Nuns are wonderful but I never quite know how to get to meet them; especially enclosed, contemplative ones. Fulton Sheen said one time that hearing their confessions was a little like being peppered with popcorn.
Before we moved north to Oswego County, at the beginning of this century, my family attended the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Syracuse. It was a marvelous parish with a school where wonderful nuns taught, and a threesome of very orthodox Polish priests ruled the roost. It was our custom to strive for monthly confession including our children, for we were a home-schooling family at that point, who had joined the parish in 1998. Let's just say, the priests were very attentive in hearing confessions. One time, when my elder 12-year-old daughter was in the confessional, any parishioner in the vicinity, suddenly heard the good priest say, "You what!" Poor girl, her great asset is she always says it the way it is! She's very stoic- I never asked for details and she never shared any about it. I was caught myself, once, with the good Msgr. After I had listed my sins, he inquired calmly, "Didn't you confess this sin last month, too!" (Gulp!) "Yes, Msgr." "What penance were you given?" "I don't recall, Msgr." He then instructed me in the following penance. "Go kneel before the large crucifix and tell the Lord how sorry you are for grieving His Heart and causing Him to suffer; then ask him for the overcoming graces you need for conquering this sin." A good priest indeed who has since gone to his reward, I trust. Ah, the blessing of thorough confessions with wise, listening priests!
I am kind of split in half between the need to confront people with the severity of their sins (Old School) and the more Modern way of Mercy (which can sometimes lead to presumption). But on balance I tend to towards Mercy and kindness. I must admit I avoid going to our Traditional priests for confession. One of them was very good but the other ...well let me say never again. Yes I think kindness. Unless the penitent is acting up and telling himself and God lies, but I think really kindness. The Sacrament is not an easy thing if taken seriously and honestly as is. I wouldn''t like to see it made any harder. Anyhow I think people these days are a whole lot softer than they used to be.
The priest is “ in persona Christi” in the Confessional. So I can understand why there would be kindness.
If you want to meet cloistered Nuns go to a monastery and ask for the “extern”. She is the Nun permitted to talk to those out of the cloister. If you want to talk to any of the others you can speak through a grate. Have your questions prepared in advance. On special occasions when they are clothed or make vows you are able to be with all of them in celebration. They like talking about their calling and families. One Nun I met was a former attorney. They are so full of joy.
Wisdom 4:7–15 Untarnished life, this is ripe old age. The virtuous man, though he die before his time, will find rest. Length of days is not what makes age honourable, nor number of years the true measure of life; understanding, this is man’s grey hairs, untarnished life, this is ripe old age. He has sought to please God, so God has loved him; as he was living among sinners, he has been taken up. He has been carried off so that evil may not warp his understanding or treachery seduce his soul; for the fascination of evil throws good things into the shade, and the whirlwind of desire corrupts a simple heart. Coming to perfection in so short a while, he achieved long life; his soul being pleasing to the Lord, he has taken him quickly from the wickedness around him. Yet people look on, uncomprehending; it does not enter their heads that grace and mercy await the chosen of the Lord, and protection, his holy ones.
I had been really , really hoping to take the ferry to Spain next Tuesday. The ferry only goes once a week at the same time. But the lawyers are still battling it out so no go. Please pray forr me that I can go soon.
I am the opposite, I now avoid going to Novus Ord0-priests for confession. The last time I went, the priest advised something that directly contradicts Papal instructions in Casti Connubii (contraception). So, for me, Novus Ordo-confession is "never again". But I do admit Traditional priests can come across as harsh in confession. I admit there is one in particular in our parish which I avoid. I am too soft. I am just back from attending a silent retreat with men of our parish. We were doing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. The first part of these exercises teaches about the enormity of sin in God's view - how God condemned the fallen angels for one single sin, and how he dealt with the entirety of mankind after the fall of Adam and Eve. Something to think about! Because God is outside of time, we can console Our Lord or offend Him in the here and now, depending on how we live. So the traditional way is the teaching I adhere to. I can see what has happened to the world since the introduction of Modernism and I now avoid it at all cost. But in practice, I very much struggle to measure up to the high standards I am trying to adhere to. Basically, I am failing. But since the Ignatian retreat, I see my sins in a different way, and I am now very determined to change my ways. I want to make it to heaven, and bring my family along, and as many others as possible, so I am determined to change my life now. God bless!
Well of course St Teresa of Avila went to numerous Confessors, well before Vatican 2 (sp they would have been , 'Traditional') as did many other saints and found total horror stories with them. So there is no telling. My own Spiritual Director who led me from I was 15 years old for I guess about 30 years was past Vatican 2 Novus Ordo and was very,very strict indeed. He was an exorcist and very holy. Not Trad. Beware of narratives that place everyone in a kind of box of good and bad. There are good and bad trads and good and bad Novus Ordo. Good and bad everywhere. I would say as St Teresa did if you have a choice between a Holy Priest and a learned one , pick the learned one everytime. Wisdom is very,very important in a confessor. Best of all a holy and wise one. I recall with my own one he said he wanted to give up on me because he had only read of the things I was talking to him about in books and he did not feel worthy to continue. I loved that. Humility.We went ahead anyway. Bless him. But I always thought he was a little frightened of what I was going to say next. I trusted his holiness rather than his learning.Anyway I loved him. He was like a Father. The Fathers of the Desert are very good guide in these matters.
Sometimes it may be helpful to come at things from "the other side"; the other side being virtue. If one is growing in virtue while working to conquer their sinfulness, imho, that's not really failure ~ it's growth due to the working of God's grace in the soul ~ All glory to Him!!
Very good point, focus on the positive, focus on trying to live each moment with virtue! It is sweet to serve God - that is one thing that stuck in my mind from the Ignatian retreat. Thank you, and God bless all here!
St. Faustina once told of a confession with a priest who ranted and screamed at her so loudly it could be heard throughout the church. Jesus told her to pray for him and then go back to confession with him, which she did. She said in the second confession he was completely different and was kind and helpful to her. So I guess we should all pray for our confessors beforehand.
