Sunday, April 20, 2008

Confession in succession...


It’s Sunday, so let me take you inside a church today. I found this sign in Saint Sulpice and I thought it was really odd. It looks like there are so many people willing to confess that they have to organize a queue/line or something. Are people in the 6th arrondissement big sinners or what?! Anyway, as you may already know, among the Christians, only Catholics need to talk to a priest to be absolved, the Protestants ask directly forgiveness from God. And from what I could see on the web, no such thing as confession exists among the Muslims or the Jews.

52 comments:

  1. I have to confess that this ritual is alien to me.

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  2. I saw lots of people lining up inside Notre-Dame for confession--not too private either. The priest and person were right inside a glass booth.

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  3. Well Jews have the Day of Atonement. Same thing i think?

    It does seem very odd to queue. I mean, what if you're in a hurry to get the confession over with so that you can rush out and do it again?

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  4. Michael GF!!!
    I m glad I m not a Catholic or I would have spend half of my days talking to a priest!

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  5. Although not a Catholic, I used to head over to the local parish on Saturday mornings with my Catholic friends ans wait while they went to confession. After we would be off to the park for our usual Saturday morning baseball game.

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  6. I know this sign doesn't really mean "confession welcome" but that's the way I read it, so I find it amusing. "Come on in, tell us your sins!" Thanks for the chuckle Eric!

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  7. If you put that sign outside an english church we would line up to confess.Not to absolve ourselves of sin, not beacuse we are staunch catholics, but because we like to queue.It's one thing we are united as. For me too little time to confess, and not enough to be(too) sinful.

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  8. While we are talking about Catholics, Protestants, sin, et al: in 1521, Martin Luther wrote what has become his most misunderstood quote,
    ‘God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners.
    Be a sinner, and sin boldly, but let your trust in Christ be more bold, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world.’

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  9. Yes..the 6eme must be FULL of sinners!! LOL!!!

    In American Catholic churches the Confession is referred to as "Reconciliation" now and most churches have a Community Reconciliation so you can confess as a part of the congregation and don't need to do the one on one with the priest. Perfect for the rushed "In and Out...McDonald's Generation"!! ;-)

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  10. Having been brought up Catholic, I am familiar with the ritual of confession - which (in my experience, at least) has always seemed like a parent's way of appealing to a "higher authority". I would have had more respect for my parents had they trusted me to find my own way regarding ethical and moral issues, rather than handing me over to the bogeyman for a light roasting. Guilt and shame, when they require the intercession and forgiveness of some deity in order to be expunged, are more likely to be entrenched by such rituals. Which is probably why psychiatry has been doing such good business over the last century or so.

    That said, as a child, I often used to fantasize about going into the confessional and admitting to the most heinous sins imaginable, just to shock the priest. Sometimes I still do.

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  11. I think Catholics are good organizers. It's no wonder why Aristotle is so loved by so many. Ahem! As kids, standing in a confessional queue/line waiting to be absolved, we'd always try to come up with the sin that would warrant the fewest Hail Marys and Our Fathers.

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  12. À "tonton_flaneur" - The "Reconciliation" in American Catholic churches is similar to the "Corporate Confession" in the Lutheran churches. If I'm not mistaken, the rubrics are almost identical: "Most merciful God, we confesss that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name, Amen."

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  13. As a Christian, I am really glad that I don't have to confess to anyone but God. He is the one who forgives my sin, not another person, so asking Him directly works for me.

    I probably don't ask for forgiveness as often as I should, but I do try to live a life that would please Him.

    Hope you all have a lovely Sunday!

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  14. I like the darkness in the background of this picture, and the battered sign.

    I remember the Catholic kids I grew up with having to do awful penances for things like lying or hitting their brothers and sisters: things like walking on their knees all day, or saying a hundred Hail Marys. The nuns at our local Catholic school were tough cookies, too. What they got away with would be termed abuse today.

    The Pope is visiting the US now. He sounds like a nice man, with a more open view of how things should be than they were back then. Whew!

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  15. A confessional que. Interesting. I like to go straight to God, no third party intervention needed!

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  16. Of course the folks around there are big sinners, Michael told me a long time ago about how the French are such huge sinners! I, like rose, am very happy I'm not Catholic. I'm sure I'd spend waaaay too much time in confessional (especially considering some thoughts I may or may not have had involving someone that may or may not live across the pond from me!

    In all seriousness though, I'm going to venture a guess that they've only had to add the queue in the past few years; ever since The DaVinci Code made St. Sulpice a very popular attraction.

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  17. This has got to be the most interesting set of comments I've read in a long time. Besides learning a lot, I'm laughing out loud too. I love the bits where people made things up to shock the priest.

    So, am I to understand that when people go into the confession booth that they don't come out singing like Maria in The Sound of Music?

