How often do you go to Confession?

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I try to go monthly. Would darely love to find a good guide to help me make a good confession. Any suggestions?
 
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CMcLaurin:
I go weekly. I was under the impression that one cannot receive the Blessed Eucharist with sin on ones heart. Venial dosen’t need to be confessed, right? But mortal does? I suppose I’m not exactly sure how to classify a mortal sin. Can you just do an Act of Perfect Contrition, and still receive the Eucharist?
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This is a question for the priest in the confessional, not for the forums.

It’s like taking a bath, I do it every couple of months whether I “need” it or not. Trying to weigh whether my sins are mortal or venial is like smelling a T-shirt to see if I can get by wearing it one more day before laundering it, or get by another day without a shampoo.

I go to confession to a priest, not on internet forums, not to my friends, and following the advice of a wise priest, I confess only my sins, not my husband’s. (that’s a joke, I know there are a lot of very serious people on this forum)
 
I go the 3rd Saturday of every month, or at least one time per month. I go more often if necessary.

I am wondering about something. If confession helps to eliminate sin and it does help for me, then wouldn’t it be optional, but not necessary to go weekly unless we are continuing to commit mortal sin weekly? I cannot imagine someone who goes weekly not growing in their faith and committment to live without committing mortal sin enough to not require weekly confession, but to go because they want to go.

I hope I have not been offensive in how I worded this. I certainly still committ mortal sin and must go before I take communion. This happened recently and I could not go to confession before mass. I was heart broken that I could not partake of communion. It made me NEVER want to do that again. I felt left out of a beautiful family gathering. I was there, but merely a wallflower, not a participant. 😦
 
I go monthly…at least. More often if I have committed mortal sin. I read a wonderful statement from Scott Hahn in his book Lord Have Mercy. He stated that Catholics are required to go once a year, usually right before Easter, but should go AT LEAST once a month. He then stated that many Saints of the church actually went (or go) once a week. I have also heard that the Pope goes once a week. Just thought I would throw my comments in there.
 
Monthly - ish. A priest, now dead (R.I.P.) once told me that he was having scruples about whether he was in mortal sin and asked about it in confession. The confessor, a wise Jesuit, asked him, “Are you wearing any shoes?” The penitent replied, “Of couse I am.” The confessor then informed him, “That’s how sure you have to be about whether you’re in mortal sin or not.”

This has helped me a great deal over the years.
 
Christy Beth:
I’m a convert, and make an effort to go monthly. When I was going through RCIA, I had thought about going weekly. The day of our “first confession” I was telling someone this. The priest overheard and said that NO ONE needs to go that often.
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The pope goes to confession every week.
 
I go every two-three weeks (or more frequently if necessary). During Lent our priest stepped up to the plate and acknowledged before the congregation that too few people were taking advantage of the sacrament, yet just about everyone was coming forward to receive the Eucharist. He told all of us that he himself goes to confession every two weeks (or more often if necessary). It was very inspiring. 👍
 
There may be times when I go once a week or every other week.

Usally I go about once a month.

I suggest making the Sacred Heart 9 first Fridays and the Immaculate Heart 5 first Saturdays devotions.

God Bless You
 
I am glad someone brought this up. I think this is part of my Cathoic faith that I lack. I just dont understand going to confession. I had a bad experience there last year and have not gone since. I pray in the morning to God and at night as well, asking him for forgivness and thanking him for all he blesses me with.
If God is suppose to hear my prayers then why do I need to place them at the alter of a priest? :confused:

I want to go, but I have a real problem with it. I remember going as a child and I was scared. After it was over I did genuinely feel better like a weight had been lifted off me. The last time I went, the priest kept looking at his watch. I really got up set over that.

Can anyone help me?

thanks
God bless
Randy :banghead:
 
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Randell:
I want to go, but I have a real problem with it. I remember going as a child and I was scared. After it was over I did genuinely feel better like a weight had been lifted off me. The last time I went, the priest kept looking at his watch. I really got up set over that.

Can anyone help me?

thanks
God bless
Randy :banghead:
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Get another confessor. There is no obligation to confess to your parish priest. Frankly, I would try to find an Opus Dei priest, they take confession very seriously and give great insights.

Scott
 
I receive the Sacrament of Confession weekly or more if I can. Obviously the greatest part of the Sacrament is having your sins forgiven, but I also love that I receive graces to help me avoid sin in the future. I know that I am much more prone to fall into sin if don’t confess weekly than I am if I do.
 
