A newly ordained priest, fresh out of seminary, is a little nervous about his first day in the confessional.

He asks the senior priest to sit in on his sessions. After the first few, the older priest asks him to step out of the confessional for a few suggestions.

The older priest says, “Cross your arms over your chest and rub your chin with one hand.”

The younger priest tries this.

The older priest follows this with, “Try saying things like, ‘I see, yes, go on,’ and ‘I understand, how did you feel about that?’”

The younger priest repeats them several times, nodding.

“Now,” the older priest says, “don’t you think that’s a little better than slapping your knee and saying, ‘No way! What happened next?’”