How often do you do to Confession?

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I was only received into the Church at Easter, so I have only required the sacrament 3 times. I am going tomorrow, as I aim to go every 2 weeks. If I leave it any longer than that, I will become lazy and end up going only a few times a year.
 
I was received at Easter and from what I gather from the people who taught me you go to confession when you have committed a mortal sin. If it is venial it is forgiven before you take the Eucharist due to the asking for forgiveness in different parts.

I really don’t understand what I’m supposed to say to a priest if I haven’t committed anything mortal…Forgive me father for…what? The last time I tried to confess minor sins, the priest seemed a little impatient…like “why are you here?”

Do you go weekly to have a chat?
 
Once or twice a week. I’ve been lucky that I have always been able to find parishes that offered confessions prior to Mass on weekdays.

While true you only have to go when you have committed a mortal sin, you can go even if you haven’t.

But, if you do a rigorous and soul searching examination of conscience often, I think you will find that you commit more mortal sins then you normally think you do. In fact, I’m sure of it. None of us are so pure that we do not commit mortal sins. It just doesn’t happen.
 
I try to go twice a month. I remember Fr. Levis in Web of Faith (EWTN) saying that’s fairly reasonable. I used to work near an awesome Opus Dei chapel in downtown Houston, and then I could hit it every week. Sigh…

JMJ+
Christian
 
the two priests that we have in our parish are both Polish. One has been here for about 8 years, therefore can speak English near perfectly. The other has only been here for about 6 months, and is making great leaps with his language skills. Both are very pleasant in Confession and do not rush you at all. I prefer going to the newer one, I don’t know why but I just like him better in Confession. I feel comfortable going to him and he will ask me to sit down and we will talk for a few moments after I have confessed. This morning when I went, he asked about my exams at school, which was very much appreciated. It’s great to have a priest like that, who is so friendly, as because of that, I do not fear confession, but actually like going now.
 
I never need to confess, Because i’m a good boy and never do anything wrong:D I am perfect…
 
palmas85 said:
Once or twice a week. I’ve been lucky that I have always been able to find parishes that offered confessions prior to Mass on weekdays.

While true you only have to go when you have committed a mortal sin, you can go even if you haven’t.

But, if you do a rigorous and soul searching examination of conscience often, I think you will find that you commit more mortal sins then you normally think you do. In fact, I’m sure of it. None of us are so pure that we do not commit mortal sins. It just doesn’t happen.
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In order to commit a mortal sin you have to meet the three conditions, one of them being you do it anyway knowing it is a mortal sin. It has to be deliberate. I think a person who is close to the Lord is not going to deliberatly offend Him. I think many people do things that are mortally sinful, but how many actually have full consent of the will when they commit them? The act may be an objective evil but there may be circumstances that make the person less culpable, so therefore not commiting a mortal sin. I am going to confession this afternoon and I haven’t been in 6 weeks and I honestly cannot say that I committed a mortal sin in that whole time, and I examine my conscience very well each night. This is not to say that I don’t sin, but I haven’t done anything that meets the three conditions for mortal sin. I think this is true for many people.
 
Ok, I have another question about confession

Catholics believe that if you commit a mortal sin…with the 3 criteria being met, and you do not go to a priest, and then you die, you can go to hell…so…I’m guessing most protestants are going to hell?

I used to be a protestant, and the way we confessed our sins is by praying to God and asking forgiveness, no priest. I read the part in the bible about Jesus telling his disciples that what they forgave on earth was forgiven in heaven which is the Catholic reason for confession…At least one of them anyway.

So what’s the deal with that? Is it only Catholics who commit a mortal sin and don’t go to a priest are going to hell and protestants are ok doing it their way?
 
with the exception of those whose soul is in a state of invincible ignorance, then ‘‘there is not salvation outside of the Church’’.

How can proterstants who use artificial birth control go to heaven (believing it to be ok), if it is intristically evil?
 
stuart12 said:
with the exception of those whose soul is in a state of invincible ignorance, then ‘‘there is not salvation outside of the Church’’.

