How often do we have to confess

[jmcrae]

jmcrae,

Who are you talking about? Not the poor OP I hope. He had a legitimate question!

VC

Whoever our hypothetical student is, who keeps bringing up objections to the minimum once-a-year Confession, for whom we need to find an acceptable answer.

Just out of curiousity, what would you tell him?

(That wouldn’t go home to Mum and Dad as, “Teacher says we don’t need to go to Confession inless we wanna.”)

 

[notsmart]

Could you let us know who the person is who is trying to see a reason why once a year confession could be skipped?

Certainly not the OP? Were you referring to yourself?

VC

I have no recourse to the sacraments yet, but when I do I will be very happy to go to confession.

 

[Verbum_Caro]

Whoever our hypothetical student is, who keeps bringing up objections to the minimum once-a-year Confession, for whom we need to find an acceptable answer.

Frankly I would welcome students who held me accountable to my mandate to teach what the Church teaches and to represent her laws accurately.

jmcrae:

Just out of curiousity, what would you tell him?

What’s the question this hypothetical student is asking? Is he asking: “Does the Church require us under Canon Law to confess venial sins?” If so, I would say no. And then explain that the Church urges us to do so.

I don’t think students are served very well by either a)manipulating the law or requirements of the Church to say what *we think *they *should *say, or b) by not caring what they really say. Do you?

By the way, earlier in this thread you said that:

jmcrae:

It is elsewhere in the Catechism that we are instructed to confess our mortal sins at the earliest convenient opportunity; I don’t have the reference handy, but I know I read it just recently, since I am preparing to teach a class on the subject during the month of November.

Have you found that passage yet?

VC

 

[jmcrae]

Frankly I would welcome students who held me accountable to my mandate to teach what the Church teaches and to represent her laws accurately.

What’s the question this hypothetical student is asking? Is he asking: “Does the Church require us under Canon Law to confess venial sins?” If so, I would say no. And then explain that the Church urges us to do so.

I thought he was asking, “What’s the absolute least I can get away with, for I want to spend as long as possible in Purgatory, and I want to be within a hair’s breadth of Hell’s flames.”

I don’t think students are served very well by either a)manipulating the law or requirements of the Church to say what *we think *they *should *say, or b) by not caring what they really say. Do you?

Not at all. The clear intent is that we should go to Confession as often as our conscience convicts us, and not less than once a year.

By the way, earlier in this thread you said that:

It is elsewhere in the Catechism that we are instructed to confess our mortal sins at the earliest convenient opportunity; I don’t have the reference handy, but I know I read it just recently, since I am preparing to teach a class on the subject during the month of November.

Have you found that passage yet?

Yes, it’s in paragraph 1457, which states that we must confess our mortal sins before next receiving Holy Communion, which for most people would normally be the upcoming Sunday (and for most people on this Forum, it would be before tomorrow morning).

 

[brigid12]

This is an interesting statement I found in the CCC #1856, however it is a quote from St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica:

When the will sets itself upon something that is of its nature incompatible with the charity that orients man toward his ultimate end, then the sin is mortal by its very object…whether it contradicts the love of God, such as blasphemy or perjury, or the love of neighbor, such as homicide or adultery…But when the sinner’s will is set upon something that of its nature involves a disorder, but is not opposed to the love of God and neighbor, such as thoughtless chatter or immoderate laughter and the like, such sins are venial.

(emphasis mine)

St. Thomas’ words seem to elevate this discussion from one of legalism to one of the spirit.

Just my :twocents:

 

[Verbum_Caro]

I thought he was asking, “What’s the absolute least I can get away with, for I want to spend as long as possible in Purgatory, and I want to be within a hair’s breadth of Hell’s flames.”

I understand. But that’s an assumption you made about the intent of those wishing to discuss what the law actually holds. I made no such assumption, and I don’t see any evidence on this thread of anyone wishing to do the minimum necessary.

I’m afraid that I’m taken aback a bit that the the concept that one wants to know what the law actually states is somehow the same thing as wanting to do the least possible.

The clear intent is that we should go to Confession as often as our conscience convicts us, and not less than once a year.

I don’t see that intent. Canon 989 is limited to the requirement that one must confess one’s mortal sins at least once a year. I think we would need to look elsewhere for the guidance you mention.

Yes, it’s in paragraph 1457, which states that we must confess our mortal sins before next receiving Holy Communion

Oh, ok. I’m not sure how that relates to this thread though. I thought you were proposing that the Church requires one to go to confession as soon as possible when in mortal sin, full stop. I thought this because you said that:

If (Canon 989) meant mortal sin, that term would have been used. It is elsewhere in the Catechism that we are instructed to confess our mortal sins at the earliest convenient opportunity;

It seems like the first part of that might need some revision .

