Confessing the same sins on a regular basis

[blaskoman]

For those that go to Confession on a frequent basis (ie, weekly, bi-monthly, monthly) and feel guilty enough to confess the same sins, is this practice considered sacrilegious? It’s my belief that those that confess on a frequent basis are highly likely to confess sins which have become addictive behaviors, such as sins involving drug/alcohol abuse, sex addictions, etc. Would the addictive aspect of such behaviors somehow exonerate or lessen the culpablility of the person engaged in such a vicious cycle of sin?

 

[LilyM]

Sacreligious? Absolutely not. As often as we sin, we can (and possibly should) confess. Mother Teresa and John Paul II are great examples of very frequent penitents.

It may possibly be that there is a level of addiction in frequent sin, it may be that such lessens the culpability, but the graces you get from confessing even venial sins on a regular basis will be a great aid in overcoming them.

 

[JohnPaul64]

For those that go to Confession on a frequent basis (ie, weekly, bi-monthly, monthly) and feel guilty enough to confess the same sins, is this practice considered sacrilegious? It’s my belief that those that confess on a frequent basis are highly likely to confess sins which have become addictive behaviors, such as sins involving drug/alcohol abuse, sex addictions, etc. Would the addictive aspect of such behaviors somehow exonerate or lessen the culpablility of the person engaged in such a vicious cycle of sin?

If you are confessing the same sins over and over and not committing them again you don’t have to do that. The Lord will forgive you the first time even if you feel guilty about it. Now if you go to confession every two weeks just to get forgiven for sins you keep repeating I would hope that your trying to break the cycle of that sin while your confessing it. If your using confession as a crutch to continue doing that sin in my opinion that is wrong. I’m not sure if its a sin to do this but to me its just wrong. JMO PS: I go every 2 weeks and do repeat alot but I am working on going with less to confess every time. I’ve had a problem slipping using the Lords name in vain after years of practice but I think I’ve really got it beat.

 

[adriancombe]

For those that go to Confession on a frequent basis (ie, weekly, bi-monthly, monthly) and feel guilty enough to confess the same sins, is this practice considered sacrilegious? It’s my belief that those that confess on a frequent basis are highly likely to confess sins which have become addictive behaviors, such as sins involving drug/alcohol abuse, sex addictions, etc. Would the addictive aspect of such behaviors somehow exonerate or lessen the culpablility of the person engaged in such a vicious cycle of sin?

The general principle for mitigation of culpability in addiction is the guilt is decreased based on the effort you put into resisting the addiction.

 

[antonabe]

If you make your confession with Sincerity, you make a promise that you will not Sin again.Howevr due to Human weakness you commit the same Sin again despite your earlier sincere contrition believe you have made an effort.On the other hand if for example you have an extra marital relationship and commit sin and confess this Sin if you are Sincerely contrite you will break off the relationship before going to confession.That is you are now eliminating the “Occasion Or the opportunity” of Sinning again and if you do not eliminate the occasion of Sin my belief is that you are not been honest in your Confession.

 

[LilyM]

As one confessor put it to me - ‘there are only ten commandments!’. Meaning by that that there are only limited ways in which humans can and do sin, so it’s a high likelihood that most of us are going to come across stubborn habitual or repetitive sins.

Not that this excuses us from working on eliminating those, just that it’s a reality and God surely knows and understands our weakness in this regard.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

For those that go to Confession on a frequent basis (ie, weekly, bi-monthly, monthly) and feel guilty enough to confess the same sins, is this practice considered sacrilegious? It’s my belief that those that confess on a frequent basis are highly likely to confess sins which have become addictive behaviors, such as sins involving drug/alcohol abuse, sex addictions, etc. Would the addictive aspect of such behaviors somehow exonerate or lessen the culpablility of the person engaged in such a vicious cycle of sin?

Would the addictive aspect of such behaviors somehow exonerate or lessen the culpablility of the person engaged in such a vicious cycle of sin?

Yes, possibly. You would have to discuss with your confessor what concrete steps you are taking to avoid the situations causing the sinful behavor.

 

[puzzleannie]

For It’s my belief that those that confess on a frequent basis are highly likely to confess sins which have become addictive behaviors, such as sins involving drug/alcohol abuse, sex addictions, etc. Would the addictive aspect of such behaviors somehow exonerate or lessen the culpablility of the person engaged in such a vicious cycle of sin?

habit does not equal addiction, and the addiction excuse applies rarely if ever in matters of confession, IMO. the remedy for habitual sin is frequent recourse to the sacraments and spiritual and physical discipline and mortification, in other words, the standard penitential practices and effective means of combatting evil influences: prayer, fasting, and service to others (almsgiving).

 

[ComputerGeek25]

For those that go to Confession on a frequent basis (ie, weekly, bi-monthly, monthly) and feel guilty enough to confess the same sins, is this practice considered sacrilegious? It’s my belief that those that confess on a frequent basis are highly likely to confess sins which have become addictive behaviors, such as sins involving drug/alcohol abuse, sex addictions, etc. Would the addictive aspect of such behaviors somehow exonerate or lessen the culpablility of the person engaged in such a vicious cycle of sin?

Funny you should ask. I heard a homily on the radio yesterday about this.

Most people struggle with the same sins/types of sin and usually confess the same thing on a regular basis.

If the person attempts to “go and sin no more” then their confession is not sacreligious. There is an understanding that we will go sin (and probably the same way) but it still does not invalidate the sacrament.