Not unusual at all.
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People often travel very long distances to traditional chapels. Priests (especially experienced ones) have "express lane" confession-- confess your sins, be absolved, go in peace. That way they can get to more penitents, in case there's someone in line who hasn't been in six months and won't be able to come to mass again for another month or so. Speaking just from a social level (that is, considering the collective needs of the faithful), this is desirable.
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As to complete silence, I was once surprised at a chapel when entering the confessional and being met with complete silence. But then I came to find that it's not unusual either, the priest just waits for you to go ahead and get started. I personally prefer the priest to give a "green light", so to speak, but plenty don't.
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I do find that younger priests are more likely to provide advice. Sometimes if I confess to a younger priest, I'm worried he'll run out of breath trying to go through everything that comes to mind to him that I should try. I'm not complaining-- as others have intimated, it's always nice to receive advice. But I think the younger priests, who are zealous but relatively inexperienced, are more likely to offer it. The excitement hasn't quite yet worn off for them. Someone whose been hearing confessions in closets for twenty five years may feel differently and they, unless prodded, aren't going to treat each soul like a special snowflake, but remember that there's a line outside and that it needs to stay moving.
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