Confession once a year

[jcoldc]

I mentioned this in the middle of another thread, and asked an apologist, but I haven’t gotten an answer to this. I’m hoping to get an answer from some of you folks who have been helpful on other issues.

The Catechism 1458 says that Catholics are required to confess serious sins once a year. It also goes on to say that anyone who is in a state of mortal sin and hasn’t gone to confession cannot receive communion.

My basic question is, if this is what the CCC says, why are so many people going around pleading with people to “run” to confession when they’ve committed a mortal sin? (As I’ve seen on this forum.) It doesn’t seem acceptable to even wait until regularly scheduled hours. I’m not talking about people who haven’t been in months or years. I’m talking waiting a few days.

 

[Carolinagirl411]

Well not sure i’m the best person to answer your question since I just came into the Church Easter but I’ll give it a shot

I think they are urging people to “run” to confession after committing moral sin b/c mortal sins are mortal b/c they damage your relationship with God/Christ and hurt your soul. Also I think…correct me if I’m wrong…If you happen to die with mortal sins you could possibly go to hell?

I’m having issues with confession myself, being formally Baptist. Instead of making me feel at peace after my sins have been absolved like everyone I’ve met says it does, I just have more anxiety.

 

[LilyM]

I mentioned this in the middle of another thread, and asked an apologist, but I haven’t gotten an answer to this. I’m hoping to get an answer from some of you folks who have been helpful on other issues.

The Catechism 1458 says that Catholics are required to confess serious sins once a year. It also goes on to say that anyone who is in a state of mortal sin and hasn’t gone to confession cannot receive communion.

My basic question is, if this is what the CCC says, why are so many people going around pleading with people to “run” to confession when they’ve committed a mortal sin? (As I’ve seen on this forum.) It doesn’t seem acceptable to even wait until regularly scheduled hours. I’m not talking about people who haven’t been in months or years. I’m talking waiting a few days.

The reason ‘mortal’ sin is called ‘mortal’ (deadly) is because it is effectively deadly to the soul. It kills the person’s relationship with God completely. Furthermore, if a person dies in the state of mortal sin without having been to confession, especially if they’ve had plenty of opportunity to do so, they may very well go to hell.

Firstly - you’ve offended God. Why would you want to wait to put things to rights with Him when you don’t have to? If you love someone and you’ve hurt them badly, you don’t needlessly wait to make things up with them.

Secondly - if you received a wound to your body in the middle of the night that you knew could very well kill you, you wouldn’t wait around till the regular opening hours of your doctor’s surgery to get it treated, would you? You’d go to emergency or call an ambulance, no?

So why should you wait to repair deadly damage to your soul?

This would be especially true if your doctor only opened the surgery a few hours a week or less. The vast majority of parishes only have an hour or less of scheduled confessions a week.

So really, there’s absolutely no advantage to waiting to go to confession, and many potential dangers in doing so.

As for Carolinagirl - I feel you. I go frequently and I know I don’t always get a feeling of peace. Remember it’s not always about feelings - if you told your parents or spouse that you’d done something awful you may not feel wonderful while telling them or afterwards, even if they forgave you, but that wouldn’t make it any the less the right thing to do.

 

[jcoldc]

Thanks for chiming in, Carolina. I’m sorry you still feel anxiety after confession. I could understand before confession. (Maybe you still have questions about the sacrament or sin?) I go to confession quite often and feel the graces of the sacrament, as well as the graces of receiving communion in the state of grace. I hope you do too.

Yes, you’re right about the teachings on hell and the state of mortal sin. But that’s what is confusing to me. The Church isn’t supposed to lead us astray. Yet, we jeopardize our souls if we are in the state of mortal sin. So why only a requirement of once a year? Why not just state, immediately after every mortal sin? Or at least within a week of mortal sin?

