Frequent Confession

[o_o_82]

Hi,
I have heard in this forum that many saints and recent popes frequented the sacrament of Repentance/Reconciliation regularly. (Once in two days to once a week.) Also we know that these people were very holy – so probably they did not commit mortal sins like we folks do. Then why did they go so often?

Has any saint or pope revealed why they do that, and how do they find the sins to tell the priest if they are already so holy? Also how do they avoid the risk of scrupulosity, while yet being so sensitive to their sins?

Thanks to all you guys for your replies,
O.O.

 

[m134e5]

Hi,
I have heard in this forum that many saints and recent popes frequented the sacrament of Repentance/Reconciliation regularly. (Once in two days to once a week.) Also we know that these people were very holy – so probably they did not commit mortal sins like we folks do. Then why did they go so often?

Has any saint or pope revealed why they do that, and how do they find the sins to tell the priest if they are already so holy? Also how do they avoid the risk of scrupulosity, while yet being so sensitive to their sins?

Thanks to all you guys for your replies,
O.O.

They may not have mortal sins to confess, but they do have venial sins and imperfections. Confession has two functions- it restores sanctifying grace to the penitent who confesses mortal sins, and it strengthens those who are already in a state of grace. When you go often, the priest can see patterns in your sins, and can give you better advice.

 

[o_o_82]

Dear m134e5,

Thanks for responding. (By the way I am Catholic – so I know a bit of my faith, but I don’t know too much.)

They may not have mortal sins to confess, but they do have venial sins and imperfections.

So what were their venial sins like? I have heard a lot about determination of what are mortal sins and what are not. (E.g. the three criterion for a sin to satisfy in order for it to be mortal.) However I have not heard much about venial sins. Did any saint speak about them?

Confession has two functions- it restores sanctifying grace to the penitent who confesses mortal sins, and it strengthens those who are already in a state of grace.

I know that venial sins are forgiven during the Eucharist. So does this strengthening of grace not occur during the Eucharist?

When you go often, the priest can see patterns in your sins, and can give you better advice.

This is impractical in many big cities. It is not even certain that the next time you go you would be meeting the same priest.

Thanks again for your post.
O.O.

 

[Deacon_Ed]

One of the things we have to realize is that as we grow closer to God we recognize our own imperfections more and more clearly. Just as a brighter light helps us to see what’s around us, so too does drawing near to God help us to see ourselves more clearly.

Many of the saints considered themselves to be horrible sinners even though many of us wouldn’t even see sin in their lives.

As for what their sins wee – that’s between them, their confessor and God (and He’s forgotten them).

Deacon Ed

 

[o_o_82]

Thanks Deacon Ed for responding.

Many of the saints considered themselves to be horrible sinners even though many of us wouldn’t even see sin in their lives.

As for what their sins wee – that’s between them, their confessor and God (and He’s forgotten them).

Deacon Ed

I am interested in knowing what these imperfections were – for improving myself. The danger of looking too closely at oneself is that it may result in scrupulosity. How did these guys avoid being scrupulous and yet identify the difference between a genuine sin and a scruple. 

I am specifically looking for any saint who advocated frequent confession (with some teaching or writing) or any saint who preached on the topic of venial sin.

Thanks again,
O.O.

 

[martinporres]

I am interested in knowing what these imperfections were – for improving myself. The danger of looking too closely at oneself is that it may result in scrupulosity. How did these guys avoid being scrupulous and yet identify the difference between a genuine sin and a scruple.

I am specifically looking for any saint who advocated frequent confession (with some teaching or writing) or any saint who preached on the topic of venial sin.

I too am interested in an answer to this great question, O.O.

The church requires 1 confession per year, yet those of us who seek out true adherence to the Faith, are told frequent confession is good because it returns us to a state of grace, but also told that communion or an act of contrition wipes venial sin away.

It’s a clear question that I’m dying for an answer to as well: if we do not fall into mortal sin, why doesn’t assistance at the mass and frequent communion suffice? Or better: is frequent confession necessary?

If frequent confession is objectively better than assisting at mass to return to the state of grace, what does that say about our Lord’s greatest gift?

