Any advice for Daily Confession?

[babochka]

Daily confession may get you into being scrupulous and that is not good. Are you thinking you sin that much? Martin Luther was so scrupulous he wanted to go back into confession the moment he left it. No wonder he decided once saved always saved was the best way to think. It was driving him crazy.

I’m pretty sure that Martin Luther didn’t teach “once saved, always saved”. He taught that salvation is by faith alone, which is a different concept.

 

[babochka]

It is a sacrilege to receive the Eucharist in mortal sin. The Eucharist is not a sacrament of absolution. You should be sorry for those venial sins, before receiving Communion.

Of course, sacramental confession is necessary if one has committed mortal sin, but
the Eucharist is very much a sacrament of forgiveness of sins. Forgiveness of sins is one of the fruits of reception of the Eucharist.

In the Catechism we read:

The body of Christ we receive in Holy Communion is ‘given up for us’, and the blood we drink ‘shed for the forgiveness of sins’. For this reason the Eucharist cannot unite us to Christ without at the same time cleansing us from past sins and preserving us from future sins. (CCC # 1393)

In the Byzantine Prayer Before Communion we pray:

O Lord, I believe and profess that You are truly Christ, the Son of the living God, Who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first.
Accept me as a partaker of Your mystical supper, O Son of God, for I will not reveal Your mystery to Your enemies, nor will I give you a kiss as did Judas, but like the thief I confess to You:
Remember me, O Lord, when You shall come into Your kingdom.
Remember me, O Master, when You shall come into Your kingdom.
Remember me, O Holy One, when You shall come into Your kingdom.
May the partaking of Your Holy mysteries, O Lord, be not for my judgment or condemnation, but for the healing of my soul and body.
O Lord, I also believe and profess that this, which I am about to receive, is truly Your most precious body and Your life-giving blood, which, I pray, make me worthy to receive for the remission of all my sins and for life everlasting. Amen.
O God, be merciful to me a sinner.
O God, cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me.
O Lord, forgive me for I have sinned without number.

 

[Brendan_64]

Clearly, she was not saying that.

Actually I think she was,

Reconciliation was never meant to absolve the venial sins one commits day-to-day.

Which part of this doesn’t mean that Confession is only meant for mortal sins?

Now, if one is a serial killer, who was really trying to stop killing, I could understand it, but not someone who is living a normal day-to-day life. .

Which implies that most people do not commit mortal sins in their normal day-to-day life, since most of us are not habitual murderers.

Someone who goes to Mass daily is reconciled with the Church and with God.

This assumes that most people do not commit mortal sin that often.

A sacrament can be abused.

Receiving a sacrament daily is not an abuse of the sacrament. If a person approaches a sacrament properly disposed, then there is no abuse no matter how often it is received (so long as the Church permits it). I would argue that there is much more of an issue with abuse committed by receiving the Eucharist without being properly disposed than there is of the sacrament of Penance.

Someone can confess every day, but if they make no firm resolution to change, it is worthless.

This applies no more to a person going to daily Confession than to a person going once a year to Confession. And yes, people do often come back with the same sins to confess, time after time, but that is no indication that they have made no firm resolution. We all have our own particular weaknesses and our own inclinations to sin in certain ways, to struggle to overcome and then to fall again (even repeatedly) is no indication at all that conversion hasn’t taken place. That is the whole point of Confession, to help us get up again after we have fallen, over and over again.

People have different reasons for attending confession. Some people do it just to feel good about themselves not because they care about their relationship with God. They want to get something off their chest or be relieved from all their sins, inwardly they have no remorse, sorrow or any real desire to change.

That is a very judgemental thing to say about anyone who goes to Confession. What is your evidence for saying this, particularly with regard to people who attend very regularly?

 

[CRATUS]

Actually I think she was,

Which part of this doesn’t mean that Confession is only meant for mortal sins?

Which implies that most people do not commit mortal sins in their normal day-to-day life, since most of us are not habitual murderers.

