Q: The matter of holding the Sacrament of Reconciliation in church WHILE Mass is being celebrated. I presume that many of us would be disinclined to do so. Is there (general) legislation or instruction anywhere prohibiting this practice…other than perhaps at the diocesan level?

This seems to me to be more of a common sense, rather than legislated matter…but I could be wrong! Your comments?

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A: There’s a related post here about confessions and exposition:  https://paulturner.org/confession-during-exposition-emended/

Redemptionis Sacramentum 76 forbids joining confessions to Mass, but a priest who is not presiding or concelebrating may hear confessions during Mass. 

Although RS doesn’t say this explicitly, I’d argue that, by inference, only people who are not participating at Mass should confess their sins during Mass. If they’re coming just for confession, and Mass happens to be going on, then fine. But those participating at Mass should no more take a break  to confess their sins than to go out for a smoke. They are expected to give full, conscious, active participation to the entire Mass.

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