Author Topic: Act of Perfect Contrition (Read 16773 times)

Tridentine MT · « **Reply #5 on:** December 16, 2014, 07:50:57 AM »

Quote from: 2Vermont

I have another question.

Can one go to confession with an Orthodox priest? If so, are they done in a similar fashion and would they even hear the confession of a Catholic?

An Orthodox priest is the closest thing I have to going to a valid priest locally.

How about Novus Ordo priests?!? Are they considered to be priests with all the faculties expected of a Catholic priest?

Dolores · « **Reply #6 on:** December 16, 2014, 08:04:09 AM »

Quote from: Tridentine MT

Quote from: 2Vermont
I have another question.

Can one go to confession with an Orthodox priest? If so, are they done in a similar fashion and would they even hear the confession of a Catholic?

An Orthodox priest is the closest thing I have to going to a valid priest locally.

How about Novus Ordo priests?!? Are they considered to be priests with all the faculties expected of a Catholic priest?

If ten people answer you on this forum, I would not be surprised if you got ten different answers.

Ladislaus · « **Reply #7 on:** December 16, 2014, 09:07:17 AM »

Quote from: 2Vermont

For those of us who do not have access to sacramental confession, does an Act of Perfect Contrition suffice until we can get to confession?

According to the Council of Trent, perfect contrition when combined with an ardent desire / intention / vow to receive the Sacrament would restore the soul to a state of justification. Most Catholics forget about the intention to receive the Sacrament part.

As others have pointed out, it's very difficult to know when one has received the grace to make an act of perfect contrition, and this uncertainty should be used to inspire in us an even more ardent desire to receive the Sacrament of Confession.

IMO, many Eastern Rite priests and older Novus Ordo priests (those ordained before about 1967) can validly administer the Sacrament. You can even seek out on older Novus Ordo priest and invoke Benedict XVI's "motu" to request that they use the Traditional Rite. Summorum states that the faithful's request to receive any of the Sacraments in the Traditional Rite must be respected and accommodated. You'll most likely have to bring a copy of the Old Rite for them though because they won't have access to it. If they are not comfortable with the Latin, just bring an English version and make sure they properly pronounce the words of absolution.

Ladislaus · « **Reply #8 on:** December 16, 2014, 09:10:33 AM »

Quote from: 2Vermont

I have another question.

Can one go to confession with an Orthodox priest? If so, are they done in a similar fashion and would they even hear the confession of a Catholic?

An Orthodox priest is the closest thing I have to going to a valid priest locally.

One can approach an Orthodox priest for the Sacrament only in danger of death. Problem is that most of the Orthodox would refuse you the Sacraments even in danger of death due to their contempt for the Catholic Church. Nor do the Orthodox have the requisite jurisdiction to validly hear Confessions (except when it's supplied by the Church in danger of death).

Eastern Rites have valid orders. Also, try to find older Novus Ordo priests (there are still plenty around, perhaps tucked away in nursing homes). Just do a search for Eastern Rite churches (Byzantine / Ukrainian / Maronite / Chaledean Catholic). Just around here there are about a dozen of them. Plus there's a convenient "Directory of Clergy" here in the Cleveland Diocese which even lists the priests' ordination dates.

Ladislaus · « **Reply #9 on:** December 16, 2014, 09:11:47 AM »

If you want to PM me with your general location, I can dig around the web for some options.