Here in Dublin we’re blessed; there is a Carmelite church in the middle of the main shopping district which offers confessions most of the day, six days a week. It’s a great gift to have.

Pat I agree. Our old parish is one of the largest in our diocese. Three preists, multitude of permenant deacons, tons of ministry opportunities for lay people, and only 3 short confession times during the week with usually just one preist. With the number of people attending all 4 Sunday Masses and the Saturday Vigil you would think the confessional lines would wrap around the church twice, but that’s not the case.

We found another parish in town and are blessed to have 45 minutes of scheduled confession times EVERY day before Mass and twice on Sunday. All by just one preist (FSSP). The confession lines are always full. Our preist has actually chidded the parish during some of his homilies about the important of frequent confession. His words, “That’s the reason we’re all preists! To hear your confessions and convert souls for Christ!”

I am lucky to have been confirmed in my university’s parish, which offers confession a half hour before every single Mass, which can end up being as few as two times and as many as four times a day. It’s really given me a solid grounding for going to confession frequently early on in my conversion.

Thanks for pointing this out.  The availability of Confession is horrible.

But I’ll chime in another bit of supply-side economics.  How much time is provided for Confession annually per parishioner?  (1 priest * 52 weeks * 45 minutes * 60 seconds/minute)/(parishioners of age) ?  A parish with 4500 souls has alloted barely 35 seconds for each person a year.  That’s barely enough to get them into the confessional, let alone complete the rubrics.

I couldn’t agree more, and I think there’s already evidence to support your opinion: Consider the St. Francis Chapel in Boston’s Prudential Center building staffed by priests of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary.  Confessors are available there nearly all day most days of the week—right in the middle of a shopping mall.  It’s incredible.

As the economic theory suggests, “Demand follows supply.”

We can medicate on this wonderful unchanging principle ; the Duty of rejoicing ,as I quote 1 Chronicle 16:10 ” Glory ye in his holy name : let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord” ( cross reference with Zephania 3:14)
This wonderful principle reminds us the wonderful joy that we receive when we remain close to God , prevents us from worshipping of Any God except Jehovah forbidden: the penalty of Death : Exodus 34:14 ” For thou shalt worship no other god : for the Lord ,whose name is jealous ,is a jealous God” ( the first commandment) , Christisn worship must be rendered from a pure heart to God alone ( Matthew 4:10) ” Then saith Jesus unto him ,Get thee Satan : for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”
God , according to his mercy left us instructions on how not to violate the first commandment ( Duties to God) to prevent us all from committing a criminal offense. ( the first commandment is a precept of the criminal law)
For further reflection ( catechism of the catholic church on the first commandment #2084-2132)
The wonderful perfection of God : The will and the intellect mutually include one another: for the intellect understands the will, and the will wills the intellect to understand. So then, among things directed to the object of the will,are comprised also those that belong to the intellect ; and conversely . Whence in the order of things desirable, good stands as the universal ,and the true as the particular ; whereas in the order of intelligible things the converse is the case. From the fact, then that the true is a kind of good, it follows that the good is prior in the order of things desirable; but not that it is prior absolutely.( summa theology)
Peace to all !!!!

Seting a couple of hours every day,say ll:oo-!00 or other practical hours with APPRPRIATE SINGS AND NOTICES will let peope be able to plan ahead and get their conciences straightened.
Great place to get a some of the hours read and a rosary said.

Mercy Mercy Mercy A small store front chapel in Colonie N.Y. operated by the Franciscan Fathers. Confessions are available every morning and afternoon six days a week. What a blessing!!!!!!!!!!
Deacon Tom

In Archdiocese of Baltimore during Lent they added Wednesday nights from 7 - 8:30.  If only they would keep that year round.

i think this is a fantastic proposal. the problem is how to implement it. would this work? what if in city or town where there are , say, six parishes, there was a retired priest in residence in one of them, and he committed himself to be available or on call for confessions, say one day a week. the day could rotate, and the schedule announced and promoted in all the parish bulletins. this week it is MERCY MONDAY, next week, it is MERCY TUESDAY, and so on. he is there for who ever comes. of course someone has to be around to let people in,send them to him, etc. but it shouldnt be that difficult to set up a confessional room in one or two rectories within a geographic area where people could count on a DAY OF MERCY where confession was an open option. in big cities there is usually a shrine church run by a religious order like the franciscans that can offer confessions daily. but in smaller places we need another alternative.

This is so right on. The parishes where confession is for 45 minutes Saturday or “by appointment” always seem like the parishes where the pastor is somewhat doing his own thing and not a big advocate of some things the Church teaches. Including being passionate about the sacrament of Confession. Seriously, don’t leave home without it. I am not virtuous or holy but any chance I have comes from going to Confession about every 2 weeks and going to Mass and receiving the Eucharist every week. Thanks Pat. Great story. Sounds so familiar. :)

Removing barriers to production would be nice. That would increase the suppliers of the product, which would increase supply.  The single largest barrier to production is mandatory celibacy (for secular clergy).  There is no cogent argument to claim otherwise.  If you want to increase supply, remove the barriers to production.