This assumes that most people do not commit mortal sin that often.

Receiving a sacrament daily is not an abuse of the sacrament. If a person approaches a sacrament properly disposed, then there is no abuse no matter how often it is received (so long as the Church permits it). I would argue that there is much more of an issue with abuse committed by receiving the Eucharist without being properly disposed than there is of the sacrament of Penance.

This applies no more to a person going to daily Confession than to a person going once a year to Confession. And yes, people do often come back with the same sins to confess, time after time, but that is no indication that they have made no firm resolution. We all have our own particular weaknesses and our own inclinations to sin in certain ways, to struggle to overcome and then to fall again (even repeatedly) is no indication at all that conversion hasn’t taken place. That is the whole point of Confession, to help us get up again after we have fallen, over and over again.

That is a very judgemental thing to say about anyone who goes to Confession. What is your evidence for saying this, particularly with regard to people who attend very regularly?

I did not find anything particular “wrong” with what Lily stated. I still think it is possible for the sacrament of confession to be abused. I think she was warning against scruples or telling her not to beat herself up. I apologize for judging people’s intentions for the sacrament of confession.

 

[CRATUS]

I thought confession was for only mortal sins. If you want to confess for mortal sins, then go.

 

[Brendan_64]

I thought confession was for only mortal sins. If you want to confess for mortal sins, then go.

Confession is not just for mortal sins, but for all sins. It is true that for mortals sins (with the exception of a perfect act of contrition) Confession is the only way for mortal sins to be absolved. However this does not mean that Confession is only there in order to confess mortal sins, Confession is there for all our sins, mortal and venial. Our Church does not teach that Confession is only there for mortal sins.

 

[Bookcat]

I thought confession was for only mortal sins. If you want to confess for mortal sins, then go.

No.

Tis for venial sins too…

Catechism:

1458 Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church. Indeed the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit. By receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the Father’s mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as he is merciful…

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm#VII

 

[CRATUS]

Ave Maria! Hello all!

I’ve just started driving and have found a nice church in the next town over with confession fifteen or thirty minutes before every Mass. They also have a great devotion to the First Fridays and First Saturdays.

So. I’m having a little trouble thinking over daily confession, which I haven’t done yet. Twice a week is the most I have done, but if it’s available it’s very good for the soul. Let’s say I miraculously don’t sin from one confession to confession the next day. Should I stay out of the confessional, or is there something I can also figure out? Like, imperfections and vocations? I know there are Saints who went to confession every day who were infinitely better than I am. I don’t know what they could possibly have talked about with the priest (nor is it my business), but I would like a little help.

Thank you and God bless. Ave Maria!

There is nothing inherently wrong about confessing very regularly - venial or mortal. I guess some people like me immediately thought maybe you are being overly scrupulous or beating yourself up for sins. Go for daily confession if you wish to become holy. Perhaps I did not like the idea of daily confession as an obligation. Sorry if I deterred you from your wishes by my response.

 

[truetofaith]

I don’t know of any parish that has daily confession but…

…confessing venial sins to a priest every day is overkill…and ridiculous!

 

[Brendan_64]

…confessing venial sins to a priest every day is overkill…and ridiculous!

How can sincerely confessing one’s sins and receiving absolution through the sacrament of Penance ever be ridiculous? That is what the sacrament is there for. Pope Pius XII went to Confession every day, was he being ridiculous?

The problem we have today is a situation where there is a loss of a sense of sin. We are unwilling to acknowledge that we are frequent sinners and that these sins are serious.

If someone stated that they receive Holy Communion every day I doubt whether there would be many Catholics tell them that that was ridiculous. It does strike me that there are quite a few Catholics who seem to downplay the need for the sacrament of Penance.

A look at the almost universal reception of Holy Communion compared to the lack of queues for Confession would seem to suggest a real mis-match. Are we really so free from serious sin these days that so many can be in a state of grace in order to receive Communion, yet there seems to be a lack of queue for Confession?