Are we misinterpretting forgiveness and salvation? Is confession more for the graces of the sacraments (both reconciliation and communion)? Is it possible that if you don’t utilize the sacrament of confession (apparently once a year), it is at that point that you are considered unrepentent???

 

[jcoldc]

The reason ‘mortal’ sin is called ‘mortal’ (deadly) is because it is effectively deadly to the soul. It kills the person’s relationship with God completely. Furthermore, if a person dies in the state of mortal sin without having been to confession, especially if they’ve had plenty of opportunity to do so, they may very well go to hell.

Firstly - you’ve offended God. Why would you want to wait to put things to rights with Him when you don’t have to? If you love someone and you’ve hurt them badly, you don’t needlessly wait to make things up with them.

Secondly - if you received a wound to your body in the middle of the night that you knew could very well kill you, you wouldn’t wait around till the regular opening hours of your doctor’s surgery to get it treated, would you? You’d go to emergency or call an ambulance, no?

So why should you wait to repair deadly damage to your soul?

This would be especially true if your doctor only opened the surgery a few hours a week or less. The vast majority of parishes only have an hour or less of scheduled confessions a week.

So really, there’s absolutely no advantage to waiting to go to confession, and many potential dangers in doing so.

As for Carolinagirl - I feel you. I go frequently and I know I don’t always get a feeling of peace. Remember it’s not always about feelings - if you told your parents or spouse that you’d done something awful you may not feel wonderful while telling them or afterwards, even if they forgave you, but that wouldn’t make it any the less the right thing to do.

I appreciate and agree with everything you said, LilyM. Personally, I frequent confession, and find it to be a great vitamin for the soul. But I don’t think you answered my question, as to why the CCC only requires confession once a year.

Somebody help.

 

[Carolinagirl411]

yeah that is pretty confusing. I would think people needed to go to confession once a week…at least

I was extremely anxious before confession my first time…I got sick, had heart palpitations, the works. Makes it very hard to go back since I have such a bad reaction…I’m so used to just praying to God and Christ and admitting my sins and praying for forgiveness…not going to someone I see several times a week knowing they know embarrassing things about me. I know they aren’t supposed to judge but I just have a hard time looking them in the face sometimes…And in confession I get so worked up and embarrassed that I have a hard time getting the words out. I don’t think personally that I have done anything particularly worse than anyone else I guess my anxiety condition makes it more difficult for me but alas I have to go.

The first time I had to confess 24 years…the priest felt that I punished myself enough with my anxiety that he only told me to say a Hail Mary and an Our Father…for 24 years!

 

[jcoldc]

yeah that is pretty confusing. I would think people needed to go to confession once a week…at least

I was extremely anxious before confession my first time…I got sick, had heart palpitations, the works. Makes it very hard to go back since I have such a bad reaction…I’m so used to just praying to God and Christ and admitting my sins and praying for forgiveness…not going to someone I see several times a week knowing they know embarrassing things about me. I know they aren’t supposed to judge but I just have a hard time looking them in the face sometimes…And in confession I get so worked up and embarrassed that I have a hard time getting the words out. I don’t think personally that I have done anything particularly worse than anyone else I guess my anxiety condition makes it more difficult for me but alas I have to go.

The first time I had to confess 24 years…the priest felt that I punished myself enough with my anxiety that he only told me to say a Hail Mary and an Our Father…for 24 years!

Do you ever confess behind the partition? Or perhaps you could go to a church where no the priests don’t know you? At least until you become more comfortable? Don’t be afraid to write what you want to confess down, so you don’t forget. I’ve done that before.

 

[Lee_M]

I believe the Catholic Church requires you to receive communion at least once a year, so that is possibly the reason why we need to go to confession at least once a year since we are not allowed to receive the sacrament if we have committed mortal sin.

 

[LilyM]

Thanks for chiming in, Carolina. I’m sorry you still feel anxiety after confession. I could understand before confession. (Maybe you still have questions about the sacrament or sin?) I go to confession quite often and feel the graces of the sacrament, as well as the graces of receiving communion in the state of grace. I hope you do too.

