CHAPTER I :
THE CELEBRATION OF THE SACRAMENT
Can.
960 Individual and integral confession and absolution constitute the sole ordinary
means by which a member of the faithful who is conscious of grave sin is
reconciled with God and with the Church. Physical or moral impossibility alone
excuses from such confession, in which case reconciliation may be attained by
other means also.
Can.
961 §1 General absolution, without prior individual confession, cannot be given
to a number of penitents together, unless:
1° danger
of death threatens and there is not time for the priest or priests to hear the
confessions of the individual penitents;
2° there
exists a grave necessity, that is, given the number of penitents, there are not
enough confessors available properly to hear the individual confessions within
an appropriate time, so that without fault of their own the penitents are
deprived of the sacramental grace or of holy communion for a lengthy period of
time. A sufficient necessity is not, however, considered to exist when
confessors cannot be available merely because of a great gathering of penitents,
such as can occur on some major feastday or pilgrimage.
§2 It is
for the diocesan Bishop to judge whether the conditions required in §1, n. 2
are present; mindful of the criteria agreed with the other members of the
Episcopal Conference, he can determine the cases of such necessity.
Can.
962 §1 For a member of Christ's faithful to benefit validly from a sacramental
absolution given to a number of people simultaneously, it is required not only
that he or she be properly disposed, but be also at the same time personally
resolved to confess in due time each of the grave sins which cannot for the
moment be thus confessed.
§2 Christ's
faithful are to be instructed about the requirements set out in §1, as far as
possible even on the occasion of general absolution being received. An
exhortation that each person should make an act of contrition is to precede a
general absolution, even in the case of danger of death if there is time.
Can.
963 Without prejudice to the obligation mentioned in can. 989, a person whose
grave sins are forgiven by a general absolution, is as soon as possible, when
the opportunity occurs, to make an individual confession before receiving
another general absolution, unless a just reason intervenes.
Can.
964 §1 The proper place for hearing sacramental confessions is a church or
oratory.
§2 As far
as the confessional is concerned, norms are to be issued by the Episcopal
Conference, with the proviso however that confessionals, which the faithful who
so wish may freely use, are located in an open place, and fitted with a fixed
grille between the penitent and the confessor. §3 Except for a just reason,
confessions are not to be heard elsewhere than in a confessional.
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