Any advice for Daily Confession?

[Brendan_64]

Brendan, I’m not talking about the Sacrament of Penance in general; which is a wonderful thing, I’m talking about the times it’s used so excessively it becomes the focus of one’s life and leads one into scrupulosity. I thought that was implicit in my post. I apologize if it was not.

Well that is not what you said, and I can only address what you state (not what you think, but don’t state, or what you think, but state the opposite). You stated:

No one bats an eyelash at daily Eucharist because it helps us develop intimacy in our personal relationship with Christ. The focus of the Eucharist is on Christ, though, not us.

The focus of Reconciliation is on us. We are turning inward, away from our brothers and sisters in Christ and toward ourselves.

You clearly stated that the focus on Reconciliation (unlike the Eucharist) is on us. You described it as a turning away from our brothers and sisters in Christ towards ourselves.

When we heal wounds in Confession we heal the wounds between us and Christ and between us and the Body of Christ (our brothers and sisters in the Church).

Whether a person heals these wounds on a monthly, weekly or daily basis does not change the nature of what is happening. If a person thinks a single moderately uncharitable thought against another and goes to Confession to confess this single sin, then what happens during the sacrament is essentially the same as if a person built up his sins to a larger amount and then went monthly. All sins are worth confessing, all sins wound both Christ and the Body of Christ. The Church has never stipulated a maximum frequency for receiving the Sacrament of Penance.

To suggest that going daily to Confession represents an inward act of turning away from our brothers and sisters is very dangerous, and is certainly not what our Church teaches about Confession. And you clearly did suggest that.

It really does puzzle me why (what seems to be) many Catholics seem to have an issue with the sacrament of Penance (in a way that they don’t with the other sacraments) to the point where going ‘too often’ is viewed as not a good thing. Our Church does not and never has, taught this.

 

[Lily_Bernans]

Brendan, the whole conversation is about daily confession. I agreed with another poster who said that was too much focus on the self. I stand by that statement, with no disrespect to you. If you want to go daily, you certainly have that right as any Catholic does.

 

[Brendan_64]

And the sacrament of Penance is the same whether the person goes daily, weekly or monthly. The Church has never indicated that daily Confession is the either too frequent or too be discouraged. On this thread you have stated that daily Confession represents an inward looking act of turning away from our brothers and sisters. The Church does not and never has taught that.

You also indicate that to recieve daily the Sacrament of Penance is about us, as opposed to daily Eucharist which is about Christ. This indicates that daily Confession is potentially selfish. Again our Church does not teach that. Confession is not just about us, but about Christ and our communion with each other as the Church.

And no, I do not personally go to daily Confession, but I can fully understand why someone would want to benefit from the graces this wonderful Sacrament can bring to themselves and the whole Church. I would certainly not try to discourage this or indicate that this was a selfish act.

Every time a Catholic goes to Confession it benefits us all (by healing the wounds that separate the Body of Christ) and it pleases God. Nobody should ever be discouraged from going to Confession, ever.

 

[truetofaith]

Yes, he went to Confession every day.

As do most parishes, but people don’t need to confine themselves to a single parish, they can go from one to the other. And in large cities there tend to be a greater range of churches offering Confession on different days, and often quite a few churches and cathedrals offering daily Confession. I would find it hard to believe that there is not a church or cathedral in somewhere like New York that does not offer daily Confession.,

Personally it really puzzles me why any Catholic would object to, or disparage, the notion that a person might go to Confession every day. No eyelids are batted if a person receives the Eucharist every day, but mention daily Confession and some people seem to get upset by this. Why?

I don’t go to Confession every day, but if I wasn’t working full time and long hours and I there was a church(es) near me where I could do this then I would certainly consider it. Since going from monthly Confession, to fortnightly Confession, to usually weekly Confession, I have found that increased frequency of Confession focusses me more clearly on my sins and I believe it has helped me to battle against my own sinful tendencies. Daily Confession would, I believe, be even more effective. In our constant battle against Satan and his influence on us, we need all the help we can get.

I worked in Manhattan & with a 1/2 hr. for lunch it was still impossible to get to Confession.

Now, in Florida, I can sometimes make confession at another parish on Thurs. 3-4, but not too often.
Still, for anyone to run all over town to confess venial sin is overkill & absurd!

