December 1, 2024, 12:00 PM

It helps to know that priests hear many confessions. And the details of who said what blur pretty quickly in their memory. While some voices are more recognizable than others, in most confessions, the priests are not aware of who is speaking, unless of course, the screen is not in use. It is also true that priests hear just about everything in confession, and very little shocks them or stands out. This is sad and actually a danger since even serious sins can become normal conversation. Priests can, at times, seem to minimize the serious nature of many sins given the frequency with which they hear things. This is surely helpful in not remembering what the penitent says, but can hinder deep and more serious advice. Remember, too, that priests go to confession. This helps them remain humble when hearing confessions. Every priest takes the complete secrecy of the confessional very seriously. God provides His priests with grace to keep the Sacramental Seal of Confession. The proof of this is that the violation is unheard of. We can conclude that our priests, even if they recognize our voice, or if we are seated openly, during our confession, are probably not going to remember the specifics of our confessions. It’s a combination of poor memory, volume, routine, and grace. Our Lord and the Church strongly encourage us to confess our sins. God wants us to repent so He can forgive us. He does this exceptionally well through His priests. Go! Now you know!