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  18. I should confess now to the original sin . Yes, I was born!I am happy to be here too:)

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  19. I like this old sign, it has a beauty to it. The photo shows the mystery I (as a non catholic) think catholic churches consists with all the incense, holy water and ... confessions.
    I have been to the St.Sulpice and I think it's more gloomy than other churches. No wonder Dan Brown used this place to be the scene for the albino monk to kill sister Sandrine in The Da Vinci Code.
    But I have a recommendation;when you are finished searching for The Roseline in St.Sulpice, you should go across the square and have a drink at the Café de la Mairie, it's a lovely place to sit for people watching.

    This was a daring photo Eric, you know religion and politics...
    No, I think all the comments are great and interesting. That's what I like about this place, no one quarrels ! Only sometimes, and then it's for fun :) or... isn't it ???? :)

    A nice sunday to all !

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  20. BTW if the time for the comments are right then Michael and Bibi have posted their comments before Eric put out todays post at 00:24.
    What is going on here ? Does someone have insider informations that the rest of us doesn't ??? :D
    Well isn't that a mystery ?

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  21. I'll let Eric explain, but there's a purely technical reason for that Bettina! ;-)

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  22. Yes, I was wondering about that. I checked Eric's blog just before I went to bed shortly before midnight, and there was his new photo! I didn't get it either! Explain?

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  23. The thing i've never understood is the absolution of these sins, yet i presume if said person went in the following week confessing the same sin, they'd be absolved again. Can anyone explain that?

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  24. Oh Lynn, you're just asking for it aren't you?!?!

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  25. as a child i though nationality and religion were linked as my French friends went to religious teaching and not me
    then my parents put me in catholic schools with priest and 'religieuse' as they had better results ... it was a really strange feeling because they make you feel not beeing part of it but what is this club about? thank God i am not religious and i dont have to answer you

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  26. Michael ;) he he well i suppose it COULD stir up trouble. Not wishing that of course (sweet smile) but i really would like to know the validation of such absolution when the same sin is welcomed to confession the next time. A reasonable question, i feel.

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  27. What's been going on with these priests that we are finding out today,they are know better than you or me. I'll talk directly to God.He's the only supierior there is. Elaine Cooke

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  28. Elmere i agree with you, if i'm going to talk to anyone, i'll cut out the middle man thanks.

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  29. I confess that, when I was a catholic boarding school student at the age of about 10 or 11, I used to go to confession much more often than necessary, because that would get me out of study hall. I'd always make up a laundry list of "sins" to confess. Having "impure thoughts" was never one of them, though, I hate to admit it. By the time I was into impure thoughts and deeds, I had given up on the Catholic Church.

    Great photo, Eric, one that is generating great comments too!

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  30. I really enjoy your blog and read it whenever I get a chance. I have tagged you for a meme, here is the link
    http://luluabroad.blogspot.com/2008/04/meme-tag-like-flashlight-tag-but-better.html
    -lulu

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  31. You ask me if we are big sinners in the 6th?!!! You know the answer buddy. And the story doesn't say if you've been in yourself?...
    Don't say you don't need it!...

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  32. so happy i found your site! Yeah! A picture from Paris a day is a terrific treat! Thank you

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  33. That is very funny. I had no idea confessions were back in fashion.

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  34. Elaine: you haven't read many blogs, have you? ;)

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  35. I wonder if having to go to confession would make you think twice before doing some of the things you might be tempted to do? I know I'd be embarrassed for some things by going to confession! I just pray quietly in my own home for forgiveness! That works for me!

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  36. This is a happy photo; the woman smiling/laughing, the woman's high heel shoe. I love the churches of Paris. I love hearing the church bells ringing on Sunday. Sunday is a day of love. "impure thoughts" Oh, definitely! You are too funny Elisabeth. Once a friend of mine said he was going to show me all the famous churches of Paris that day. I said that is going to take a long time. He said no, as most were closed to the public. There had been a terrorist threat because of something the Pope had said. Grief. One day I would like to go to see Mont St Michel. My friend went and he said, expect to do a lot of walking. He was exhausted when he got back to Paris.

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  37. Here is a kind of confession that Muslims have to make: http://muttaqun.com/shahada.html

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  38. Agree about the photo of the weathered sign with the dark background leading to a lively discussion. Am enjoying reading here today! My mother had some difficult experiences marrying my father, as he was Catholic, she wasn�t, and was prohibited from going to our (my brothers) baptisms. We were raised Episcopalian by my mother, my father rarely went to church.

    Alas...while I have never gone to confession, I confess here that a few of Eric�s restaurant photos have lead to some seriously impure thoughts. I don�t know what it is about them? maybe I have seen too many romantic films? or it is from being deprived of quality culinary experiences? or that Eric has a talent for capturing beauty (most definitely!)...but...Mmmmmmm

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  39. That was a good one Jennifer. I especially liked your "impure thoughts" comments. I'm still laughing. Very sexy and so true.