For those following this thread, here is an exchange between a questioner and Fr. Serpa in the Ask an Apologist forum:Question: If I understand it correctly, Canon law states that we should go to confession at least once a year, preferably during the Lenten Season. A priest friend of mine say that it is ONLY necessary if one has committed a mortal sin. Would you please clarify this for me?

Answer: Canon 989 states: “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.” It can be logically concluded that “serious” means “mortal” sins in this context. The second paragraph of canon 988 states: “It is also recommended to the Christian faithful that venial sine also be confessed.” Note that this is a recommendation and not an obligation. So your priest friend is correct.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.
What do you think? Laxity? Hairs breath of Hell’s flames?

Seriously, jmcrae, I understand that you only wish to encourage people to go to confession often and on a regular basis. Thank you for that, and for adding that important point to the discussion. I share that same desire, and I hope you can see that the discussion about this specific provision of Canon Law doesn’t mean I, or Fr. Serpa, want to encourage people to do the minimum necessary.

God bless,
VC

 

[Verbum_Caro]

St. Thomas’ words seem to elevate this discussion from one of legalism to one of the spirit.

Hi Brigid,

That is an excellent passage of the Catechism (and St. Thomas). Good find!

Do you want to discuss it, as it relates to this thread?

VC

 

[jmcrae]

I understand. But that’s an assumption you made about the intent of those wishing to discuss what the law actually holds. I made no such assumption, and I don’t see any evidence on this thread of anyone wishing to do the minimum necessary.

I’m afraid that I’m taken aback a bit that the the concept that one wants to know what the law actually states is somehow the same thing as wanting to do the least possible.

Why else would someone want to know the law, other than to know how close one is coming (or could come) to breaking it?

Jesus is always very famously telling us to do twice or more as much of what is required of us - His criticism of the Pharisees was not that they were following the Law too much, but that they were following it too little - they were too interested in finding loopholes in it, and too prone to making the loopholes into law.

I don’t see that intent. Canon 989 is limited to the requirement that one must confess one’s mortal sins at least once a year. I think we would need to look elsewhere for the guidance you mention.

See the very next paragraph - 1458. Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church. Indeed the regular confession of our venial sins helps to form our conscience …] and then it goes on at length to praise the virtues of frequent Confession. It seems obvious that the writers of the Catechism want people to make use of the Sacrament; not to avoid it on whatever pretext.

I thought you were proposing that the Church requires one to go to confession as soon as possible when in mortal sin, full stop.

Well, it would depend on when you are next attending Mass and will have the opportunity to receive Holy Communion. Obviously if you were in mortal sin, you’d want to go to Confession before then. In the First Precept, we see that we are obliged to go to Mass every Sunday, so it would be within the next seven days, for sure.

 

[notsmart]

If I can ask a dumb question here? but I must… ask. Is there so many catholics that never commit a mortal sin for an ENTIRE YEAR? I am sure that there are but… let’s say its not entirely a mortal sin, but don’t tons of venial sins seperate you from God? Maybe one or two don’t seperate you too much, but say a hundred or couple hundred of them? Don’t they pave the way for a valley(larger seperation) to potentially be formed?
I am interested on what everyone thinks about that. Also, even if anything seperates us from God, why would we be okay with that?

 

[Verbum_Caro]

Why else would someone want to know the law, other than to know how close one is coming (or could come) to breaking it?

That’s seems to be a pretty jaded view.

I can think of many reasons why someone would want to know the law, here are just a few: 1) We are bound by it by our Baptism, so we should inquire into what it says.

1. Holy Mother Church proposes it to us for our edification and guidance.
2. We do not wish to teach error regarding what the law actually holds.
3. We wish to inquire into the reasons, both historical and pastoral, for certain laws.

See the very next paragraph - 1458.

I’m sorry jmcrae, I thought you were talking about Canon 989, not the Catechism. Canon 988 gives encouragement to confess venial sins.

I have been talking about Canon Law 989.

It seems obvious that the writers of the Catechism want people to make use of the Sacrament; not to avoid it on whatever pretext.

Yes it is obvious. Painfully so. I don’t think anyone on this thread questioned that, have they? We all agree, I hope!, that one should go to confession as much as possible, as soon as possible, and for any devout reason.

Well, it would depend on when you are next attending Mass and will have the opportunity to receive Holy Communion. Obviously if you were in mortal sin, you’d want to go to Confession before then. In the First Precept, we see that we are obliged to go to Mass every Sunday, so it would be within the next seven days, for sure.

Yep. But that’s because you want to receive communion, so therefore you want to go to confession, because you must go to confession if you have mortal sin before receiving communion.

But, of course, there is not an absolute obligation to go to communion each time you go to Mass. It would seem imprudent not to desire to go if you could though.

VC

 

[Verbum_Caro]

If I can ask a dumb question here? but I must… ask. Is there so many catholics that never commit a mortal sin for an ENTIRE YEAR?

