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ironwood
Guest
Is it necessary to state how long it has been since your last confession when going to confession? If so why?
Ironwood
Ironwood
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Cristiano
Guest
It is not necessary to obtain absolution, but it is a very good practice. One easy answer is that can help the priest in understanding you a little bit more with your attitude toward your sins. If the priest knows your attitude toward sin he can help you with some guidance.Is it necessary to state how long it has been since your last confession when going to confession? If so why?
Ironwood
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Thyme
Guest
I was always told to begin Confession with: “Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. It has been… since my last Confession”. If you haven’t been in a long time, it would be good to tell the Priest, but he may remember the last time you went.
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Dominion
Guest
I’m not telling you jack.
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LilyM
Guest
For one thing we are required as a precept of the Church to confess once a year, so if someone rocks up saying ‘it’s been three years’ the priest can advise them on the precept.
For another - someone who hasn’t confessed for a year is going, most likely, to have a lot longer confession than someone who last went a week or a fortnight ago - lets the priest know what he’s in for. Or if someone is making their first confession, again that’s a different thing that the priest should know about.
For a third - let’s say someone last confessed a week ago and confesses having committed sin ‘x’ 10 times in that week - well, that’s a very different thing from confessing six months ago and having committed the same sin ‘x’ 10 times during that six months, no? Different attitude to the sin, and doubtless different advice and treatment in the confessional.
For a fourth - someone who feels compelled to confess every other day as a regular thing (and priests get to know their ‘regulars’) might be suffering a really bad case of scruples. True, Mother Teresa and John Paul II, I think, went every few days, so it’s not a given that someone who does so is scrupulous, but it means the priest needs to watch out for it.
For another - someone who hasn’t confessed for a year is going, most likely, to have a lot longer confession than someone who last went a week or a fortnight ago - lets the priest know what he’s in for. Or if someone is making their first confession, again that’s a different thing that the priest should know about.
For a third - let’s say someone last confessed a week ago and confesses having committed sin ‘x’ 10 times in that week - well, that’s a very different thing from confessing six months ago and having committed the same sin ‘x’ 10 times during that six months, no? Different attitude to the sin, and doubtless different advice and treatment in the confessional.
For a fourth - someone who feels compelled to confess every other day as a regular thing (and priests get to know their ‘regulars’) might be suffering a really bad case of scruples. True, Mother Teresa and John Paul II, I think, went every few days, so it’s not a given that someone who does so is scrupulous, but it means the priest needs to watch out for it.
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Barbkw
Guest
“Settle back Father, it’s been 15 years.” “This is going to take awhile, which won’t matter because I’m your only confessor.” “By the way, where is everyone else?”
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