Anyone who desires to go to Confession, no matter how frequently, ought to be encouraged. If a person has one single, venial sin then surely it is good to confess this before Our Lord and the Church through the sacrament of Confession? That is what the sacrament is for.

The Church does not teach, “Wait until either you have a mortal sin, or at least a sufficient quantity of venial sins, before you go to Confession”. It’s not like a car wash where you wait until your car is sufficiently dirty before you feel its worth driving it through the car wash.

 

[bardegaulois]

Ave Maria! Hello all!

I’ve just started driving and have found a nice church in the next town over with confession fifteen or thirty minutes before every Mass. They also have a great devotion to the First Fridays and First Saturdays.

So. I’m having a little trouble thinking over daily confession, which I haven’t done yet. Twice a week is the most I have done, but if it’s available it’s very good for the soul. Let’s say I miraculously don’t sin from one confession to confession the next day. Should I stay out of the confessional, or is there something I can also figure out? Like, imperfections and vocations? I know there are Saints who went to confession every day who were infinitely better than I am. I don’t know what they could possibly have talked about with the priest (nor is it my business), but I would like a little help.

Thank you and God bless. Ave Maria!

First, I am glad that you’ve been able to find a good church like this. Many have a very long distance to drive to get to one like this.

As for daily confession, to my mind that would be overdoing it a bit, perhaps even to the point of scrupulosity. First, you are aware that all venial sins are forgiven upon receiving communion, so if you sin venially that day (as we all do daily), you needn’t worry about confessing first. Moreover, if you do confess daily, you’ll likely have your confessor starting to counsel you about scruples before long. My personal practice is to make an act of contrition while I’m kneeling at the altar rail awaiting communion.

Second, even though one may and should confess venial sins, the need to confess them (particularly if one is a daily communicant) is not urgent, as it is in the case of mortal sin. Not spending your time in the confessional before Mass therefore would be a great courtesy to those who show up with an absolute need for confession, of which, if the other churches in your area only offer weekly confession, there could be many.

Thirdly, I would suggest making a particular day of the week your regular confession day, and every other day making an evening examination of conscience. So long as the sins are venial, confess them on your regular day, and make an act of contrition after your examen daily.

 

[Lily_Bernans]

And where do you get the notion that the sacrament of Penance was never meant for the absolution of venial sins? I don’t think it says that in the Catechism.

Grave matter is defined as being a transgression of the 10 Commandments. There are many ways in a normal day-to-day life where we can trangress the 10 Commandments without having to be a murderer.

There really does seem to be an aversion to the sacrament of Penance from many within our Church. Is it a modern unwillingness to accept that we are sinners and that many of our sins are very serious in nature?

Lying, stealing, contraception, pornography, missing Mass, pride, eny… Are these things really so uncommon among people today that the sacrament of Penance isn’t really necessary?

“Venial sins” was certainly the wrong choice of words on my part. Apologies. I much have been very tired when I wrote that because I know some people never commit a mortal sin, only venial ones and they need reconciliation.

I have no aversion to the sacrament of reconciliation or any other sacrament. I just think someone who goes daily is in danger of developing scrupulosity, something that was brought up by another poster.

 

[Lily_Bernans]

Clearly, she was not saying that. A sacrament can be abused. Someone can confess every day, but if they make no firm resolution to change, it is worthless. People have different reasons for attending confession. Some people do it just to feel good about themselves not because they care about their relationship with God. They want to get something off their chest or be relieved from all their sins, inwardly they have no remorse, sorrow or any real desire to change. The sacrament of penance is necessary. People with OCD or other mental illnesses can abuse that sacrament. There is always exceptions.

I agree with what you wrote, and thank you for clearing up my post. You are right, I didn’t mean “venial sins.” Terrible choice of words on my part. I meant what you wrote, getting things off their chest, bad habits that aren’t really sinful, etc.