I don’t know. I suppose that would be the goal though. And that goal would be more readily attained by frequent confession of venial sin.

notsmart:

let’s say its not entirely a mortal sin, but don’t tons of venial sins seperate you from God? Maybe one or two don’t seperate you too much, but say a hundred or couple hundred of them? Don’t they pave the way for a valley(larger seperation) to potentially be formed?

Yes, absolutely. The more venial sin one commits the more prone one is to committing a mortal sin.

VC

 

[notsmart]

I don’t know. I suppose that would be the goal though. And that goal would be more readily attained by frequent confession of venial sin.

Yes, absolutely. The more venial sin one commits the more prone one is to committing a mortal sin.

VC

Okay, so then even if one does not desire to recieve communion (I can’t imagine that, but lets just say…)
Wouldn’t it be in their best interests to purge the venial sins that mount up.?

 

[itsjustdave1988]

I have no recourse to the sacraments yet, but when I do I will be very happy to go to confession.

I have family who also cannot access this wonderful Sacrament, but if they could they would do so weekly. I know of one “catechist” in our diocese who stated that she just “tells God her sins” and so sees no need to go to Confession. Eeeeegads.

Those who can’t, want to. Those who can, don’t.

 

[itsjustdave1988]

By the way, earlier in this thread you said that:

Quote:
Originally Posted by jmcrae
It is elsewhere in the Catechism that we are instructed to confess our mortal sins at the earliest convenient opportunity; I don’t have the reference handy, but I know I read it just recently, since I am preparing to teach a class on the subject during the month of November.

Have you found that passage yet?

Here’s what St. Thomas Aquinas taught:

Now a man is not bound to receive Baptism as soon as he makes up his mind to be baptized; and so*** he would not sin mortally, if he were not baptized at once***: nor is there any fixed time beyond which, if he defer Baptism, he would incur a mortal sin. Nevertheless the delay of Baptism may amount to a mortal sin, or it may not, and this depends on the cause of the delay, since, as the Philosopher says (Phys. viii, text. 15), the will does not defer doing what it wills to do, except for a reasonable cause. Wherefore if the cause of the delay of Baptism has a mortal sin connected with it, e.g. ***if a man put off being baptized through contempt, or some like motive, the delay will be a mortal sin, but otherwise not: and the same seems to apply to confession ***which is not more necessary than Baptism. Moreover, since man is bound to fulfill in this life those things that are necessary for salvation, therefore, if he be in danger of death, he is bound, even absolutely, then and there to make his confession or to receive Baptism. For this reason too, James proclaimed at the same time the commandment about making confession and that about receiving Extreme Unction (James 5:14-16). Therefore the opinion seems probable of those who say that a man is not bound to confess at once, though it is dangerous to delay.
[St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, suppl., 6, 5]

 

[itsjustdave1988]

I think the “as soon as possible” verbiage comes from canon 916, but that pertains to a specific case.
Can. 916 Anyone who is conscious of grave sin may not celebrate Mass or receive the Body of the Lord without previously having been to sacramental confession, unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, which includes the resolve to go to confession as soon as possible.

 

[itsjustdave1988]

…don’t tons of venial sins seperate you from God?

Venial sin, even a ton of them, do not constitute a loss of sanctifying grace. They may, however, predispose a person to commit mortal sin.

 

[Verbum_Caro]

I think the “as soon as possible” verbiage comes from canon 916, but that pertains to a specific case.

Right Dave. I’ve often run across an inadvertent confusion between Canon 916, with its obligation to confess as soon as possible in this specific case, and the obligation one has to confess one’s forgotten mortal sins once remembered.

In other words, sometimes you will hear someone say that if you forget to mention a mortal sin in confession and then later recall it, you must confess it as soon as possible. They are borrowing that verbiage from Canon 916, as there is no such obligation.

I suppose that would be another example of the importance of knowing what the law actually states.

VC

 

[GailMac]

Dear PeteZaHut - I go as often as I can. The requirement is only when in Mortal sin, unless you want to sit in the pew and be honest for a few weeks. I hope you go as often as you can. You will be helping God give you His peace with your poor soul and gaining the strength you need through the Sacrament of Mercy to help you in your daily walk. He pours out His precious blood into your poor soul and strengthens you to battle your personal sins faults and failings.

Peace,

Gail

 

[notsmart]

Venial sin, even a ton of them, do not constitute a loss of sanctifying grace. They may, however, predispose a person to commit mortal sin.

Thank Dave. I think its wise to use it then, even if its just a ton of venial sins. I brush my teeth for the same reason. I don’t need to, but I don’t want decay. And, for the sake of others I do.

 

[Verbum_Caro]

I think its wise to use it then, even if its just a ton of venial sins. I brush my teeth for the same reason. I don’t need to, but I don’t want decay.

NS,

That’s a pretty good analogy!

And even,

And, for the sake of others I do.

is an analogy applicable to confession.

VC