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I have been having Confession seriously since childhood. Recently, I have been struggling with a couple of issues. I tried listening to sermons and going on the Q & A online, but God did not send me His answer yet.

(1) Priest Unavailability
How can the church require people to confess every month or every two months but cannot because the priest is unavailable for Confession due to the large congregation and service? One will never go to church to take Communion, but find the priest is not available. It makes me question Confession. Should Confession be a spiritual tool not a Sacrament?  (I am not the kind of a person that uses the Confession Father as Psychiatrist, calling him on every single issue). I am a very busy but organized person, seeking an explanation.

(2) Priest’s Knowledge about People
I find it hard to believe that priests forget everything you say after Confession. I am sure that they do forget some. I think they subconsciously place people in service and church factoring their prior knowledge of that person and what they hear in Confession. How can Confession be considered as a Sacrament if there are flaws in it?

I will use Communion as example: There is no doubt that Communion is Jesus’ Body and Blood. But as for Confession, there are a lot of variables that are making me struggle to accept that it is a Sacrament.

I love our priest and I know he is working so hard to the best of his ability. The purpose of these questions is to understand, not to complain.

FYI—I never got a chance to discuss my issues with my Father Confessor because he is not available.

(1) The Holy Mystery of Confession should only take a few minutes. Just because people do not know or maybe do not value this reality, does not mean that you should hinder your spiritual agenda of monthly Confession. Sometimes people are seeking counsel beyond Confession or choose to divulge in unnecessary details. The clergy need to educate their congregations on those important points and perhaps set up different appointments for counseling or discussion of other matters that are not under the auspices of the rites of Confession.

(2) Priests are human. The details of the confessor are truly often forgotten, by the grace of God. However, sometimes, a confessor might reveal something that leads the priest to consider him or her for a particular service or activity. This is part of the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Do not doubt the holiness of the Sacrament of Confession. Every Sacrament differs slightly in application, but all the Sacraments help the believer to unite with the Holy Trinity in a very special, personal, intimate, and spiritual way.