F
FCS
Guest
Hi, I know Catholics are required to go to Confession once a year. I was wondering, does that once-a-year Confession have to be during Lent or Easter, or can it be any time?
Thank you!
Thank you!
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
T
twf
Guest
It could be any time, but you are required to receive communion once a year during the Easter season… so if not necessarily in a state of Grace when Easter rolls around, you would have to confess around that time.
F
FCS
Guest
Thank you!
Tis_Bearself
Patron
To clarify this again, as we just went over it on another thread, Catholics are NOT “required to go to Confession once a year.”
Catholics are required to receive Communion at least once a year during the Easter season. You need to be in a state of grace when you receive. It is presumed that many Catholics may either be outside a state of grace or may not be sure if they’re in a state of grace or not, and therefore they will go to confession before receiving.
Technically, if a Catholic never commits a mortal sin, then a Catholic never has to go to Confession for their whole life and never falls out of a state of grace. However, many Catholics do commit some type of grave, possibly mortal sin from time to time, which necessitates confession and absolution. If someone said he hadnt been to confession in 5 years because he simply didnt commit any mortal sins, lots of Catholics would be very skeptical of that.
You also get graces from frequent Confession that help you sin less; it’s a good way to develop your conscience; and certain devotions like First Saturday or getting plenary indulgences requires confession within a certain number of days.
So for all these reasons, Confession once a year or more is encouraged. But not “required” by the Church, unless you are conscious of committing a grave, as in possibly mortal, sin.
Catholics are required to receive Communion at least once a year during the Easter season. You need to be in a state of grace when you receive. It is presumed that many Catholics may either be outside a state of grace or may not be sure if they’re in a state of grace or not, and therefore they will go to confession before receiving.
Technically, if a Catholic never commits a mortal sin, then a Catholic never has to go to Confession for their whole life and never falls out of a state of grace. However, many Catholics do commit some type of grave, possibly mortal sin from time to time, which necessitates confession and absolution. If someone said he hadnt been to confession in 5 years because he simply didnt commit any mortal sins, lots of Catholics would be very skeptical of that.
You also get graces from frequent Confession that help you sin less; it’s a good way to develop your conscience; and certain devotions like First Saturday or getting plenary indulgences requires confession within a certain number of days.
So for all these reasons, Confession once a year or more is encouraged. But not “required” by the Church, unless you are conscious of committing a grave, as in possibly mortal, sin.
Last edited:
F
FCS
Guest
Okay thank you, that clears things up.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.