How can proterstants who use artificial birth control go to heaven (believing it to be ok), if it is intristically evil?
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How can the use of artificial birth control be evil??
Thats just so rediculous…
You never heard of sexualy transmited diseases??
It is still possable to catch infections off regular partners who are married etc…
Birth control isnt just for 1 thing as such…
I think the ignorance is on the person that thinks in these terms…
 
whiteknite said:
How can the use of artificial birth control be evil??
Thats just so rediculous…
You never heard of sexualy transmited diseases??
It is still possable to catch infections off regular partners who are married etc…
Birth control isnt just for 1 thing as such…
I think the ignorance is on the person that thinks in these terms…
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well, you can explain your position to the Lord. I am sure that He will be interested in your opinion…
 
Joannm said:
In order to commit a mortal sin you have to meet the three conditions, one of them being you do it anyway knowing it is a mortal sin. It has to be deliberate. ** I think a person who is close to the Lord is not going to deliberatly offend Him.** I think many people do things that are mortally sinful, but how many actually have full consent of the will when they commit them? The act may be an objective evil but there may be circumstances that make the person less culpable, so therefore not commiting a mortal sin. I am going to confession this afternoon and I haven’t been in 6 weeks and I honestly cannot say that I committed a mortal sin in that whole time, and I examine my conscience very well each night. This is not to say that I don’t sin, but I haven’t done anything that meets the three conditions for mortal sin. I think this is true for many people.
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Pope John Paul II of blessed memory went to confession at least once and usually twice a week and is said to have confessed upwards of twenty minutes each time. Is it probable that he could have learned from people such as yourself about being close to the Lord? You do seem to be very proud of that fact.
 
whiteknite said:
How can the use of artificial birth control be evil??
Thats just so rediculous…
You never heard of sexualy transmited diseases??
It is still possable to catch infections off regular partners who are married etc…
Birth control isnt just for 1 thing as such…
I think the ignorance is on the person that thinks in these terms…
Click to expand...
Actually the Church says we are not to use artificial birth control methods as each sexual act must be open to conception. That position was explained quite well in Humanae Vitae by Pope Paul VI back in the late sixties. It created quite a firestorm actually, and is actually thought by many to have created or have been instrumental in many of the divisions in the Church today.

I think it all meshes together very well. A single person is not to engage in sex at all and if they do it is a Mortal Sin in almost all cases, A married person is only to have relations with their spouse. If they have sex outside of marriage, mortal sin. True, artificial birth control can stop transmission of some diseases, but you have to engage in sex in order to get them anyway in most circumstances.

The Churchs position has not changed on artificial birth control methods. They are not allowed.
 
palmas85 said:
Pope John Paul II of blessed memory went to confession at least once and usually twice a week and is said to have confessed upwards of twenty minutes each time. Is it probable that he could have learned from people such as yourself about being close to the Lord? You do seem to be very proud of that fact.
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It is not a question of being proud. A poster stated that it is very easy to commit mortal sin. I contend that it is not since full deliberate consent is needed for an objecivly evil act to be a mortal sin. If one does not know one is committing a mortal sin one is not commiting a mortal sin. And if one does commit such an act without full intent (I know it is a sin but I am going to do it anyway), then the person is not fully culpable. I doubt very much Pope John Paul II committed mortal sins twice a week. He probably went to confession that frequently out of pious practice or for the graces of the sacrament. If people like to go to confession three times a week, I have no beef with that. But I think anyone who truly striving to live the life of the Spirit will not be committing mortal sins every week.
 
palmas85 said:
Actually the Church says we are not to use artificial birth control methods as each sexual act must be open to conception. That position was explained quite well in Humanae Vitae by Pope Paul VI back in the late sixties. It created quite a firestorm actually, and is actually thought by many to have created or have been instrumental in many of the divisions in the Church today.