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Again, we don’t know what the imperfections were – that’s between them and their confessor. As for the reason to go to confession – aside from the fact that it’s good for the soul, it’s also good for the person. If one uses the same confessor then that confessor can steer the person away from sin by giving advice when a pattern is seen (this helps to avoid scrupulosity).

Each of us walks our own path. We need to walk by the light that God gives us and that light will help us to find our own faults, our own sins. We need not worry about the sins of others for our own are more than sufficient.

Deacon Ed

 

[martinporres]

As long as I understand correctly that is it more important to attend mass than go to confession for venial sin, I’ll be fine.

After all, we’re required to go to mass 52+ times per year, and only once are we required to go to confession per year.

 

[mommyof4]

You may want to read these:

americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0800.asp

americancatholic.org/Newsletters/YU/ay0199.asp

For what ever it’s worth, I have found that frequent confession of some veniel sins has helped my overcome some pretty bad habits. I highly recommend it.

 

[water]

As long as I understand correctly that is it more important to attend mass than go to confession for venial sin, I’ll be fine.

After all, we’re required to go to mass 52+ times per year, and only once are we required to go to confession per year.

Don’t weigh the importance of confession based on the number of requirement. Daily mass is very important, and so is frequent confession.

When you go to confession regularly, you will experience how much your life will be changed. It is an amazing sacrament that one should take as often as possible.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I advise my adult classes that one must go to Confession only when one has a mortal sin to confess; and one must go to the dentist only when one has a rotten tooth to be dug out.

However if one goes to the dentist for frequent checkups one will probably avoid having a rotten tooth to be dug out. In the same way frequent confession of venial sins will help one avoid committing a mortal sin that must be confessed.

 

[o_o_82]

Thanks mart(name removed by moderator)orres. I am getting back to this post after a day.

I too am interested in an answer to this great question, O.O.

It’s a clear question that I’m dying for an answer to as well: if we do not fall into mortal sin, why doesn’t assistance at the mass and frequent communion suffice? Or better: is frequent confession necessary?

I hope we can get an answer to this. I tried to search a bit on the saints – and I could not find any that have provided any reasons on why the church encourages frequent confession (“strongly recommended” is the words the Catechism uses.).

CCC 1458: usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt2.htm#1458

By the way frequent confession is not necessary. The Catechism and Canon Law are explicit about this.

Lets hope we get some answers – because it would be sad if the church is encouraging something without reason.

O.O.

 

[o_o_82]

Dear Deacon Ed,
Thanks for your post. Unfortunately it does not answer any of the questions I have asked above.

Again, we don’t know what the imperfections were – that’s between them and their confessor.

I have given the reason above why I wanted these. Most people (saints included) will not give these out. So has any of them done so.

As for the reason to go to confession – aside from the fact that it’s good for the soul, it’s also good for the person.

I am not denying that the sacrament of confession has some value. I am interested in knowing why the church recommends going to confession frequently – when celebration of the Eucharist also forgives venial sins. (Here I am assuming that a person does not commit mortal sins on a regular basis.) So how does the “good” value of the sacrament of confession compare to that of the Eucharist? Any authentic Church standing on this issue?

If one uses the same confessor then that confessor can steer the person away from sin by giving advice when a pattern is seen (this helps to avoid scrupulosity).

This advice could only come from a Deacon. For an average practicing Catholic, the priest would never have an idea about any of your previous sins – due to the large number of laity and very few priests. As a Deacon you may be a prominent person in your Parish – but in most cases I don’t think that this is practical now.

Each of us walks our own path. We need to walk by the light that God gives us and that light will help us to find our own faults, our own sins.

Thanks for this inspiring words – but they still don’t answer the question.

We need not worry about the sins of others for our own are more than sufficient.

We need to learn from the mistakes of others.

Thanks again – but I hope you could focus on the subject the next time.
O.O.

 

[water]

Thanks mart(name removed by moderator)orres. I am getting back to this post after a day.

I hope we can get an answer to this. I tried to search a bit on the saints – and I could not find any that have provided any reasons on why the church encourages frequent confession (“strongly recommended” is the words the Catechism uses.).

CCC 1458: usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt2.htm#1458

By the way frequent confession is not necessary. The Catechism and Canon Law are explicit about this.

