How often do we have to confess

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You have to once per year (this is apretty old canon first promulgated by the Fourth Lateran Council under Pope Innocent III and it remains to this day in the Code of Canon law)–but you are encouraged to go more often 🙂
 
So does that mean if I confess in June 2008 that I would have to confess again by June 2009, or does that mean if I confess in June 2008, that is it for 2008, then I just have to do it again in 2009.

I understand that is being really nit picky, and I am not trying to cheat the system, just trying to understand the rule.
 
Genesis315 said:
You have to once per year (this is apretty old canon first promulgated by the Fourth Lateran Council under Pope Innocent III and it remains to this day in the Code of Canon law)–but you are encouraged to go more often 🙂
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Are you sure? Pete asked about mortal sins, and Canon 989 reads “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.”

What do you think?
VC
 
Oh interesting–so I guess in the current code it iseems limited to grave sins- 👍
 
One is required to confess any grave sins at least once per year (the year starting at your last confession), however it is highly recommended that we confess even venial sins much more often - about once per month is usually recommended unless we have a particular problem with a/some particular sins in which case more often is helpful.
Yes, venial sins are forgiven by the Eucharist (if there are no unconfessed mortal sins on the soul) but humans need more than that in order to keep reducing their sins. The more one confesses venial sins (unless their spiritual director, due to that persons scrupulosity, says otherwise) the more likely one is to avoid both venial and mortal sin. Confession of even venial sins gives us Grace and I for one, need all the Grace I can get.👍 If we aren’t moving forward toward The Father, we’re moving backward and away from Him.:eek:
 
As listed in the Compendium, which may be found on the Vatican web site:

"The five precepts of the Church:
  1. You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligation and remain free from work or activity that could impede the sanctification of such days.
    2. You shall confess your sins at least once a year.
  2. You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season.
  3. You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church.
  4. You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church."
 
I heard from a priest the average catholic goes to confession during advent and lent. So probably twice a year if you want to be the average catholic. He said he goes to confession about once a month. He told me a person should go as much as they need without it becoming a meaningless routine.
 
If twice a year is often enough for you to keep a conscience that is sensitive (not to be read as scrupulous) then more power to you.🤷
 
PeteZaHut said:
How often do we have to confess if we are not in mortal sin
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the law of the Church is that we must confess our mortal sins at least once a year. Grave sin is another way of saying mortal sin, that which separates us from communion, denies sanctifying grace and results in eternal punishment if we die uncontrite.
 
puzzleannie said:
the law of the Church is that we must confess our mortal sins at least once a year. Grave sin is another way of saying mortal sin, that which separates us from communion, denies sanctifying grace and results in eternal punishment if we die uncontrite.
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True, with one difference. Sometimes someone may commit a grave sin but one of the other requirements for it to be mortal isn’t present (such as full knowledge of it’s gravity &/or having deliberate consent). The Church wants to hear all grave sins, even if we decide that they’re all venial, in case we’re fooling ourselves (and I’ve never done this! :rolleyes: ). He will know differently.:eek:
 
brigid12 said:
True, with one difference.
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Hi brigid,

I read “grave sin” (peccati gravis) as “mortal sin”. For instance Canon Law also states that “A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to. . . receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless . . .”

If peccati gravis doesn’t mean mortal sin (i.e. with knowledge and consent) then why keep the faithful from communion?

What do you think?
VC
 
Verbum_Caro said:
Hi brigid,

I read “grave sin” (peccati gravis) as “mortal sin”. For instance Canon Law also states that “A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to. . . receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless . . .”

If peccati gravis doesn’t mean mortal sin (i.e. with knowledge and consent) then why keep the faithful from communion?

What do you think?
VC
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For the reason I just stated, that what is grave matter is what we need to confess and the priest and The Lord will decide whether it’s mortal sin or not. Otherwise, we turn all sin into human rationalization.🤷
Suffice it to say that humans have a tendency to avoid being truly penitent and so avoid confession as Our Lord through HMC has provided, so that we can be fairly confident as to seeing His Face.
 
I realized that an example may be helpful to you.:hmmm: Say I committed blasphemy, then realized what I’d done and asked His Forgiveness, directly. I realize that I wasn’t even sure it was a blasphemy at the time and that I did it without thinking (I think :confused:) , so think it must have been a venial sin even if it was grave matter. Just to be safe with the destination of my immortal soul, I confess it.
Does that help?
 
As I understand it, any grave sin has the potential of being mortal, but it is only **one **of the criteria which makes an act a mortal sin. Therefore, while we have to confess mortal sins prior to receiving Communion (and should do so immediately, in case of an untimely death), we are obligated to confess grave sins at least once a year. (Don’t even bother to try to argue you can go a year without committing any grave sins . . . )

Does that make sense? All grave sins are not mortal – but they sure might be . . .

Personally, I find the sacrament of confession to be a great consolation and gift – even when I don’t “have” to go.
 
IrishAm said:
As I understand it, any grave sin has the potential of being mortal, but it is only **one **of the criteria which makes an act a mortal sin. Therefore, while we have to confess mortal sins prior to receiving Communion (and should do so immediately, in case of an untimely death), we are obligated to confess grave sins at least once a year. (Don’t even bother to try to argue you can go a year without committing any grave sins . . . )

Does that make sense? All grave sins are not mortal – but they sure might be . . .

Personally, I find the sacrament of confession to be a great consolation and gift – even when I don’t “have” to go.
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👍
 
Brigid, I think I wasn’t clear. It seems you, and IrishAm, hold that the Church requires us to confess grave matter once per year, regardless of whether or not it was a mortal sin. I am putting forth the position that the Church requires us to confess only mortal sins.

It seemed to me that you were reading the words “grave sin” in Canon Law to mean something different than mortal sin. My point was that the Latin “peccati gravis” which is translated as “grave sin”, is used throughout Canon Law in places where it clearly means “mortal sin”.

What are your thoughts?
VC
 
Verbum_Caro said:
Brigid, I think I wasn’t clear. It seems you, and IrishAm, hold that the Church requires us to confess grave matter once per year, regardless of whether or not it was a mortal sin. I am putting forth the position that the Church requires us to confess only mortal sins.

It seemed to me that you were reading the words “grave sin” in Canon Law to mean something different than mortal sin. My point was that the Latin “peccati gravis” which is translated as “grave sin”, is used throughout Canon Law in places where it clearly means “mortal sin”.

What are your thoughts?
VC
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Yes, I do believe that while “grave sin” and “mortal sin” are frequently used interchangeably in English and in Latin documentation, there are differences between them or else **one **of the criteria of being mortal – but not the **only **criteria – would not be it being “grave.”

I also believe, as EasterJoy pointed out, in the precepts of the Church, being:
  1. You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligation and remain free from work or activity that could impede the sanctification of such days.
    2. You shall confess your sins at least once a year.
  2. You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season.
  3. You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church.
  4. You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church.
The precepts, which are not optional but obligatory, do not define any degree of your (and my) sinfulness, simply that you (and I) shall confess them at least once a year.

So that’s my $.02 worth! Brigid (perhaps another good Irishwoman :shamrock2: ) how about you??
 
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