You Believe What?!

The Reconciliation of a Penitent (aka Private Confession)

One of the subjects that make many people want to check the "other" box when trying to figure out whether Anglicans are Protestant or Catholic is the Anglican approach to private confession. Confession to a priest is offered in many Anglican churches and therefore may need a bit of explanation.

In short the Anglican approach to private confession is: always, sometimes, never.

Confession is ALWAYS available. If there is a burden of sin that you are carrying and you wish to confess to a trusted confidant - seek out your priest and make an appointment! He will listen, without judgment. He may offer spiritual direction and make recommendation about making restitution or simply a first step in walking again in the path of righteousness.

Confession is SOMETIMES a REALLY good idea. For those who have gotten stuck in that cycle of sin, confess to God, sin again, confess to God again...sin again, confess to God again... It may be helpful to confront your sin by having to name it out loud. Further, for those who have confessed their sin in the past but are still haunted by feelings of guilt - hearing a priest proclaim Christ's absolution may be an incredibly healing moment.

Confession, privately to a priest is NEVER required to participate in the sacramental life of the Church. This is where Anglicans differ from both Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches and where we show our true Protestant colors. Both of those other Communions require sacramental confession as a prerequisite to being considered eligible to receive communion. In Anglicanism we adopted the Reformation practice of including a General Confession in the liturgy whereby all the faithful can confess their sins directly to God and still receive a declaration of absolution from the priest in preparation of celebrating the sacraments.

Here are a few other notes about confession from the preface to the office for the reconciliation of a penitent in the Book of Common Prayer.

"The ministry of reconciliation, which has been committed by Christ to his

Church, is exercised through the care each Christian has for others,

through the common prayer of Christians assembled for public worship,

and through the priesthood of the Church and its ministers declaring

absolution...

The Reconciliation of a Penitent is available for all who desire it. It is not

restricted to times of sickness. Confessions may be heard anytime and

anywhere...

When the penitent has confessed all serious sins troubling the conscience

and has given evidence of due contrition, the priest gives such counsel

and encouragement as are needed and pronounces absolution. Before

giving absolution, the priest may assign to the penitent a psalm, prayer,

or hymn to be said, or something to be done, as a sign of penitence and

act of thanksgiving.

The content of a confession is not normally a matter of subsequent

discussion. The secrecy of a confession is morally absolute for the

confessor, and must under no circumstances be broken."