Christy Beth:
I’m a convert, and make an effort to go monthly. When I was going through RCIA, I had thought about going weekly. The day of our “first confession” I was telling someone this. The priest overheard and said that NO ONE needs to go that often.
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Well then I guess someone should tell the pope! 😃
 
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Randell:
I want to go, but I have a real problem with it. I remember going as a child and I was scared. After it was over I did genuinely feel better like a weight had been lifted off me. The last time I went, the priest kept looking at his watch. I really got up set over that.

Can anyone help me?

thanks
God bless
Randy :banghead:
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Perhaps you should try going to the confessional that is not face-to-face (if you have one). Either that or try finding a priest in your area who likes his job more.
 
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Randell:
I am glad someone brought this up. I think this is part of my Cathoic faith that I lack. I just dont understand going to confession. I had a bad experience there last year and have not gone since. I pray in the morning to God and at night as well, asking him for forgivness and thanking him for all he blesses me with.
If God is suppose to hear my prayers then why do I need to place them at the alter of a priest? :confused:
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Because Christ has given priests (through the apostles) the power to forgive sins. (John 20:19-23) It is true that Christ could forgive sins anyway, but he has not promised to do so.
 
work(name removed by moderator)rogress8:
I was just wondering how often you go to confession and what your best/worst experience with confession.
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I try for every other week.

Best: Hard to say…I’ve had a couple of really good confessions recently and it has strengthened my spiritual and prayer life immensely.

Worst: That’s easy. I was a convert and was baptized at the Easter Vigil in 1999. I never went to confession prior to my baptism because I was told that it would wipe away all my sins, not just Original Sin. About a month later I went for my first confession and when I told the priest that, he said I should have gone BEFORE I was baptized. I was absolutely embarrassed and mortified! Nothing like being told you screwed up before you admit you screwed up. I nearly gave up on the whole thing. By God’s grace, however, I went back…but not to that priest.
 
I guess this would be a good point in the dialog to put a plug in for Divine Mercy In My Soul - The Diary of St. Faustina. I great way to get your mind and heart going in the right direction. Remember, if you’re headed in a wrong direction, God allows U-turns!

Peace and all good,

Thomas2
 
I have been going about once a month, but it seems I am only able to receive Communion about once a month too. Because I sin again quite quickly. I have a particular habit I am trying to break and I believe it to be a mortal sin when I give in to the temptation and know I shouldn’t. So I abstain from receiving until I am able to get to Confession again, usually takes me a couple weeks to get there. It is not the ideal arrangement I know.

One Sunday I missed Mass for a variety of reasons (which I considered a mortal sin since it was within my power to have gotten there on time had I planned better). The next day I was feeling pretty awful about it and went to the Monday Mass and received after saying the Act of Contrition. Checking with my pastor later he said this was the right thing to do, but since then I have been told that the Perfect Contrition thing is only for emergencies…it’s not meant to be a band-aid until you find it convenient to get to Confession the next time.

Saturdays are difficult days to arrange to get to Confession and because we are in a small parish with a peculiar set-up for the “Reconciliation Room” there is zero chance of ever having an anonymous Confession plus I have to bring my daughters with me each time too as my husband works that day. Boy, what a list of excuses, huh? Guess it’s time to go again. 🙂

Regarding our two options for Confessionals: one is a very small parish church with the Confessional in the back corner behind the altar. Usually no one else is there waiting so the priest waits out on the front porch of the church until someone comes along and then we go back to the Confessional together. Same thing in the larger parish church nearby. The priest hangs out in the chapel until someone comes along. There are screens in the room, but what’s the point if you’ve just shaken hands and he’s asked you “are you here for Confession?”

BTW, our pastor actually mentioned Confession in last Sunday’s homily and said it was amazing how many people have stopped going. More people sat out during the Eucharist than I have ever seen at this parish before! 🙂 I am glad that at least people have not lost their sense of shame when provoked. Now hopefully they will take the next step and actually get themselves to Confession so they can receive worthily.

LeeAnn
 
Right now every 6 months, before Easter and beore Christmas.
I need to go more!
I always end up crying and I hate that. I have a wonderful priest who is kind and compassionate and is not afraid to give me a spiritual kick in the behind when necessary, but I always cry and then I’m upset and embarrassed because I’m crying-- what a goof I am!
 
Usually I try to go every other Thursday. Lately, however, I’ve found the need to go weekly. Unlike most places I’ve heard about, we have confessions Monday - Friday 8:00 - 4:30 as well as before every Mass, so I can go during the week when I pick up the announcements for the parish web page.

Besides confession, I am also able to talk to the pastor about the web page and what he would like to add to it.

Best experience? Gee, that’s hard to say - there have been so many of them

Worst experience? The priest fell asleep during confession. (His blood sugar was sky high).

John
 
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