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  40. I am a French historian (an American historian of France) and I once found a letter in an archive from 18th-century parishioners complaining about having to stand in line for confession--they also complained about people cutting in line!

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  41. That's interesting KC, tell us more please.

    Lois, I had the same reaction to Jennifer's post. Still laughing from here.

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  42. Fantastic Starman! I really enjoyed learning about Muslim confession and will read more on this site in English to learn more. Thanks for sharing it with us.

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  43. It is a daring post, Bettina, you're right, but Eric knew he was going to have to be absent so he put it on and scarpered fast! See what he says if he pops in in the next hour or so.

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  44. Confession : for me, it belongs to ancient times while 'sins' still belong to all times ... I can't picture mylself expressing some doubts to a priest... I'd prefer picturing myself directly connected to "something" higher to me... without need of an intermediary. But I do respect, if some need that. Most of all, each one has to do its best, and it is so personal. Who knows who is right in such a theme? Each one has its own unique truth to search and if one can be okay with it, it is already no so bad...

    Hope the festival de Romans was nice! I saw the name of the winner's travel blog category. Don't know if it was your choice Eric, but what I saw about it, is really fabulous : what she did during 7 months, how she shared it, wrote it and expressed her feelings, the whole thing with a good sense of humor. Beautiful young and strong woman!

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  45. Thank you for all your interesting comments everyone. I must say I hesitated before posting this photo, because they always tell you "avoid religion and politics"! But I don't agree. One can talk about everything as long as one shows respect.

    Anyway... I'm back from Romans, I had a very nice time, and gave the 1st prize to what I (we, we were 2 in the jury) think was the best "travel blog")!

    Katie, I gave up sinning a long time ago LOL.

    Babooshka, LOOOOL on the "we like to queue". I know about this partiality for queuing in Britain. I never understood why...

    Lucio "Having been brought up Catholic, I am familiar with the ritual of confession..." interesting comment as always.

    Petrea "What they [the nuns] got away with would be termed abuse today. Wow.

    Hey Soosha, how have you been?! I don't believe you; you cannot be a big sinner!

    Michael "This has got to be the most interesting set of comments I've read in a long time." I agree;) It's good to post about serious matters sometimes...

    Bettina "You should go across the square and have a drink at the Café de la Mairie," Yes, it's a nice place to watch people, you're right. You may even see Catherine Deneuve pass by, as she lives on the Place Saint Sulpice ;)
    About the posting time; I was in Romans with limited access to the Internet (yeah, I know it's hard to believe !!) So I took the chance to post whenever I could, which was sooner than the actual planned - and already set - time.

    Lynn "i presume if said person went in the following week confessing the same sin, they'd be absolved again" Yes and no, because once you sinned once, you're not supposed to do it again the next week. It would be too easy!

    Elisabeth "By the time I was into impure thoughts and deeds, I had given up on the Catholic Church." Yeah, that sounds like what a lot of Catholics say...

    Tanya "I wonder if having to go to confession would make you think twice before doing some of the things you might be tempted to do? " I think that is the idea.

    Lois "One day I would like to go to see Mont St Michel. My friend went and he said, expect to do a lot of walking. He was exhausted when he got back to Paris.". You're right, it's really worth it, but definitely too crowded. Make sure you go in the middle of the week, on a cold, rainy day out of the touristy season.

    Starman. Thank you for the link. It's interesting.

    ;) Jennifer

    KC. Wow, that is interesting. I would have never thought there would actually be written evidences of people complaining that they have to stand in line for confession.

    Cunning Lynn "Eric knew he was going to have to be absent so he put it on and scampered fast! See what he says if he pops in in the next hour or so." LOL!! Here I am ;)

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  46. Oops Corinne you posted while I was writing my own comment. Yes, the winner of the travel blog was my choice and the one Michel Raffourt who was also a member of the jury.

    She was by far the best one.

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  47. Bless me, Father, for I have...

    Your text made me laugh out loud, Eric. Next time I am in Paris I will look at the 6th arrondissement a bit differently!

    Mimi

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  48. lol and it's soooooo good to see you here Eric! Glad you had a good time, thanks for all the answers, very interesting. By the way, i loathe queuing; i'm the most impatient person in the world for such things. Queue to confess? Why would you. Why why why. lol.

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  49. Well you can just keep that concept of me Eric, I wont sully your virginistic impression before you actually meet me!

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  50. I always love it when you respond to our comments here, Eric. Glad you had a good time at Romans.

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  51. Jews do ask for forgiveness, but by speaking directly to God. No one can forgive a person's sins but God Himself.

    Yes, a person can forgive another person for something done to them, but ultimately God is the one who forgives.

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