There are snippets of this in the introduction to "Celtic Christianity" in
the Paulist Press "Classics of Western Spirituality".  By the way: one thing
anyone will quickly notice is how different real Celtic Christianity was
from the New Age fluff that goes under that title today.  All one has to do
is read some of the Irish and/or Welsh penitentials to see that: they were a
lot more severe in dealing with sin than we are today!

But the whole "soul friend" idea of the early Irish Church finds its
parallel in the "staritz" of the Russian Orthodox tradition.

MLW+

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Clavier+ [mailto:anglican@...] 
Sent: Friday, September 15, 2006 8:18 AM
To: faithandlife@...
Subject: Re: RE: [FaithandLife] Re: Confessional

Mike+,

That's actually my approach.  I've done away with the whole anonymity
business as it's a bit daft in a church my size.  I'd know who was
confessing behind the screen and he or she would know that I knew.

So, instead, I meet privately with the person for a while, discussing
problems and sins that are weighing most heavily and providing what guidance
and comfort I can.  9 out of 10 times the biggest issue is the person being
unable to forgive him or herself.  Once we've talked it out, we then go into
the church where a formal confession can be made and absolution given.

Mark+

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