How often to confess

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ACanthony

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I am very blessed right now with the ability to go to Daily Mass. In fact, at my Church, Daily Confession is offered as well! I have learned over the last few years that going to a weekly Confession truly does wonders for my soul. Since it is offered every day, some days I’m tempted to go to Confession even if the sin is rather small (comparatively, I know that all sin hurts God) and sometimes I’m not even sure what I’m confessing is a sin. In these cases, I’m wondering if I should just let receiving the Eucharist wipe away my potential venial sin. The question is, is there such a thing as going to Confession too often? Thanks.
 
My only concern with going to confession daily or every couple of days is that any tendency you may have to be scrupulous could be amplified. Not saying you are scrupulous, just thought I’d mention it since you said you weren’t sure if some things were sinful that you were confessing.
 
I was going to confession every week, mostly because I was struggling with a particular habitual sin. I would sometimes go during the week if I happened to committ a mortal sin, which would sometimes result in me going to confession once every few days.

I realized that I was committing the sin of presumption more often because, hey, I could go to confession the next day at some parish near me. So I have since stopped going during the week and only go once every two weeks. I feel that this forces me to “work out my salvation” because I don’t have a quick fix, if that makes sense. I still struggle with my sin, but I have slowly conquered it and I feel that my confessions now are more heartfelt.
 
marty1818 said:
My only concern with going to confession daily or every couple of days is that any tendency you may have to be scrupulous could be amplified. Not saying you are scrupulous, just thought I’d mention it since you said you weren’t sure if some things were sinful that you were confessing.
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Even if one it doesn’t encourage scrupulosity, I would also be wary of it becoming my mid-week “chat” about my sins, rather than a purposeful, thoughtful confession. It may also distract from prayers (before Mass), or leaving the Church and getting back to work (after Mass).

I mention this because I that is exactly how I have felt (ie. “wouldn’t it be nice to have a chat”) when I have seen an opportunity for mid-week confession and don’t have any mortal sins to confess. My own approach is to keep it to once a week, unless I need to confess.

You asked for an opinion. That’s mine. 🙂

:twocents:
 
Edmundus1581 said:
Even if one it doesn’t encourage scrupulosity, I would also be wary of it becoming my mid-week “chat” about my sins, rather than a purposeful, thoughtful confession. It may also distract from prayers (before Mass), or leaving the Church and getting back to work (after Mass).

I mention this because I that is exactly how I have felt when I have seen an opportunity for mid-week confession and don’t have any mortal sins to confess. My own approach is to keep it to once a week, unless I need to confess.

You asked for an opinion. That’s mine. 🙂

:twocents:
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I completely agree with you. Exactly how I felt.
 
dje101 said:
I was going to confession every week, mostly because I was struggling with a particular habitual sin. I would sometimes go during the week if I happened to committ a mortal sin, which would sometimes result in me going to confession once every few days.

I realized that I was committing the sin of presumption more often because, hey, I could go to confession the next day at some parish near me. So I have since stopped going during the week and only go once every two weeks. I feel that this forces me to “work out my salvation” because I don’t have a quick fix, if that makes sense. I still struggle with my sin, but I have slowly conquered it and I feel that my confessions now are more heartfelt.
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That is an excellent thought and your post made perfect sense.
 
I have heard that the Wednesday confession at our Cathedral is called “Sinners Day”… 🙂
 
MaryT777 said:
That is an excellent thought and your post made perfect sense.
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Thank you.

I came to the full realization when, during one of my midweek confessions (honestly, I think it had only been a day since my last confession), my confessor asked, “so, do you make it a habit of going to confession every day?” I was rather embarrassed, but obviously it was what I needed to hear so I could realize I was taking advantage of the sacrament.
 
Thank you everyone! I agree with you all. If I “need” to confess during the week, then so be it, but I agree that Confession should be more purposeful and not a chat. I heard mixed things, and even heard a lot of people say that we sin every day without even knowing it. So in that case, it would seem like going to Confession very often would be wise, but I think the point is to trust in the Holy Eucharist and draw near to Christ. Thanks everyone.
 
As a boy, well before V II, I was taught that weekly Confession was the Norm, because it was the most effective spiritual tool in which we could overcome the corrosive nature of the modern world.
Considering that this was before public dishonesty, sexually explicit clothing and pornography became acceptable in Western Society, the necessity for weekly Confession is even greater!
 
Thanks for posting to this question as I was also wondering how often I need to go to confession also:)

May peace be with you
 
AC,

Your profile lists your favorite saint quote as:

“Don’t spend your energies on things that generate worry, anxiety and anguish. Only one thing is necessary. Lift up your spirit, and love God.” -St. Padre Pio

Do you really want to spend your energies on confession more than once a week? The answers you’ve received here so far are wise; listen to them.
 
I think weekly Confession is good. It would be great if we could go daily such as I heard Blessed John Paull II did, but it could very well lead to scruples. Only if necessary perhaps you can go more than once a week, but perhaps try to avoid extremes. I try to go weekly, sometimes I even find though that I leave it for more than a week because sometimes you may not actually feel the need for it… But I believe weekly is a good practice and a Priest I confess to said it is very “lord-able” to Confess weekly 😃
St. Padre Pio recommended weekly Confession so that you could receive Plenary indulgences daily, obviously by doing things set out here ~ catholic.org/clife/prayers/indulgw.php

I guess just try and keep your spirituality simple the way of St. Therese is a good one to follow, she focuses on the love and mercy of God 🙂
 
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