Yes, you’re right about the teachings on hell and the state of mortal sin. But that’s what is confusing to me. The Church isn’t supposed to lead us astray. Yet, we jeopardize our souls if we are in the state of mortal sin. So why only a requirement of once a year? Why not just state, immediately after every mortal sin? Or at least within a week of mortal sin?

Are we misinterpretting forgiveness and salvation? Is confession more for the graces of the sacraments (both reconciliation and communion)? Is it possible that if you don’t utilize the sacrament of confession (apparently once a year), it is at that point that you are considered unrepentent???

But didn’t you read section 1458?

“1458 Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.59 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:60”

The church is telling us here that even venial (less serious) sins should be confessed frequently, let alone mortal sins. It’s got to leave it up to us how often, though, because not everyone can go weekly, or even fortnightly or monthly, and most definitely not everyone can get to confession within a week of a mortal sin.

For another thing, if the Church made it a matter of legal requirement that we go every week or what have you, people would really tend to go because they had to and not because they genuinely wanted to. Confession above all the other sacraments is one that’s not really useful unless it’s more or less completely voluntarily done, so there’s good reason for the Church not putting such a burden on people.

Another thing too - plenty of people who live in remote areas would start to feel unnecessarily guilty, through no fault of their own and with no good reason, that they didn’t go to confession more often than they do.

Carolinagirl, confession is bad enough for those of us who are used to it oftentimes, so no wonder it’s hard on those who aren’t. All I can say is priests very often genuinely don’t remember people’s confessions - I know this from experience, even with priests who know me pretty well and who I’ve confessed to frequently. Use the screen if it helps, perhaps go to another parish for confessions if you can?

 

[water]

I appreciate and agree with everything you said, LilyM. Personally, I frequent confession, and find it to be a great vitamin for the soul. But I don’t think you answered my question, as to why the CCC only requires confession once a year.

Somebody help.

While the Church understands the importance of the frequent confession, the Church requires people to confess at least once a year - it is probably due to 1 of some reasons that it is caused by a loss of the sense of sin.

If the Church never had this requirement, some people would completely lose this sense for good. The requirement is a reminder and also to give people the apportunity to taste the goodness and grace of the Lord. Hopefully, the sense of frequent confession might come to those people.

The Church, to me, in a sense that it is like my mother who made me eat and take medicine at least once a month for my sake. If she never made me do it, I would never tase the medicine.

 

[beckycmarie]

My basic question is, if this is what the CCC says, why are so many people going around pleading with people to “run” to confession when they’ve committed a mortal sin? (As I’ve seen on this forum.) It doesn’t seem acceptable to even wait until regularly scheduled hours. I’m not talking about people who haven’t been in months or years. I’m talking waiting a few days.

I suppose it’s because some people may never commit mortal sins, but should at least go once a year to confess venial ones.

It is possible to reach a level of holiness where your sins are few and venial.

 

[EasterJoy]

yeah that is pretty confusing. I would think people needed to go to confession once a week…at least

I was extremely anxious before confession my first time…I got sick, had heart palpitations, the works. Makes it very hard to go back since I have such a bad reaction…I’m so used to just praying to God and Christ and admitting my sins and praying for forgiveness…not going to someone I see several times a week knowing they know embarrassing things about me. I know they aren’t supposed to judge but I just have a hard time looking them in the face sometimes…And in confession I get so worked up and embarrassed that I have a hard time getting the words out. I don’t think personally that I have done anything particularly worse than anyone else I guess my anxiety condition makes it more difficult for me but alas I have to go.

The first time I had to confess 24 years…the priest felt that I punished myself enough with my anxiety that he only told me to say a Hail Mary and an Our Father…for 24 years!

Once a week is too often for some souls. It is probably best to find a good and holy confessor or spirtual advisor and to accept their on-going direction about how often to approach the sacrament.