Great insight!  How I wish confession were available more often than for an hour or two on Saturdays… With a young family, it’s often hard to fit in confession during our precious weekend family time.  I know that I am called to “make the time,” and I know our priests are so busy and work so very hard to administer to us all… But I also know that if more opportunities for confession were available, I’d go more often.  Simple as that.

Bad choices + bad catechesis = less vocations = less priests =  less clock time at the confessional = less confessions heard. Yep the economics of planned parenthood (contraceptives) are right where they should be.

—-the priesthood is more than a job, but can’t the bishops ‘demand’ certain things happen- like each priest is in confession an hour a day (maybe before work hours or after work hours) for a large parish

I know that appointments might not be that great for someone away from the Church for a long time- but the confession might be an hour long- not that practical when others are waiting for a ‘minor tune-up’

Let us all take a moment to reflect on these spiritual truths,that would help us to see how merciful our God is : in the book of Deuteronomy 4:31, scripture revealed as I quote ” ( for the Lordthy God is a merciful God) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee,nor forget the covenant of thy fathers, which he sware unto them ” ( cross reference Psalm 62:12, lamentation 3:22) these faith objectives revealed attributes of God as person. Christ Divinity( Christ as God)  , as scripture revealed these faith objectives in reference : performs the works of God ( in forgiving Sins) the Acts of the Apostles 5:31, as I quote ” Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour , for to give repentance to Israel , and forgiveness of sins. ( cross reference Luke 5:20)
instances of scripture , Exodus 19:7, as I quote” And Moses came and called for the elders of the people ,and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him, and we are sanctify and save by scripture : Psalm 17:4, as I quote ” Concerning the works if men, by the words of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer”
Since it is written in the Gospel of Saint John 4:24, ” God is Spirit”
Man is said to be after the image if God , not as regards his body , but as regards that whereby he excels other animals. Hence, when it is said , Let us ake man to our image and likeness, it is added , And let him have dominion over the fishes of the sea ( Genesis 1:26) . Now man excels all animals by reason and intelligence ; hence it is according to his intelligence and reason ,Which are I corporeal , that man is said to be according to the image of God ( summa theology)
God and His perfection : we cannot the essence of God in this life , as He really is in himself ; but we know him accordingly as He is represented in the perfections of creatures; and thus the names imposed by us signify Him in that manner” ( summa Theology)
This is Mercy !!!!!!!!
Peace to all

Let us reflect on the precepts of the first epistle of saint John : How merciful God is
I)sacred Doctrine ( The Incarnate Word)
II) walk in the light
1. First condition( break with sin)
2. Second condition( keep the commandments , especially the law of love)
3. Third condition : ( detachment from the world)
4 condition: be on guard against the enemies of Christ
III) live as God’s Children
1. First condition : (break with sin)
2 . Second condition: ( keep the commandments, especially the law of love
3 third condition:(Be on guard against the enemies of Christ and against the world)
iV) Love and Faith
V) prayer for sinners
Peace to all !!!!!

Certain of the moral virtues are concerned with the passions, as temperance with concupiscence, fortitude with fear and daring, meekness with anger.Such virtues as these can only metaphorically be attributed to God; since m as stated in God there are no passions; nor a sensitive appetite , which is , as the philosopher says ( Ethics iii. 10) ,the subject of this virtues are concerned with works of giving and expending; such as justice, liberality , and magnificence; and these reside not in the sensitive faculty, but in the will.Hence , there is nothing to prevent our attributing these virtues to God; although not in civil matters , but in such acts as are not unbecoming to Him. For , as the philosopher says ( Ethics 10. 8) , it would be absurd to praise God for His political virtues.
This God and His perfection/  The Divine Operations)
Peace to all !!!!!!
The truth shall set you free!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m so grateful that someone has finally brought this issue to light. I’ve felt for a while now that the Sacrament of Reconciliation has often been neglected, but since I’ve been told before that I am too quick to find fault in certain unorthodox practices, I decided to keep quiet. Not that the limited amount of time set aside for confession is unorthodox, but I can’t help but wish that we could return to the days of St. John Vianney, when confessionals where full to the brim and people came from far and wide, day in and day out, to have their confessions heard.

I agree and have thought the same for a long time. If priests want to renew their parishes, one of the most obvious first steps is to make confession widely and conveniently available. Confession is hard but people really want to do it. Remove the barriers and they will come. One way this could be done is to pick one or two extended periods (maybe 2 hours) each week (perhaps Friday Evening and Saturday morning) - put the blessed sacrament on the altar so people can come to adore and have the priest sit in the confessional. While he is waiting for people to come to confession he can busy himself saying his office, doing lectio divina or reading the scriptures. Would it be a sacrifice for the priest? You bet - but it would be a priestly sacrifice and it would bear fruit.

