How Often Do You Go To Confession?

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Everyman

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At RCIA the other night, our priest gave a talk on confession/penance/absolution and explained that once a year is the minimum requirement. He then said that he recommended 3-4 times a year.

Some of us asked if we could ge weekly, and he basically said that would be overkill. He said if there was a particular sin that needed worked on, then maybe monthly, but that’s about it. He said he personally went every other month.

So, what do you think. Once I am recieved at Easter, I thought I could start going every week. But apperantly that would not be welcomed at my parish.
 
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Everyman:
At RCIA the other night, our priest gave a talk on confession/penance/absolution and explained that once a year is the minimum requirement. He then said that he recommended 3-4 times a year.

Some of us asked if we could ge weekly, and he basically said that would be overkill. He said if there was a particular sin that needed worked on, then maybe monthly, but that’s about it. He said he personally went every other month.

So, what do you think. Once I am recieved at Easter, I thought I could start going every week. But apperantly that would not be welcomed at my parish.
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I think his guidelines were sound for most people. But you should not feel limited to that if you believe you may have a need for more frequent confession. And there’s no rule that says you have to go to confession in your own parish.

Frankly, I am delighted to hear that he goes every 2 months himself. I’ll bet most priests don’t come close to that!
 
Heck, I go every dang week (hey, it’s a great sacrifice)Then I go to the Eucharistic Adoration. Then I go to Mass. Works well.👍👍
 
I go any time I need to. (too often, lately)
It’s nice to go more often then I don’t have to try to calculate how many weeks it’s been since my last confession, but that just means I’ve sinned more, which isn’t good, either.
Also, since I always like to receive Communion at Mass, I make sure I get to Confession first if I have any mortal sins.
 
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Everyman:
At RCIA the other night, our priest gave a talk on confession/penance/absolution and explained that once a year is the minimum requirement. He then said that he recommended 3-4 times a year.

Some of us asked if we could ge weekly, and he basically said that would be overkill. He said if there was a particular sin that needed worked on, then maybe monthly, but that’s about it. He said he personally went every other month.

So, what do you think. Once I am recieved at Easter, I thought I could start going every week. But apperantly that would not be welcomed at my parish.
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I think he was just saying that if you don’t have trouble with any mortal sins, then you don’t have to go as much. If someone goes weekly or more with some venial sins, he’s calling that overkill.

Some of us (including myself) often do have to go to confession weekly.
 
No-one has a right to tell you how often to go to confession, only your conscience (informed by your nightly examination) can tell you how often you should go.

If it feels right to go once a week, then do so - even if it is frowned upon in your Parish.

If after a nightly examination of conscience you feel you have indeed committed mortal sin then I would recommend meditating upon and reciting an Act of Perfect Act Contrition (some examples below) and then going to confession at the earliest opportunity…

Acts of Perfect Contrition
  1. My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy
  2. O my God, I am sorry for my sins because I have offended you. I know I should love you above all things. Help me to do penance, to do better, and to avoid anything that might lead me to sin. Amen.
  3. O Lord Jesus, lover of our souls, who, for the great love with which You loved us, willed not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live, I grieve from the bottom of my heart that I offended You, my most loving Father and Redeemer, to whom all sin is infinitely displeasing, who so loved us You shed Your blood for me, and endured the bitter torments of a most cruel death. O my God, my infinite Goodness, would that I never offended You. Pardon me, O Lord Jesus, as I most humbly implore Your mercy. Have pity on a sinner for whom Your blood pleads before the face of the Father. Amen. 4) O merciful and forgiving Lord, for the love of Your, I forgive all who have ever offended me. I firmly resolve to forsake and flee from all sins, and to avoid the occasions of them, to confess, in bitterness of spirit, all those sins which I committed against Your divine goodness, and to Love You, O my God, for Your own sake, above all things and for ever. Grant me grace so to do, most gracious Lord Jesus. Amen.
In all of this, remember God is Love and He understands you, there is no need for being over-scrupulous and worrying over every little venial sin. But mortal sins are to be acted upon as soon as possible.