 

[babochka]

I worked in Manhattan & with a 1/2 hr. for lunch it was still impossible to get to Confession.

Now, in Florida, I can sometimes make confession at another parish on Thurs. 3-4, but not too often.
Still, for anyone to run all over town to confess venial sin is overkill & absurd!

Our local Cathedral has daily confession, right before the 12:15 Mass. If I’d been so inclined, I could have made daily confession when I worked downtown, just a couple of blocks away from the Cathedral. I would imagine that most who go to Confession daily have an arrangement with a regular confessor. If one is confessing daily, I wouldn’t think it would take too long.

I was once discussing with my confessor appropriate frequency for reception of the sacrament (for myself). In the course of our conversation, he mentioned that he had a priest friend who, for a time, had confessed daily. He didn’t provide any detail beyond that, but I wonder if the priest was working on a particular sin. As long as scrupulosity isn’t an issue, I really don’t see the point of view of those who argue that daily confession is somehow selfish and inward turning. It is turning toward God, repenting; it is seeking his grace through his gifts of the sacraments.

 

[babochka]

Every time a Catholic goes to Confession it benefits us all (by healing the wounds that separate the Body of Christ) and it pleases God. Nobody should ever be discouraged from going to Confession, ever.

(Except for the scrupulous, under the guidance of a regular confessor or spiritual director.)

 

[Lily_Bernans]

Our local Cathedral has daily confession, right before the 12:15 Mass. If I’d been so inclined, I could have made daily confession when I worked downtown, just a couple of blocks away from the Cathedral. I would imagine that most who go to Confession daily have an arrangement with a regular confessor. If one is confessing daily, I wouldn’t think it would take too long.

I was once discussing with my confessor appropriate frequency for reception of the sacrament (for myself). In the course of our conversation, he mentioned that he had a priest friend who, for a time, had confessed daily. He didn’t provide any detail beyond that, but I wonder if the priest was working on a particular sin. As long as scrupulosity isn’t an issue, I really don’t see the point of view of those who argue that daily confession is somehow selfish and inward turning. It is turning toward God, repenting; it is seeking his grace through his gifts of the sacraments.

How can you possibly confess without turning as inward as possible? Confession requires us to confess what we have done wrong in thought, word, and deed. How can anyone know that without turning as inward as possible and examining his or her thoughts, words, and deeds as closely as possible? We can’t turn toward God until we turn inward if we are in confession. If one does not turn inward, looking for all those little instances in which one feels he or she has not lived up to Christ’s expectations, how can one make and honest confession?

I agree with the poster who said that unless one has a specific problem, all that “turning inward” and focus on the self isn’t healthy. I believe confession once a week or every two weeks is sufficient and the rest of the time is better spent following Pope Francis’ example and helping the poor and needy. It was Christ who said that whatever we did to the least of those, we did to him. By the same token, whatever we did not do for the least of those, we did not do for him.

 

[eamonnroma]

But I know we can’t receive the Eucharist more than once a day. At least, a priest told us that when we went to a marriage and received communion then to Sat Mass we didn’t go to communion again. I don’t know the reason though.

That Is not true. It is permissible to receive a second time.

Also in your case the Saturday Mass week count as the Sunday Mass.

 

[Brendan_64]

As long as scrupulosity isn’t an issue, I really don’t see the point of view of those who argue that daily confession is somehow selfish and inward turning. It is turning toward God, repenting; it is seeking his grace through his gifts of the sacraments.

I think that unfortunately there is now a view among quite a few Catholics that venial sins are no big deal really, that they’re almost not really ‘proper sins’.

 

[Brendan_64]

I believe confession once a week or every two weeks is sufficient and the rest of the time is better spent following Pope Francis’ example and helping the poor and needy. It was Christ who said that whatever we did to the least of those, we did to him. By the same token, whatever we did not do for the least of those, we did not do for him.

And what has helping the poor and needy got to do with attending Confession less often? You talk as if attending Confession somehow detracts from helping others. It doesn’t. And Pope Francis has never stated that people ought not attend daily Confession so why are you bringing him into it as some sort of justification for your position? And how has what Christ said about us helping the poor and needy support your position that people ought not attend daily Confession? Are now trying to say that Christ is against daily Confession?