Thanks again. I’ll stop posting when I’m tired or multi-tasking. I’m not a good multi-tasker, as you can see.

 

[truetofaith]

How can sincerely confessing one’s sins and receiving absolution through the sacrament of Penance ever be ridiculous? That is what the sacrament is there for. Pope Pius XII went to Confession every day, was he being ridiculous?

The problem we have today is a situation where there is a loss of a sense of sin. We are unwilling to acknowledge that we are frequent sinners and that these sins are serious.

If someone stated that they receive Holy Communion every day I doubt whether there would be many Catholics tell them that that was ridiculous. It does strike me that there are quite a few Catholics who seem to downplay the need for the sacrament of Penance.

A look at the almost universal reception of Holy Communion compared to the lack of queues for Confession would seem to suggest a real mis-match. Are we really so free from serious sin these days that so many can be in a state of grace in order to receive Communion, yet there seems to be a lack of queue for Confession?

Anyone who desires to go to Confession, no matter how frequently, ought to be encouraged. If a person has one single, venial sin then surely it is good to confess this before Our Lord and the Church through the sacrament of Confession? That is what the sacrament is for.

The Church does not teach, “Wait until either you have a mortal sin, or at least a sufficient quantity of venial sins, before you go to Confession”. It’s not like a car wash where you wait until your car is sufficiently dirty before you feel its worth driving it through the car wash.

Sorry Brendan…it is ridiculous! Pope Francis says he confesses every 2 weeks.

Venial sins do not have to be confessed according to the Church…& going every day is, not only, ridiculous…but impossible !!!

 

[truetofaith]

No.

Tis for venial sins too…

Catechism:

1458 Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church. Indeed the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit. By receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the Father’s mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as he is merciful…

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm#VII

Yeah, recommended to be confessed along with mortal sins but not to go daily to confess venial sins.

 

[CRATUS]

How can sincerely confessing one’s sins and receiving absolution through the sacrament of Penance ever be ridiculous? That is what the sacrament is there for. Pope Pius XII went to Confession every day, was he being ridiculous?

The problem we have today is a situation where there is a loss of a sense of sin. We are unwilling to acknowledge that we are frequent sinners and that these sins are serious.

If someone stated that they receive Holy Communion every day I doubt whether there would be many Catholics tell them that that was ridiculous. It does strike me that there are quite a few Catholics who seem to downplay the need for the sacrament of Penance.

A look at the almost universal reception of Holy Communion compared to the lack of queues for Confession would seem to suggest a real mis-match. Are we really so free from serious sin these days that so many can be in a state of grace in order to receive Communion, yet there seems to be a lack of queue for Confession?

Anyone who desires to go to Confession, no matter how frequently, ought to be encouraged. If a person has one single, venial sin then surely it is good to confess this before Our Lord and the Church through the sacrament of Confession? That is what the sacrament is for.

The Church does not teach, “Wait until either you have a mortal sin, or at least a sufficient quantity of venial sins, before you go to Confession”. It’s not like a car wash where you wait until your car is sufficiently dirty before you feel its worth driving it through the car wash.

Now that you post this, I sincerely understand and see where you are coming from. I think sin should be taken seriously. Sometimes people who confess daily, have more underlying issues such as perfectionism or scrupulosity. It is difficult to tell the difference between pursuing holiness versus pursuing perfection. I am sorry if I discouraged anyone from confessing daily but I think they should consider if they have OCD or something. You may not think this it is a problem. I see where you coming from. I think if you feel like you need to confess daily, then to do so. It is not a must though. Honestly part of the reason people do not confess regularly is that they are not thoroughly knowledgeable about their faith. Some adults sincerely do not know X,Y,Z is a sin. I did not know until a few days ago missing Holy Days was a mortal sin. Sometimes churches only offer reconciliation once a week. I guess you could ask a priest for confession everyday but he too may wonder if you simply have the scruples. I do agree we as a society may have lost our awareness of sin.

