A new priest, born and raised in Texas , comes to
serve in a city parish and is nervous about hearing
confessions, so he asks the older priest to sit in
on his sessions.
The new priest hears a couple of confessions,
then the old priest asks him to step out of the
confessional for a few suggestions.
The old priest suggests, “Cross your arms over your
chest, and rub your chin with one hand and try saying
things like 'yes, I see,' and 'yes, go on,' and 'I understand.'”
The new priest crosses his arms, rubs his chin with one
hand and repeats all the suggested remarks to the old priest.
The old priest says, "Now, don't you think that's a little
better than slapping your knee and saying,
‘No shit, what happened next?’"