 

[Brendan_64]

That Is not true. It is permissible to receive a second time.

Also in your case the Saturday Mass woeek count as the Sunday Mass.

Only if you are assisting in one of the Masses (i.e. as a server, EMHC etc.) Or if you go to Saturday morning Mass and then go to the vigil Mass on Saturday evening (which counts as Sunday Mass).

 

[CRATUS]

Believe it or not, I have one point used to confess more than twice weekly. I am not saying it is “wrong” to confess daily. I think for some people may become so focused on their sins they develop the scruples. NOT ALL. If you really need to, then go. I personally would not advice anyone to do it daily - for fear of them developing the scruples. I thought venial sins can be covered by an act of charity. I AM SORRY IF I AM DISCOURAGING SOMEONE’S PURSUIT OF HOLINESS. I did not intend to. Some people with particular temperaments can become obsessive over things. Honestly, it is always possible to confess every day though.

 

[Lily_Bernans]

Believe it or not, I have one point used to confess more than twice weekly. I am not saying it is “wrong” to confess daily. I think for some people may become so focused on their sins they develop the scruples. NOT ALL. If you really need to, then go. I personally would not advice anyone to do it daily - for fear of them developing the scruples. I thought venial sins can be covered by an act of charity. I AM SORRY IF I AM DISCOURAGING SOMEONE’S PURSUIT OF HOLINESS. I did not intend to. Some people with particular temperaments can become obsessive over things. Honestly, it is always possible to confess every day though.

Sure, that’s right. We all do things on a daily basis we could confess every day if we thought it necessary. We get impatient. We lose hope. We say something a little sharp or uncharitable to someone. We put ourselves before others. There are hundreds, probably thousands of things we could confess daily. Personally, I wouldn’t go to confession any more frequently than once a week or every two weeks unless I did something I really thought was bad. But, everyone is different. Everyone needs different things. If someone feels the need to confess daily, it is their right to do so.

 

[babochka]

How can you possibly confess without turning as inward as possible? Confession requires us to confess what we have done wrong in thought, word, and deed. How can anyone know that without turning as inward as possible and examining his or her thoughts, words, and deeds as closely as possible? We can’t turn toward God until we turn inward if we are in confession. If one does not turn inward, looking for all those little instances in which one feels he or she has not lived up to Christ’s expectations, how can one make and honest confession?

An examination of conscience is inward turning, of course. We ought to be continuously examining our consciences, right? It is common to recommend a nightly examination of conscience. Taking that to a daily confession, seeking God’s grace in the sacrament, doesn’t seem that far a stretch. I mean, I can save up my daily impatience, anger, laziness, despair, etc. for my every-other-week confession, but I often find that if I wait too long, the sting of the sin has left me. I could just as easily save these things for an annual confession, but I fear my conscience would become dull over time. Why not daily, if one’s circumstances in life allow and one’s confessor has no objection? No, it isn’t for me at this point in my life. I can’t imagine going to daily confession, but at one point I couldn’t imagine weekly confession. If a person is not scrupulous and is not viewing the sacrament as some sort of good luck charm, how can there be anything wrong with it? If that person is genuinely seeking holiness, seeking to overcome sin through the grace of the sacrament, why would we think to discourage that?

I believe confession once a week or every two weeks is sufficient and the rest of the time is better spent following Pope Francis’ example and helping the poor and needy. It was Christ who said that whatever we did to the least of those, we did to him. By the same token, whatever we did not do for the least of those, we did not do for him.

Why are these things mutually exclusive? The same argument could be made for daily Mass. I mean, if I drive or walk to daily Mass, plus 35 minutes or so in the church, that adds up to an hour or so each day. Never mind the wasted gas to get me there! Surely that time could be put to better use. Or even daily prayer or daily scripture reading. Why spend quiet time in prayer when I could be out working, helping the poor? As human beings, we need to look inward. Our lives are so busy, so outward focused for the most part. I don’t see how greater inward focus on our consciences, on our evaluation of how we have failed to live the gospel and on our own repentance, would not enhance our efforts to help the poor and needy. Perhaps you have pictured a person who spends time each day agonizing over every little failing, followed by a lengthy confession in which he confesses doubtful sins in great detail. I picture something else. I see a soul striving for God. One who tries and fails, over and over again, to overcome those daily faults that prevent us from loving our fellow man, but sincerely wants to do so. I see a person zealous for God, with a good relationship with a confessor who supports him in his endeavor. I see someone who longs for God’s grace. And with my picture, I can’t come up with a single reason to discourage him. I go every 2 or so. I rarely confess mortal sins, but I do have some serious habits of sins that I pray to have the grace to overcome. Should the person who goes monthly tell me that I’m too focused on myself, that monthly is enough? What about the person who goes annually, always on Good Friday, again with only venial sins. Should that person discourage the monthly penitent?

