Confession obligatory once a year?

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HomeschoolDad

HomeschoolDad

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I realize we are obliged to receive communion at least once a year during the Easter season, but is there a similar obligation to go to confession at least once a year, even if one has not sinned mortally?

If so, where is the provision in canon law, or elsewhere in the doctrine or discipline of the Church, that states this?

I know that one is obligated to do this if they are conscious of having sinned mortally (the three conditions of mortal/grave/grievous matter, sufficient reflection, full consent of the will), but what if they haven’t? What if they can only accuse themselves of venial sins? What then?

I have heard this explained both ways, by priests, both “yes, you have to go to confession once a year under any circumstances”, and “there is no obligation if you haven’t sinned mortally”. Which is correct? They can’t both be right.

Let me be emphatic that confessing only once a year is horrible practice. Once a month is not too often and might not even be often enough. Unless people are all making appointments for confession and going to see the priest privately, the lines to confession are short enough to bear out that confession appears to be a relatively rare thing, at least where I live. Other cultures might be different.
 
I thought you had to go to confession once a year at a minimum, even if you only had venial sins to confess.
I thought that was why penance services were held arounds Easter and Christmas…because everyone had to go once a year and that is around the time most people who don’t regularly attend mass decide to come back.

Well from the above looks like I thought wrong!
 
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HomeschoolDad said:
It’s a conclusion you have to draw from the way the catechism or canon is written.
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I guess I don’t understand your question. Are you looking for some definitive teaching above and beyond the Catechism and Canon Law?

Since I don’t remember being free of all mortal sin for a year, and it’s hypothetical, I will bow out to those more interested.
 
Code of Canon Law

Can. 989 After having reached the age of discretion, each member of the faithful is obliged to confess faithfully his or her grave sins at least once a year.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

[1457] According to the Church’s command, “after having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year.”

Catholic Answers has a Q and A on it

www.catholic.com

What is the requirement regarding yearly confession?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that one must confess serious sins at least once a year (CCC 1457). Here's what you need to know about confession.
www.catholic.com www.catholic.com
 
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II. The Precepts of the Church

2041 The precepts of the Church are set in the context of a moral life bound to and nourished by liturgical life. the obligatory character of these positive laws decreed by the pastoral authorities is meant to guarantee to the faithful the indispensable minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort, in the growth in love of God and neighbor:

2042 The first precept (“You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation.") requires the faithful to participate in the Eucharistic celebration when the Christian community gathers together on the day commemorating the Resurrection of the Lord.

The second precept (“You shall confess your sins at least once a year.") ensures preparation for the Eucharist by the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation, which continues Baptism’s work of conversion and forgiveness.

The third precept (“You shall humbly receive your Creator in Holy Communion at least during the Easter season.") guarantees as a minimum the reception of the Lord’s Body and Blood in connection with the Paschal feasts, the origin and center of the Christian liturgy.

2043 The fourth precept (“You shall keep holy the holy days of obligation.") completes the Sunday observance by participation in the principal liturgical feasts which honor the mysteries of the Lord, the Virgin Mary, and the saints.

The fifth precept (“You shall observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence.") ensures the times of ascesis and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts; they help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.

The faithful also have the duty of providing for the material needs of the Church, each according to his abilities.
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http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_P75.HTM
 
So if I have mortal sin, I’m obliged to confess it within the next 365 days?
 
I suggest you do it the same day if at all possible. You probably cross the street quite a few times in a year. And bathtubs can be very slippery.
 
Wesrock said:
The second precept (“You shall confess your sins at least once a year.") ensures preparation for the Eucharist by the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation, which continues Baptism’s work of conversion and forgiveness.
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That answers my question. But then I don’t understand why the Code of Canon Law adds the part about having committed grave/serious sin.

This being the case, how often is it emphasized from the pulpit, in the church bulletin, and so on, that this is required? I don’t recall ever hearing it — “you must get to confession at least once a year”. Sounds pretty important to me.
 
According to the precepts listed, yes. I believe this is because remote areas may not have access to a full time priest.
 
They should be mentioning it every week starting just before lent until the end of the Easter season at the very least. I wonder how many C&E’s have never heard…or consider the Sundays they don’t come to mass are sins they need to confess.
 
MiserereMeiDei said:
They should be mentioning it every week starting just before lent until the end of the Easter season at the very least. I wonder how many C&E’s have never heard…or consider the Sundays they don’t come to mass are sins they need to confess.
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“Chreasters” typically don’t have the slightest idea about this sort of thing. They may have some vague idea that people are supposed to go to confession, but they have long since decided that they are not going to participate in the life of the Church. How many times have you heard “Midnight Mass is so beautiful”? Not saying this is bad — they’ve got to start somewhere.

I went to Midnight Mass one year to accommodate a non-Catholic friend who asked me about it and had always wanted to attend it. Aside from that, I don’t go to it. Too late at night. That’s just me, that’s just a quirk. It is beautiful.
 
That is not what it says. It makes no mention of remote areas. We must confess mortal sins at least once a year.
 
IdaCatholic said:
Just once a year is the request from the church right?
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Whenever you have committed a mortal sin is the instruction from the Church. The bare minimum for a Christian life requires that you follow the precepts and go to Confession once a year in preparation for receiving the Eucharist at least once a year during Eastertide unless you want another mortal sin for not following the precept, but if you’re aware of any mortal sins it is very important you go as soon as you know it.

Note that the obligation to meet the precepts are dependent on you actually being able to do so. People under or over certain ages and with certain conditions may be excused from fasting, for example. If you’re sick and can’t go to Church on Sunday is another.
 
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Wesrock said:
The second precept (“You shall confess your sins at least once a year.") ensures preparation for the Eucharist by the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation, which continues Baptism’s work of conversion and forgiveness.
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This second precept as quoted by Wesrock is in line with Canon Law, and it does mean the confession of mortal sins. Because Catholics are not to receive Communion if aware of mortal sin. So by confessing committed mortal sins at least once a year also puts one in the state of grace to receive Communion (assuming one refrains from all mortal sins from that day until receiving Communion at the next attended Mass).

And because confession/reconciliation is necessary to absolve mortal sin, thus confession is necessary in order to receive Holy Communion - and all this usually occurs within the Easter period (thus the extra scheduled confession times in addition to the celebration of the 2nd Rite of Reconciliation in the lead up to Easter.) So it ensures the minimum reception of the Sacraments, and the restoration of the life of sanctifying grace within souls at least once a year.
 
Exactly. If one commits no grave sins, there is no obligation to go to Confession.
 
I’m saying I believe that’s why they said once a year, not that they made it only apply to people in remote areas
 
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IdaCatholic said:
Just once a year is the request from the church right?
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Once a year is the required minimum from the church. Frequent confession is encouraged. Presumably, this is more frequent than once a year, but is not really defined.
 
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