Here is a useful link on examination of conscience and confession etc, there is also a link to a list of common mortal sins which is very useful at night prayer also.

catholicdoors.com/prayers/consc.htm

God Bless,

DD
 
My intentions are good but I must say I don’t go as often as I should. We only have Saturday afternoons before the 5:00pm mass to go to confessions. I attempt to go but then I get sidetracked (my kids) and don’t go. I definitely go more than twice a year (Christmas/Easter) but I am trying this year to go every month or every other month. It is very refreshing after it is made. 🙂
 
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bogeyjlg:
I go weekly. Nothing like a good spiritual bath.
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My teen son and I go weekly and my husband goes about once a month. My son says “he feels squeaky clean” afterwards. 🙂
 
I go once a week (but then, I’m a rotten sinner). I don’t think your priest gave you bad advice, though I would say once a month would be a better rule.
 
Everyman:

I agree with most of the comments above. What your priest may have been addressing with his recommendation to limit yourself to 3-4 times per year is the tendency of some people to be inclined to being overscrupulous.
Confession is a sacrament, that confers great grace, and one which we should avail ourselves of regularly. You should think of it not just as a cure, but an innoculant to sin as well. Some, however, just cannot convince themselves that Christ loves them and truly forgives them their sins. A person thus described suffers from ***overscrupulousness, ***which is a sin in itself.

Find great joy in confession. **AND DON’T FORGET TO PRAY FOR THE PRIEST WHO ABSOLVES YOU.😃 **
 
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JKirkLVNV:
I go once a week (but then, I’m a rotten sinner). I don’t think your priest gave you bad advice, though I would say once a month would be a better rule.
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If you feel the need to confess weekly, it seems to me that you’re pretty good at sinning. 😉

I generally go every two weeks since I’m pretty good at sinning, too.
 
We are required to go to confession whenever we are conscious of a mortal sin upon our soul. That said, Pope JP2 went to confession three times a week. Mother Theresa went to confession daily. I find it hard to believe that these extremely pious individuals were committing so many mortal sins that they needed to receive confession so frequently.

It makes no sense UNTIL you realize that the closer we come to the light of Christ, the more clearly we see our faults and failings. The further we are from the light of Christ, the less we are able to see our sins and the less we feel we need to go to confession.

Bottomline … go to confession whenever you are conscious of a mortal sin upon your soul whether that be monthly, or weekly or daily.
 
I usually go bi-weekly. The last time I went was 3 weeks ago, I’ve been good this month. 😉
 
Paris Blues:
Heck, I go every dang week (hey, it’s a great sacrifice)Then I go to the Eucharistic Adoration. Then I go to Mass. Works well.👍👍
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Good for you. I tried weekly but would here different comments from the priest in the parish. That only the religious need to do that. So bi-weekly but the longest I will wait is 1 month. I just struggle with confession.
 
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Lapsed:
If you feel the need to confess weekly, it seems to me that you’re pretty good at sinning. 😉

I generally go every two weeks since I’m pretty good at sinning, too.
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Heck I could go daily if I could bug the priests every day.🙂 But then of course I have to drag my body and soiled soul in there everyday and have the priest hear the same thing over and over.
 
Pope John Paul II recommended going once a month. So I’ve been trying to go on the first Wednesday of each month. I am able to make much more complete confessions that way and keep track of how long its been. I also try to go to the same priest each time. So far it’s worked out pretty good. However, sometimes there are so many people in front of me I don’t get a chance to go. If that happens, I try to make an act of perfect contrition before the Blessed Sacrament until I have a chance to go again.
 
Sir Knight:
We are required to go to confession whenever we are conscious of a mortal sin upon our soul. That said, Pope JP2 went to confession three times a week. Mother Theresa went to confession daily. I find it hard to believe that these extremely pious individuals were committing so many mortal sins that they needed to receive confession so frequently.

It makes no sense UNTIL you realize that the closer we come to the light of Christ, the more clearly we see our faults and failings. The further we are from the light of Christ, the less we are able to see our sins and the less we feel we need to go to confession.

Bottomline … go to confession whenever you are conscious of a mortal sin upon your soul whether that be monthly, or weekly or daily.
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While true you only have to go when carrying around a mortal sin, the old Baltimore Catechism reccomended confession often, even without mortal sins.

Kind of like having a tune up on your car. It doesn’t hurt and probably helps out some. 👍
 
I try to go once a week. I sometimes only make it every two weeks. This is with the approval of my confesor.

I, too, think your priest is concerned about “scrupes”.
 
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