As far as coming in all worked up after 24 years, I can see where a confessor might find that very close to penance enough. Besides, it is within the realm of possiblity that the anxiety of some penitents may come from making the sacrament more about the greatness their own sinfulness than about the greatness of God’s mercy. We know which is the greater of those two! Yet how often we give more attention to the former! A light penance may force a self-punishing person to accept more fully the truth that they are cleansed of their sin only by the love of a compassionate and merciful God, since it robs them of the temptation to think they’ve “made amends” by their penance.

After all, penance is not a sentence served, in order to make repayment for a debt. It is a balm for the injury done in general and a prescription for the rehabilitation of the individual soul. We deserve a Judge, but by the mercy of God our accuser is cast out and we get a Physician, instead.

On the topic of confessors remembering your confession, most priests make every effort to let the Holy Spirit remove all that from their minds, and not just for the sake of the penitents. Keeping a mental catalog of even a fraction of the sins they’ve absolved is too much for a big-hearted person to carry around, particularly for a soul who, having failed in his own lofty call, must regularly approach the Throne of Grace himself!

 

[sphilomena]

why the CCC only requires confession once a year.

Somebody help.

This may be the absolute minimum required, but the Church probably expects her priests to be preaching on the need for frequent confession. Particularly during a certain period of my spiritual growth, I wanted to go monthly (motivated by the Blessed Mother, I’m sure).

We may not always need to go that often, but what is seldom mentioned is the reminder that we gain so much grace from each confession, even the grace to eliminate venial sins. Some of them, at least . In previous decades, we heard more about going to confession.

 

[jcoldc]

But didn’t you read section 1458?

“1458 Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.59 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:60”

The church is telling us here that even venial (less serious) sins should be confessed frequently, let alone mortal sins.
**I don’t have a problem with this at all. I don’t deny that the church urges us to go to confession frequently. **

It’s got to leave it up to us how often, though, because not everyone can go weekly, or even fortnightly or monthly, and most definitely not everyone can get to confession within a week of a mortal sin. Well, I’m confused now. Weren’t you just posting about why would you wait to repair deadly damage to the soul? Who in the state of mortal sin could not get to confession monthly? Even if you’re sick you can arrange for a priest to come to you. Also, why does it have to leave it up to us? There are many things the Church does not leave up to us to decide what is best.

For another thing, if the Church made it a matter of legal requirement that we go every week or what have you, people would really tend to go because they had to and not because they genuinely wanted to.

Confession above all the other sacraments is one that’s not really useful unless it’s more or less completely voluntarily done, so there’s good reason for the Church not putting such a burden on people.
I didn’t suggest that the Church require people go weekly. But why didn’t it require everyone to go immediately after a mortal sin? Or within a reasonable time after mortal sin? And not merely encourage people to go frequently. I agree that people would go and not truly want to be there. But mass is required every week. People do that and just go through the motions. But the Church still requires it.

Another thing too - plenty of people who live in remote areas would start to feel unnecessarily guilty, through no fault of their own and with no good reason, that they didn’t go to confession more often than they do. ** Huh? Again, I’m not asking that the Church require people to go every week etc. But what does that have to do with people living in remote areas? They need to be at mass every week. I guess there is an exception if there is no Catholic church to be found. But it doesn’t keep the Church from requiring weekly mass attendance. The Church doesn’t shy away from making rules that might be difficult for everyone, most, or few. Also, if they live that far away from a confessional, maybe that will make them think twice before sinning. So will everyone who is not in the state of grace be sent to hell, unless they live in the middle of nowehere? Those folks get a special dispensation?**

 

[jcoldc]

Maybe what I can see is that, confession needs to be voluntary, in order to be certain someone is actually sorry for their sins. However, like it or not, voluntarily or not, the church will require you to go to confession at least once a year. And at the very least, it will still keep you grounded or connected to your faith. And also fulfill the requirement of receiving communion once a year? ( I wasn’t aware of that requirement. So if you don’t receive it once a year, is that a mortal sin? I would doubt anyone who doesn’t receive communion once a year, would know that.)