 

[CRATUS]

An examination of conscience is inward turning, of course. We ought to be continuously examining our consciences, right? It is common to recommend a nightly examination of conscience. Taking that to a daily confession, seeking God’s grace in the sacrament, doesn’t seem that far a stretch. I mean, I can save up my daily impatience, anger, laziness, despair, etc. for my every-other-week confession, but I often find that if I wait too long, the sting of the sin has left me. I could just as easily save these things for an annual confession, but I fear my conscience would become dull over time. Why not daily, if one’s circumstances in life allow and one’s confessor has no objection? No, it isn’t for me at this point in my life. I can’t imagine going to daily confession, but at one point I couldn’t imagine weekly confession. If a person is not scrupulous and is not viewing the sacrament as some sort of good luck charm, how can there be anything wrong with it? If that person is genuinely seeking holiness, seeking to overcome sin through the grace of the sacrament, why would we think to discourage that?

Why are these things mutually exclusive? The same argument could be made for daily Mass. I mean, if I drive or walk to daily Mass, plus 35 minutes or so in the church, that adds up to an hour or so each day. Never mind the wasted gas to get me there! Surely that time could be put to better use. Or even daily prayer or daily scripture reading. Why spend quiet time in prayer when I could be out working, helping the poor? As human beings, we need to look inward. Our lives are so busy, so outward focused for the most part. I don’t see how greater inward focus on our consciences, on our evaluation of how we have failed to live the gospel and on our own repentance, would not enhance our efforts to help the poor and needy. Perhaps you have pictured a person who spends time each day agonizing over every little failing, followed by a lengthy confession in which he confesses doubtful sins in great detail. I picture something else. I see a soul striving for God. One who tries and fails, over and over again, to overcome those daily faults that prevent us from loving our fellow man, but sincerely wants to do so. I see a person zealous for God, with a good relationship with a confessor who supports him in his endeavor. I see someone who longs for God’s grace. And with my picture, I can’t come up with a single reason to discourage him. I go every 2 or so. I rarely confess mortal sins, but I do have some serious habits of sins that I pray to have the grace to overcome. Should the person who goes monthly tell me that I’m too focused on myself, that monthly is enough? What about the person who goes annually, always on Good Friday, again with only venial sins. Should that person discourage the monthly penitent?

Honestly, now that you present this argument. I agree with you. I pictured the person you described. Someone with a very scrupulous conscience or someone who frequently commits the same sin, confesses it and never changes. I really did not think of it in your way. I just imagined someone obsessed with sin. I have not met a holy person.

 

[babochka]

. I have not met a holy person.

I don’t think I have, either. I’ve just read about them.

 

[Brendan_64]

I could just as easily save these things for an annual confession, but I fear my conscience would become dull over time. Why not daily, if one’s circumstances in life allow and one’s confessor has no objection? No, it isn’t for me at this point in my life. I can’t imagine going to daily confession, but at one point I couldn’t imagine weekly confession.

Exactly.

As human beings, we need to look inward. Our lives are so busy, so outward focused for the most part. I don’t see how greater inward focus on our consciences, on our evaluation of how we have failed to live the gospel and on our own repentance, would not enhance our efforts to help the poor and needy.

Quite right. And did Christ himself not take himself off for silent prayer away from others? Would people argue that instead of spending 40 days alone in prayer in the desert he ought to have been spending that time amongst the poor and needy? What about his time in Gethsemane? Would people argue that he ought to have spent that precious time with the poor and needy? Or would people argue that he ought to at least have stayed and prayed communally with his Apostles rather than take himself off to pray alone?

 

[eamonnroma]

Only if you are assisting in one of the Masses (i.e. as a server, EMHC etc.) Or if you go to Saturday morning Mass and then go to the vigil Mass on Saturday evening (which counts as Sunday Mass).