I seriously think it’s liberal priests who don’t really believe in mortal sin and hell, and they do want to discourage people from doing something they feel should be discarded. My geographical parish only has them every other week. And if they hear confessions it might remind them that they need to go, and they’d probably rather not be reminded. As for using retired priests, a priest once said, “Would you go to a retired doctor or a retired lawyer?” So many refuse to ask for help. I remember as a youth minister busting myself to try to get teens to go to confession once or twice a year during retreat. But we really are at the mercy of the priests. If they don’t want to, they don’t want to. If they do want to, they need only say during their homilies: “I am available for confession after Mass or at the following times, and I want you to come. Please come.”

I agree with the need to have confession available at convenient times - not everyone can take off work, or manage to find the time in a busy day to go.  It wouldn’t kill any parish to have evening confessions available at least 2 x a month.

I do like the idea of a diocese having “mall confessions”.  Go where the people are.

I’m in the South right now, and I treasure the parishes I have been a part of - MANY parishes are “mission churches” - we are the rarities in the South, even today.

My good people, are you not aware that Priests are bound by their Sacerdotal Calling to make themselves available - at any time - to hear Confessions??  All we need to do is realize and appreciate that in the Parish, Priests have other duties, too. Administrative duties of running the Parish, visiting the sick in Hospitals, conducting weddings and baptisms, counselling the couples preparing for the Sacrament of Matrimony, counselling married couples with problems, etc.  However, if Pastoral Parish Council Members work out schedules with the Priests and announce longer hours for Confessions during the weekdays, and we the Faithful are serious about our Spiritual Health, there would not be anyone who would miss Confession when they need it.  The Priests will soon fall into the routine and for those really committed Faithful - with opportunities - who attend daily Holy Mass, weekly Confession would be one of the valued duty to be observed and no Priest would turn one away.  But if we, the Faithful, want to clear all our other chores before we can think of going to look for Christ in His Seat of Mercy, then, let us not blame the Priests.  We are the problem!!!!!

When I 1st read the title of this article, I immediately thought of Jesus’s Parable between a master and his servant who owes so much to this master.  And then another fellow servant who owes this servant.  As the story goes, the 1st servant pleaded for mercy and was forgiven by his master.  But this same servant did not forgive a fellow servant and as the story goes when the master found out, the 1st servant got what he deserved.

I did not think of the supply and demand of time for confession.  I just think that it’s more important to forgive those who wronged us so that we ourselves will be forgiven by God.

God is always ready to forgive us but we must ask. I font think it’s heretical to say that’s what he expects of us—I have many family who never have and never will likely ask forgiveness or even be sorry. I have spent a lot of time beating myself up for being “unable” to forgive them. Now I think if it as being very willing to forgive if they ever make any sincere attempt to take responsibility and seek reconciliation. (it’s not something they even want now…so I can’t make it happen.)
That being said…I do think it’s an extremely serious issue that confession us lax ( not often available) in some parishes. We MUST be willing to forgive…but that doesn’t in any way decrease our need for sacramental confession.

Ps dear mary42 you are right that priests have an obligation to make Confession readily available but I don’t think they need to run it by “HHS Parish Council.” priests, not parish council members, are jn charge if running the parish. Sorry if I sound grumpy, I don’t mean to, it’s just created problems in a lot if parishes…where
“The People” run things. Know what I mean? :)

