Confession and Venial Sins

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I’m a new Catholic; I entered the Church this Easter. I really love the sacrament of reconciliation, but still have a few questions. I know only mortal sin needs to be confessed and that it is a good idea to also confess venial sins. How tedious do I need to be when confessing venial sins? An example would be I insulted one of my parents in an argument and wasn’t thinking it through because of my temper. That would be something I think should be confessed. Another example would be say I was feeling blue so I binged on a bunch of junk food for emotional comfort. That one doesn’t seem too damaging, should that be brought up in confession? I’m curious if I should only bring up the venial sins that will really weaken me and I need help curbing. Should I not bother confessing very minor ones?
Thanks in advanced.
 
If you find yourself trying to justify your sins as “not so bad” then you should take them to confession. We’re supposed to detest sin and want to be perfect and sinless. The sacrament of confession does this for us. Ask yourself the real reason you don’t want to confess going on a junk food binge? BTW: yes, that’s a big deal. While not necessarily grave matter, you’re still building the vice of gluttony. The more you do it, the harder it is to avoid doing it, which can lead you into committing mortal sins.

I do weekly confession and I confess all venial sins I can remember. Before anyone complains about me hogging the confessional, I’m literally in and out in 5 minutes or less.
 
Thanks for the quick reply. I’ve been in the habit of going to confession weekly and a lot of my friends are asking why I’m going so often and I keep hearing you don’t have to really worry about venial sin. I totally agree that venial sin really does weaken you. My routine has been doing a very thorough examination of conscious and then writing down all of my sins on a piece of paper so I won’t get nervous and leave anything out in the confessional. I’ve been including all of my venial sins too, such as the binge eating. I really do appreciate your reply and I feel more confident in keeping my weekly confession schedule now.
 
I agree. I usually go to confession about once every 2 weeks or so. My philosophy is if I’m not sure if a particular act was sinful or not, take it to the confessional. Or, if I’m not sure if a sin is mortal or venial, take it to confession. Sin is addictive. And when you go to confession, you receive graces to fight temptations. Be it venial or mortal sin.
 
I admire and even envy those who go to confession weekly. It seems even when I go once a month I have to fight myself and then there are all kinds of circumstances which occur making it almost impossible to go. If you can nip something in the bud rather than waiting for it to get much worse… Or, before you forget about it, it seems to me the Eucharist means a lot more.
 
AdDeum said:
I agree. I usually go to confession about once every 2 weeks or so. My philosophy is if I’m not sure if a particular act was sinful or not, take it to the confessional. Or, if I’m not sure if a sin is mortal or venial, take it to confession. Sin is addictive. And when you go to confession, you receive graces to fight temptations. Be it venial or mortal sin.
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AMEN
 
Agree with what everyone else has said.

I go about once every 2 or 3 weeks depending on the need.

I usually don’t go unless I have something serious to confess, but I try to confess everything I can remember - mortal and venial.

Before starting this more frequent confession schedule, I hadn’t gone in 2-3 years, so it was such a grace. Knowing that I will be confessing my sins helps keep my mind turned towards God, which is a grace in itself.

I suspect for the average Catholic under-utilizes this Sacrament.

God bless,
Bryan
 
ReneLynette,

First of all, let me say - WELCOME HOME…👍

You ask a very good question here and something that everyone should consider.
What I have discovered might help you.
As you do your examination of conscience, consider the various numbers and types of venial sins you recall. Then consider if there is a deeper problem underlying these sins.
Deo Gratias42 mentions this when he/she refered to “gluttony” (one of the “7 deadly sins”). Often times we need to recognize the “root cause” of our many small sins in order to make real progress.
Of course your confessor can help with this.

Peace
James
 
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

It is a very good practice to confess venial sins often. They can of course be forgiven in many ways and one does not need to try to “hunt them all down” or be concerned about how one confesses them (they can even be more general) …

(where-as Mortal sins need to be confessed in number and kind and circumstance that effect the species --such as one stole from a Church).

(not commenting on particular sins mentioned in the thread but just noting things in general. Ones confessor can assist one in judging the various sins and can give advice).
 
I want to thank you all so much for the great advice. I actually just came back from confession a while ago and mentioned all of the venial sins I remember committing this past week. It is definitely a good habit to get into and I really do appreciate all the great advice.
 
Very good practice because:**

1863** Venial sin weakens charity; it manifests a disordered affection for created goods; it impedes the soul’s progress in the exercise of the virtues and the practice of the moral good; it merits temporal punishment. Deliberate and unrepented venial sin disposes us little by little to commit mortal sin. However venial sin does not break the covenant with God. With God’s grace it is humanly reparable. "Venial sin does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace, friendship with God, charity, and consequently eternal happiness."134
While he is in the flesh, man cannot help but have at least some light sins. But do not despise these sins which we call “light”: if you take them for light when you weigh them, tremble when you count them. A number of light objects makes a great mass; a number of drops fills a river; a number of grains makes a heap. What then is our hope? Above all, confession.135
**Catechism of the Catholic Church

**
 
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