www.byzcath.org Forums Mysteries: The Life of Worship The Other Sacramental Mysteries Confession-Reconciliation

How is confession typically done in the Eastern Catholic churches? Do they follow a format similar to Latin Rite Catholics or Orthodox or something different? What are the prayers and steps normally followed? I am not able to find any guidelines.
Thanks.

Well, here's a good video from YouTube that you can follow with:
Why no confessionals? [youtu.be]

This was filmed by a local deacon here in the Northeast Ohio area.

Thank you. That was very helpful.

Great Video!

It appears the Youtube site noted above, has a number of short videos that address many relevant questions in a concise, and edifying manner. Thanks again for the link.

Christ is Born!!

Bishop Gregory, the new bishop of ACROD has an interesting article entitled "Preparation for Receiving Holy Communion" on their website. It may also answer your question.

Bob

Here is a link to the article theophan mentioned [acrod.org].

Very nice article to read. Thank you.

In Christ,
Alice

What do you do if only a Latin Rite priest is available? they have a different approach than the eastern priest and they forgive the sins themselves which is foreign to us.

gonesimera:

Glory be to Jesus Christ!!

My approach has always been that I do what I have to do to be and stay reconciled with Jesus Christ. The formula may be different, reflecting a different theological approach. But at the end of the day I am back in a renewed relationship with the Lord. And I thank Him for the avenue, even if it is a little different than the avenue that I would ordinarily walk down.

Bob

A recent post on another thread brought a matter to mind, namely that of excommunication for grave sin as practiced, evidently, in the Orthodox Church. In the Catholic experience, what we Romans refer to as "mortal" sins are not met with any sort of excommunication or severe penance. Usually a series of prayers along with a verbalized act of contrition are prescribed by the priest as a sign of the penitent's contrition and repentance. No excommunication follows (except in the case of extremely severe public "excommunicable" offenses such as schism, striking a cleric, obstinacy in heresy, &c ).

From what I've been given to understand, serious sin is dealt with rather more severly in the Orthodox Church (and if my understanding here is flawed, please pardon my misunderstanding), often requiring penitents to experience prolonged periods of time apart from the sacraments before absolution will be granted.

That being the case (if that is, indeed, the case), how does the Orthodox Church deal with a sinner who repeatedly confesses the same grave sin over and over again on account of an addiction that he may have developed over many years before the period of his conversion? I ask this question with all due respect.

There are some specific situations that do incur excommunication. You might check the Code of Canon Law. One thing that comes to mind immediately is intentional desecration of the Eucharist. I think it's reserved to the Pope alone to lift this one.

Bob

One must realize that ex-communication in Orthodoxy means a penance, and does not make a penitent someone who has been officially declared to be outside the church as one commonly thinks of the term in the Roman Catholic tradition.

Excommunication from the Eucharist for a period of time due to a severe/grave sin is considered 'medicine' for the soul rather than 'punishment' to the sinner. It gives the sinner time to fully appreciate what his/her sin has been, and how precious a gift the Eucharist is--and one which Orthodox are not supposed to take lightly..(thus, the preparation which goes with it: fasting, abstaining, confession, seeking forgiveness from those you have offended, etc.)

Periods of excommunication are determined ONLY by a penitent's spiritual father confessor, whether it is for a one time grave sin or a sin which the penitent has a problem controlling. There is no 'one penance fits all' and that is where the unique Orthodox concept of 'economia' comes in to determine what amount of time, if any, the penitent should abstain from the Eucharist.