Thank you, Mary for responding to my contribution.  I did state earlier that from the respondents in most Catholic Websites where I have subscribed, I have, very sadly noted that in America, fidelity to the Catholic Faith is at all times low. Very, very unfortunate. That country more than any other, needs God’s Mercy like yesterday. But coming back to our subject in this Post, I did not mean, Mary that Pastoral Parish Council Members run the Parishes - far, far from it.  What they do is that they are a bridge between the Priests in the Parish and the many Faithful in a particular Parishes in a particular Archdiocese or Diocese.  You will be surprised, Mary, to hear that in our Holy Family Minor Basilica, Nairobi, Kenya, we have four Priests and a Deacon who assists in infant Baptism and other duties that fall within the realm of the Deaconate, yet we have more than 3,000 Parishoners. Most of these, who work in the City Centre attend Weekday Holy Masses at 6.25 a.m. 7.15 a.m, 1.15 p.m. and 5.25 p.m.  We have daily Confessions from 4.00 p.m. up to 5.20 p.m. - just before the final Daily Holy Mass. What I wanted to emphasize is that Priests are fully aware of the Sacerdotal Obligation towards the Faithful and those Catholics who are serious with their Spiritual life know, if you feel you need to go for Confession, you can approach the Priest - say 15 minutes before the Holy Mass (even on Sundays), request for Confession, and he will without doubt give you this very vital Sacrament there and then.  For those who do not attend these Weekday Holy Masses, one cal telephone the Parish Secretary who will connect you with any Priest who is in the Parish and the two of you will arrange when you can come for Confession.  By God’s Grace, unlike in your country, Mary, here Priests know their duties perfectly well.  They are the Shepherds of our souls and they will answer how they took care of Christ’s sheep.  Even in the rural areas where we have - say 2 or 3 Priests in a Parish which has more or less 16 Local Churches scattered around the countryside, the Priests work our their Programme to ensure the main Parish and the Local Churches’ Faithful have time set for them to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and at least in 2 Sundays - for the Local Churches - during the Month Confessions are available and the Holy Mass is Celebrated.  They also undertake home visits to those Sheep who are lukewarm, have sick family members or who require personalized Spiritual support and consolation.  Apart from Pastoral Parish Councils in the Parish, all Local Churches have very vibrant and active Small Christian Communities which meet once a week for Prayers, Holy Bible and Catechism of the Catholic Church studies and general discussions about their Spiritual lives. Any special Spiritual needs which come up during these Prayer Meetings, are passed on to the Father-in-Charge of the Parish.  Any problems and particular needs in any family will, in this way, come to the attention of the Parish Priests and they will then ensure one of them takes up the matter.  We have also the most vital Apostolate in the Catholic Church - the Pontifical Missionary for Children - which is performing wonders in educating and forming sound Catholic grounding of our children from ages 4 to 24. In this Apostolate the children are divided in four age-groups, and in each Age-group the children are taught the Pillars of the Catholic Faith, the Catechism, the Scriptures, the Sacramental Life and how to live as devoted faithful Catholics, thanks to Pope Benedict XVI who founded this Ministry. You will remember Blessed Pope John Paul II was particularly gratified by the growth and the enthusiasm of the Catholic Faithful in Africa.  It was, in fact, during his Papacy that the Catholic Faithful have doubled in the Continent of Africa and still growing by leaps and bounds.  My advice to my beloved Catholics on this and other Websites is that all of us - Members of Christ’s Body - are obligated to pray for Christ’s Bride, especially in those countries where it appears God is on the Eclipse - again quoting Blessed Pope John Paul II. In conclusion I wish to reiterate that it is never, it has never been, and it will never be the Magisterium Teaching of the Church that Catholic Parishes are run by the Laity, or that they excercise any such duties. That was not what Christ charged His Apostles and their Successors to do. But it is to them only that He left the shepherding, the teaching, and sactifying through the Sacraments His sheep. (Gospel Reading of the 1st May Divine Mercy Sunday). The role of the Laity in the Catholic Church is laid down in the Canon Law for the Laity and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  I strongly believe that any serious Catholic who cares about their salvation should endeavour to understand their Faith properly, and these two Catholic Publications - among many others - are a must in a Library of every Catholic Faithful to ensure they are fully conversant with and fully understand the authentic Doctrine of our One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. It is in this Catholic Church where the Full Revelation of the Redemption Mystery subsists.  In this way, we shall all work as one to nourish our Holy Church and it will continue to grow, witness and proclaim the Message of the Risen Christ, who is The Way, The Truth and the Life, by being truly faithful and obedient to the Teachings,the Tradition, the Magisterium and the Authority of the Powers of the Keys exercised by the Successor of St. Peter.

This is so true!  I converted to Catholicism at a very vibrant university parish that had confession M-F for an hour each day with two priests and the lines were always super long.  Even if you got there right when it was supposed to start, you might not get it.  As a convert, I am still dealing with serious sinful tendencies and habits that I formed before my conversion.  Confession has truly been God’s hand of healing stretched out towards me.  When I moved to the place where I currently reside and found that of over fifty parishes, only three offered confession at a time other than one hour on Saturday I was shocked.  And of course those three are the ones which are growing the most, and most faithful to the Church’s teachings.

This also makes me think of something else some of my friends and I have noticed.  In college, some of them got into the habit of attending daily mass.  They then returned to the “real world” and found that if a parish offers daily mass, it is usually at 8:00 or 8:30 AM.  At best, once a week, there will be an earlier mass.  As a working person, I usually have to be at work by around 7:30 or 8.  Going to a mass at 8 or 8:30 and getting in at 10 is just not an option.  And 5:30 PM masses in the evening are also not feasible - IF I have left work by then, I will be stuck in traffic.  A lot of priests and people complain about how few people attend daily mass, but the basic fact of the matter is that it is only available to those people who are not working regular jobs (ie. mothers or retirees).  I believe priests are required to say mass every day - it would be hugely beneficial to the Church in my opinion, if a few of them could get up just a little earlier to say mass for people who work.  As the post suggests, as the supply increases, people will come.