Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 10/13/2010

Question
Father,

I'm writing a short story that takes place in 1940's Hawaii.  A key componet of the story takes place during a confession.  Can you help me find what an "offical" confession would be like circa '45, Honolulu?  What language would be spoken in Latin and what would be in English?  Can the Preist "wing it" if needed...or is he bound by a script?  Was "absolution" given in Latin at that time?  Please keep in mind that you are writing to a Protestant!  Thank much and God Bless.  -- Bob

Answer
Hi, Bob:
Thanks for the question.
In Honolulu in 1945 I can envision two different scenarios in terms of setting and location in Hawaii of the era.
One would have been the typical confessional box arrangement as found in any vintage traditional Catholic Church of the time: made of wood, with a place in the middle where the Priest would sit, and flanked on either side by closet sized boxes with kneelers up next to the side "windows" on each side of the Priest.  These windows would have a wooden door that could be closed and shut independently by the Priest from inside the confessional; so that one would be shut, while at the open one on the opposite side, the Priest would be listening to confession. (The obvious reason for shutting the other one was for privacy so that nothing could be overheard).
The "window" was always obscured usually by taut red or purple cloth between the Priest and penitent (person going to confession).
The other might have been something outdoors, such as at a school for native Hawaians, and could have been made out of something like bamboo or sugarcane kind of a hut, with a woven screen of dried plant material between Priest and penitent. (Sort of rustic: think of like Gilligan's Island; lashed bamboo, etc.)  It would usually only have one side with a kneeler behind the screen, not two as in the "white people" traditionally built church.
There was some degree of script:
"Bless me, Father, for I have sinned."
The Priest might give a blessing in Latin or English.
Penitent would say how long since last confession, and give some circumstance of their "state-in-life" (married, single, student, etc.)
Then they would list their sins by type and number of times, etc.
Priest might give some advice; here, he would "wing it" based upon his past priestly training and experience within Catholic principles and teachings for sure.
Then Priest would assign a "penance." Usually a certain number of Our Fathers, Hail Marys, or something like that.
Then the penitent would be asked to pray the "Act of Contrition" out loud...
Meanwhile the Priest would be praying the "absolution" in LATIN.
Most People knew enough that when they heard the words of the Priest saying: "Ego absolvo te a peccatis tuis: in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen" they would make the Sign of the Cross with the Priest, whose hand they could see behind the cloth in shadow tracing the Sign of the Cross toward them.
Then the Priest might pray a prayer asking the help and intercession of the Saints for the penitent, in Latin or English (I think).

I hope this helps.

Fr. Johnson