The Confession Session
The Confession Session
1- The confession session should be calm and reverent, befitting one of the sacraments of the Church. It is preferable that it take place in the church. But if you are compelled to hear it in the confessor’s home, do not listen to the confession while drinking something, lest it turn into a casual social gathering.
2- Try to help the confessor reveal what is within him. There is no objection to asking him questions, but not in a manner that opens his mind to things he does not know.
3- Do not rebuke him for everything he says, otherwise he will withdraw into himself and say nothing.
4- It is assumed that you explain the confessor’s faults to him and guide him to the way of getting rid of them, in such a way that the method is practical and possible.
5- Do not offer one single guidance for all people, for what suits one may not suit another. Souls are diverse, and not all confessors are at the same spiritual level.
6- Do not try to make the confessor a copy of yourself in his spiritual life, walking according to your own method. For perhaps his direction in life is different from yours, and his capabilities are different from your capabilities.
7- The confessor needs someone who follows up with him, checks on him, asks about his spiritual condition, and makes him feel cared for.
8- Keep a record of the names of your confessors and the dates of their confessions so that you may visit those who stop confessing for a period…
9- Do not suffice with hearing faults only, but you must also ask about positive matters, spiritual growth, and the practice of the means of grace.
10- Do not involve your confessors in your personal problems, nor speak to them about your relationships with the church council, the servants, and your fellow priests…
11- Be an example to your confessors, and do not cause them to stumble because of you in anything.
12- Do not burden anyone beyond his capacity. And if you discipline a confessor, let it be with his conviction and within the limits of his endurance.
13- Be careful regarding the secrets of confessors. And do not let anyone doubt the confidentiality of his confession, even unintentionally.
14- Be just in distributing your time among your confessors.
15- Receiving confession is not merely hearing sins, but rather spiritual leadership.
16- Be long-suffering and patient in guiding souls…
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