I think it all meshes together very well. A single person is not to engage in sex at all and if they do it is a Mortal Sin in almost all cases, A married person is only to have relations with their spouse. If they have sex outside of marriage, mortal sin. True, artificial birth control can stop transmission of some diseases, but you have to engage in sex in order to get them anyway in most circumstances.

The Churchs position has not changed on artificial birth control methods. They are not allowed.
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I wasnt talking about outside marriage sex, I was talking about inside…
If 1 person of both MARRIED people arent clean often it can cause problems. [sexualy]
If you read that carefully then maybe look it up on google then you might understand what i’m saying…
As for birth control…Does it actualy state in the bible about artificial birth control??
I’m not sure if it is just someones point or not
 
whiteknite said:
I wasnt talking about outside marriage sex, I was talking about inside…
If 1 person of both MARRIED people arent clean often it can cause problems. [sexualy]
If you read that carefully then maybe look it up on google then you might understand what i’m saying…
As for birth control…Does it actualy state in the bible about artificial birth control??
I’m not sure if it is just someones point or not
Click to expand...
I understand exactly what you are saying. I am well aware that quite often people aren’t clean as you say both in and out of marriage. Thats actually a well known fact, sad as it is. It doesn’t change things one iota and in reality it doesn’t really matter. The Church says that the use of artificial methods in birth control is wrong. Period. Its wrong and it is not permitted. It makes no exceptions and permits none. Sorry. This teaching is hard, difficult to accept and hard to live with. But it is what the Church teaches and we as Catholics are bound to it. As I said the encyclical Humanae Vitae caused quite a firestorm of protest when it came out and still does. I suggest you read it.

No the Bible does not specifically state anything about artificial birth control. Neither does it speak about cloning human beings or the use of nerve gas in warfare, the existance of other planets or the existance of the atom. In fact there are a myriad of things that the Bible is silent on. That is the problem with sola scriptura. Relying on the Bible to have an answer for each and every question is life is unrealistic. That is why the Church is so vitally important. It gives us the answers, through Divine inspiration and revelation that scripture does not.

If the teachings of the Church are too hard for you and you cannot accept them, then perhaps you should look for another faith that is more accommodating or easier to deal with. No one has ever claimed that being a Catholic is easy. In fact, that is one of the oft stated reasons for people leaving the Church to worship elsewhere. Too many rules, too much legalism.

Catholicism is not a democracy where people are free to pick choose and refuse what they will or will not accept. There are faiths where that is permitted and even encouraged.

The Protestants and they are always looking for ways to pull Catholics away from the faith…

.
 
Joannm said:
It is not a question of being proud. A poster stated that it is very easy to commit mortal sin. I contend that it is not since full deliberate consent is needed for an objecivly evil act to be a mortal sin. If one does not know one is committing a mortal sin one is not commiting a mortal sin. And if one does commit such an act without full intent (I know it is a sin but I am going to do it anyway), then the person is not fully culpable. I doubt very much Pope John Paul II committed mortal sins twice a week. He probably went to confession that frequently out of pious practice or for the graces of the sacrament. If people like to go to confession three times a week, I have no beef with that. But I think anyone who truly striving to live the life of the Spirit will not be committing mortal sins every week.
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I guess that all depends on your definition of a mortal sin doesn’t it? Many people commit acts that are in reality mortal sins but they explain them away as not being so or rationalize in their mind that they are somehow less culpable for one reason or another. I see that happen a lot.

For instance, I know a couple, good people, living together without benefit of marriage, with two kids and one on the way. At Mass every week, receive Holy Communion every week, attend reconciliation once a year around Easter. They have no intention of changing their lifestyle as it is their choice to live the way they want. They rationalize their conduct in this way:

They are committed to each other
They cannot afford marriage
It is better for them to be in a committed monogamous relationship than not to be in one
They never miss Mass

Therefore, their illicit sexual relations are OK and not mortal sins.

See how easy it is to rationalize conduct?
 
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