You would be correct with the ‘old’ canon law. The 1983 canon law is different.

ewtn.com/expert/answers/communion_times.htm

One of the significant changes for the faithful in the Code of Canon Law which was promulgated in 1983 was the permission to receive Holy Communion more than once per day. In the past the law set certain conditions, such as participation in a funeral, marriage or ordination Mass. The new canon, however, simply states,
c.917 A person who has received the Most Holy Eucharist may receive it again (iterum) on the same day only during the celebration of the Eucharist in which the person participates, with due regard for the prescription of can. 921, part 2.

What it is saying is that if one attends a Mass after receiving Holy Communion previously that day, one may receive it again, but only at a Mass, not at a communion service, plus it may always be received as viaticum.

 

[Lily_Bernans]

Honestly, now that you present this argument. I agree with you. I pictured the person you described. Someone with a very scrupulous conscience or someone who frequently commits the same sin, confesses it and never changes. I really did not think of it in your way. I just imagined someone obsessed with sin. I have not met a holy person.

I agree with you completely. That is the person I pictured as well. Certainly if one keeps committing the same sin over and over again and never changes, he or she will need spiritual guidance.

I have met two people I consider holy. One was a very unassuming diocesan priest, who became my best friend (and died at a young age of cancer in 2006), The other was St. Pope John Paul II, who I got to meet only very briefly (long enough to kiss his ring and receive his blessing in a line of people) when I spent a year working in Rome as part of my theology studies.

Most of the popes only went to confession once or twice a week as that is considered “frequent” confession. St. Pope John Paul II found once a week sufficient.

"According to Rev. Fr. Sal Ferigle, 'For those who sincerely wish to do their best to avail themselves of the opportunity of frequent confession in order to grow spiritually, frequent confession will ordinarily be linked to having a fixed confessor. The confessor will be the best qualified person to suggest the frequency suited to the spiritual development and the physical and moral possibilities of the penitent.

Within those rather broad limits of flexibility and to seek a general rule of common sense, we can refer to [Paul VI’s General Audiences] which speaks about 'receiving the Sacrament of Penance frequently, that is twice a month. Previous legislation which specified regular intervals for confession spoke about weekly confession. One can therefore say in general terms that, whenever possible, frequent confession will ordinarily mean between once a month and once a week.’" (Bolding mine)

catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=9057

I, myself, go twice monthly unless I do something I think I should confess as soon as possible. I think the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a beautiful sacrament that greatly helps one to grow in holiness, however I also think that like all good things, it can be overused. I have a delicious chocolate cake here. If I were to have one slice, it would not hurt me. However, if I were to indulge in the whole thing, it wouldn’t be so good. Two weeks ago, the woman next to me at Mass was wearing a lovely perfume. However, she used so much of it that I had to change my seat. It was overpowering. I baked chocolate chip cookies for my nephew, and he ate about 12 then felt a little sick. I told him not to eat more than three.

It is just my opinion, but if someone wants to go to confession daily, and if their confessor feels they are so mired in sin they need daily confession, then I would say, by all means, go. Do as your priest advises. However, if someone were to ask me what “frequent confession” is, I would say “once a month to once a week depending on how you feel about your life and state of grace.”

Note: The above is not directed at anyone in particular, so I hope no one takes offense at it. The OP asked for opinions, and this is just mine. Everyone has to make up his or her own mind on the subject of confession.

 

[Brendan_64]

c.917 A person who has received the Most Holy Eucharist may receive it again (iterum) on the same day only during the celebration of the Eucharist in which the person participates, with due regard for the prescription of can. 921, part 2.

Thank you for that. However what constitutes participating as it is meant in this sense? Does participating in this sense mean carrying out a particular function (EMHC, reader, altar server etc.)? Or does it mean being a member of the congregation?

I know that a previous parish priest of mine, one who was quite young, quite learned, well read and very knowledgeable (he was an Anglican minister who converted and crossed the Tiber, a very spiritual man who was devoted to the Eucharist) maintained that participating (in the sense that is stated in this case) is to participate as in carrying out a liturgical function.

I’m not sure myself, so therefore I personally will err on the side of caution and receive only once per day.

And I realise that this post has now gone off topic…