 

[CRATUS]

“Venial sins” was certainly the wrong choice of words on my part. Apologies. I much have been very tired when I wrote that because I know some people never commit a mortal sin, only venial ones and they need reconciliation.

I have no aversion to the sacrament of reconciliation or any other sacrament. I just think someone who goes daily is in danger of developing scrupulosity, something that was brought up by another poster.

That is exactly how I feel. I think all that focus on yourself is not healthy. I think acts of charity can wash away venial sins. Sometimes I think people are so focused on sin that we forget to help the poor. I have had more than a few priest tell me if I take up good habits I can easily stop sinning. When I wanted to stop fornicating - I stopped getting drunk at bars. I replaced my nightlife with something else. It is not always about fighting it head-on. Prayer does wonders. If you live selflessly, you must likely WILL NOT SIN mortally. Keep yourself busy by helping the poor, the needy, being a better father/mother, spouse, or taking your vocation more seriously you will stop plenty of sins. I HATE PREACHING. I HAD TO SHARE THIS GOOD NEWS.

 

[CRATUS]

I’m pretty sure that Martin Luther didn’t teach “once saved, always saved”. He taught that salvation is by faith alone, which is a different concept.

I have heard Martin Luther was plagued with the scruples too. It is too much focus on one’s self.

 

[CRATUS]

First, I am glad that you’ve been able to find a good church like this. Many have a very long distance to drive to get to one like this.

As for daily confession, to my mind that would be overdoing it a bit, perhaps even to the point of scrupulosity. First, you are aware that all venial sins are forgiven upon receiving communion, so if you sin venially that day (as we all do daily), you needn’t worry about confessing first. Moreover, if you do confess daily, you’ll likely have your confessor starting to counsel you about scruples before long. My personal practice is to make an act of contrition while I’m kneeling at the altar rail awaiting communion.

Second, even though one may and should confess venial sins, the need to confess them (particularly if one is a daily communicant) is not urgent, as it is in the case of mortal sin. Not spending your time in the confessional before Mass therefore would be a great courtesy to those who show up with an absolute need for confession, of which, if the other churches in your area only offer weekly confession, there could be many.

Thirdly, I would suggest making a particular day of the week your regular confession day, and every other day making an evening examination of conscience. So long as the sins are venial, confess them on your regular day, and make an act of contrition after your examen daily.

Thank You. A Very healthy, well-balanced perspective.

 

[LaughingBoy1503]

The sacrament of penance is necessary. People with OCD or other mental illnesses can abuse that sacrament. There is always exceptions.

I have been diagnosed with OCD and I suffer from scrupulosity. I might fall under the category of abusing the sacrament sometimes. Though it is not on purpose by any means. I use the sacrament for relief from the constant intrusive thoughts that I am in mortal sin even when I know most likely that what I did was a venial sin or no sin at all. I really do not mean to. I think God understands. I hope he is not offended. If I am abusing the sacrament, it is not out of disrespect or anything. More like I am messed up in th head and I cannot help it sometimes and I am trying to get help. I am meeting with a priest this Saturday to talk about spiritual direction and my scrupulosity. I hope it helps. Please pray it does.

I would be in hell in my mind if I went to confession everyday. It was once advised for me to go only once a month. The more I go to confession, the more it actually increases my anxiety now. And I always worry that I might have made a bad confession. I found that once a month did not agitate my scrupulosity. Once I went after two months. That was actually a relief. Good luck with it if that is what you are set on doing. I know not everyone is as messed up in the head as me so maybe it would be fine for you. However I am of the opinion that every day is too much. If you have nothing to confess, you have nothing to confess. And it is not good for anyone to dwell on their daily failings so much. Believe me, it might lead to scrupulosity. There has to be a balance between examination of conscience and not beating our self up so much for every little venial sin. A skill I have not mastered yet. God bless.