Lets hope we get some answers – because it would be sad if the church is encouraging something without reason.

O.O.

Isn’t this an obvious reason:

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

I am not sure what else you were trying to look for.

 

[Al_Masetti]

I find that frequent confession brings me closer to God because the thought of having to make my next confession results in a continuous on-going examination of conscience.

If I am maintaining an on-going continuous list of my sins, then I am more conscious of them and become less likely to consent to committing those sins.

Even if I have no mortal sins, and I state that to the confessor, they appreciate the idea of granting the grace of the sacrament of confession to a penitent.

Basically, the more often we receive the sacraments, the more aware we become of God in our daily busy lives.

And sometimes we may either be tempted to commit a sin or we may actually do so … by “automatically” making room in our schedule for frequent Confession, we thus also automatically provide ourselves with the opportunity to remove that sin.

[Temptations are not sins … unless we deliberately expose ourselves to them.]

And because there are only two sacraments that we can receive on a frequent basis, and whereas the Church goes out of its way to make them available to us, then we should receive them frequently … Holy Communion and Confession.

 

[o_o_82]

Thanks for your post mart(name removed by moderator)orres

As long as I understand correctly that is it more important to attend mass than go to confession for venial sin, I’ll be fine.

How did you get this?

After all, we’re required to go to mass 52+ times per year, and only once are we required to go to confession per year.

Actually if you have only venial sins, you need not go to confession. It seems that there is no obligation even to go to confession once a year. (A specific post [forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=139690&postcount=8](http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=139690&postcount=8) and the accompanying thread discuss that in more detail.)

Regards,
O.O.

 

[jmcrae]

I have given the reason above why I wanted these. Most people (saints included) will not give these out. So has any of them done so.

I think it would be considered a violation of the Seal of Confession to give out the reasons why somebody went to Confession.

After all, the only person who would know is the priest who heard the Confession. He would be excommunicated from the church if he were ever to tell what someone confessed in the Confessional, or even why they went to Confession, since if he says, “Oh they made a devotional confession,” or “Oh, he confessed this many mortal sins,” then the person could guess the contents of the Confession, and that would be the same as telling what they confessed, right?

 

[jpjd]

…we know that these people were very holy – so probably they did not commit mortal sins like we folks do. Then why did they go so often?

A lot of people make this mistake…thinking that people are holy and don’t need to go, so why do they go so often? Really, it’s the other way around, they go often and that’s what helps make them holy.

 

[o_o_82]

Thank you mommyof4 for these links.

americancatholic.org/News…/CU/ac0800.asp

This seems to give me one particular piece of information that I did not know before i.e. The Eucharist post Vatican II is seen as a sacrament of forgiveness and this was not true before Vatican II. Is this true? 

It is a good article – but it does not in anyway explain the reason for frequent confession. (May be I am just blind – but could you be more specific.)

americancatholic.org/News…/YU/ay0199.asp

This is a very good article providing a good introduction to the sacrament as well as to sin. However it does not mention anyway regarding the frequency of the sacrament except in the Q/A at the bottom and without any reasons there also.

For what ever it’s worth, I have found that frequent confession of some veniel sins has helped my overcome some pretty bad habits. I highly recommend it.

Thanks for your personal experience. I know what you mean.

Slave to 6 cats, 1 dog, 6 rabbits, 25 chickens, 2 ducks, and 2 parakeets

This is off-post, but it seems like you are living in a zoo :D

Thank you again,
O.O.

 

[o_o_82]

Thank you Joe Kelley for your post.

I advise my adult classes that one must go to Confession only when one has a mortal sin to confess; and one must go to the dentist only when one has a rotten tooth to be dug out.

However if one goes to the dentist for frequent checkups one will probably avoid having a rotten tooth to be dug out. In the same way frequent confession of venial sins will help one avoid committing a mortal sin that must be confessed.

I think that the first part of what you said makes sense i.e. Confession is only for mortal sins. 
I did not get the second part. In case of the dentist – he examines your teeth. In case of the priest, he can never know what you did unless you tell him. There is a huge amount of things that you might have done – that may be sin, but the priest would never know it. 

I agree that the examination of conscience is a good practice though.

Regards,
O.O.