSPX chapel  that's 40-50 minutes away. I'm praying that one will be closer to where  I live because I can't stand the attending the N.O. anymore.