That could make sense to me. However, I still don’t understand why if the salvation of one’s delicate soul lies in the balance, the requirement is just once a year, and not (with respect to the medicine analogy) “as needed”. The Church is in the business of trying help the flock get to heaven. Priests work very hard to administer the sacraments for the good of our souls. If those who are crying to the repentent to go to confession ASAP, out of concern for the person’s salvation, why wouldn’t the CCC be just as concerned?

If I am missing it, please explain it to me as if I were 4.

 

[EasterJoy]

I think the rule is stated that way because reception of the Eucharist is required once a year. In requiring that serious sins be confessed at least that often, no one is free to imagine that serious sin provides a dispensation from the requirement to receive the Eucharist every Easter season, without fail.

More frequent reception of both the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation are practically always encouraged in the same breath with the teaching of these minimal requirements.

 

[hilde_the_dog]

think about it it was not that long ago and in some areas it is becoming more likely that you may not be able to find a priests any time you commit a mortal sin and may have to wait. Think about it it was not that long ago in rural American that one might not see a priest regularly, maybe only a couple of times a year.

 

[jcoldc]

think about it it was not that long ago and in some areas it is becoming more likely that you may not be able to find a priests any time you commit a mortal sin and may have to wait. Think about it it was not that long ago in rural American that one might not see a priest regularly, maybe only a couple of times a year.

So is your point that the CCC says “only once a year” because people in rural areas don’t have access to a priest? My only question is, did the Church take this into account when forming the Catechism?

 

[jcoldc]

Also, in case I’m not being clear. I’m not arguing the content of the CCC. I’m rather, arguing the intense comments from posters telling someone to go to confession so immediately. I understand it is coming from concern for dying inthe state of mortal sin. Is it not accepted that someone is seen as making a good faith effort to go to confession within a few days (ie. the next scheduled hours).

I remember posters, who were obviously sorry, say they had scheduled an appointment with one priest but really wanted another priest, but couldn’t get to see him until 2 days later. People were far and away, saying don’t risk it, go to the first priest. This person wasn’t even waiting for Saturday confession. Would it not seem good enough to have the appt. set up even with the favored priest?

I’ve heard people make comments like, knock on the (rectory) door if you have to. (What priest could go for that for very long?)
Also, could priests really handle everyone making appointments, rather than going to scheduled hours? ( I’m not against scheduling appt. but -but everyone bombarding them with appt.) I think their days would be overwhelmingly booked.

I feel a little embarassed when I hear people qualifying salvation by saying things like ,“Well if you are driving to work and get killed in a crash, then your going to hell. If you are actually on your way to confession when you die, you should be OK.”

So I am citing the CCC requirement of “once a year” to discuss if the mentality of going to a priest ASAP is necessary. Does God not understand the remorsefulness of the soul who is planning on going to confession in a “reasonable matter of time”? (And by that, I mean going to confession within a week,at scheduled confession hours. Perhaps more if there is an illness or something sudden.)

Ultimately, if the CCC is only requiring confession once a year, is it too much to tell someone to race to confession like that? I think Catholics have enough to consider. This talk will drive some people crazy.

 

[beckycmarie]

If one makes a perfect act of contrition after a mortal sin - being truly sorry for a sin since it offended God, rather than being sorry because their action results in punishment, then if they were to get hit by a bus before making it to Confession, then their sins are forgiven and they could still go to Heaven.

Getting to Confession ASAP after a mortal sin is important for two reasons:

1. The worst possible disaster for a person is to die in a state of mortal sin and end up in Hell.
2. Being in a state of mortal sin separates us from God, and kills the spiritual life within us. Being in this state often leads to more mortal sins, and further separation from God. There is nothing good that can come from waiting around in this state, putting off Confession for any amount of time.