How Often

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If I’m not mistaken, Fr. John Hardon went to confession every single day.
 
Exsultet said:
If anything went south in this thread, it was the fact that my comments were foolishly taken as a thinly-veiled lecture to the OP that he ought to go to Confession more often. :rolleyes:

Almost all that you described was the result of one poster.

Someone acting daffy and taking comments way out of their context is evidence of nothing other than poor reading skills, and has nothing at all to do with whether or not this thread is appropriate for the internet.
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👍👍👍
 
OraLabora said:
I too think this question is best asked of one’s pastor.
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If the question was 'How often SHOULD one go to confession" , I would agree with you.

But the question of “How often DOES one go to confession” can only be really answered by the person themselves.
 
Brendan said:
If the question was 'How often SHOULD one go to confession" , I would agree with you.

But the question of “How often DOES one go to confession” can only be really answered by the person themselves.
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Hence my answer, “as often as necessary”. Call me old-fashioned, but there are some things in life that are intensely private, and I think confession is one of them, including how frequently one makes use of the sacrament . Discretion avoids someone misinterpreting the answer as meaning either excessive holiness or excessive sinfulness.
 
Reuben_J said:
I guess that is about my frequency as well or probably less. I found out that once my life is stabilized, there are less sins to be confessed, so that affects the frequency which has become less too. It is then a matter of maintaining the equilibrium. If one’s life is not active anymore in the secular business trying to earn a living or bringing up the family, one can more or less maintain a serene disposition to be more conducive to have a spirit-filled life.

Confession has become very routine with nothing very spectacular unlike when I was younger and life was an adventure, competitive and a struggle. Now I could go on very long without Confession as the need is seldom there.
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So far, this year, I’ve gone three or four times but that’s unusual for me. And I tend to lean toward scrupulosity because I have OCD.
 
How often?

I go weekly.

Frequent confession is a splendid long practice in the Church.

This may be every week for some or every two weeks or ever month.

Everyone is free here in terms of how often to approach the Sacrament for devotional confession (venial sins).

Catechism:

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 us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit. By receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the Father’s mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as he is merciful

(scborromeo.org/ccc/ccc_toc.htm)
 
Bookcat said:
No it does not.
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You left out the part where he admits he is scrupulous. And where he says sometimes more than once a week. And where he states sometimes when not needed.

Weekly confession does not indicate abuse. Add the other facts in and together is does.
 
robertmidwest said:
You left out the part where he admits he is scrupulous. And where he says sometimes more than once a week. And where he states sometimes when not needed.

Weekly confession does not indicate abuse. Add the other facts in and together is does.
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No it does not.

Please cease using the term abuse - it does not apply. Period.

And one can go to confession when it is “not needed” (no mortal sin - the Sacrament is not only for mortal sin) - that is* not *abuse. Even if it is more than often than once a week.

Unless one wishes to say Saints etc committed such abuse.

I am not recommending more than once a week usually -but to go more than that does not mean abuse.
 
robertmidwest said:
You left out the part where he admits he is scrupulous. And where he says sometimes more than once a week. And where he states sometimes when not needed.

Weekly confession does not indicate abuse. Add the other facts in and together is does.
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Just to clarify your point, robertmidwest, because I think it needs further clarifying because of the underlying principle, which is significant:

It is exactly as you have written. Weekly confession does not indicate essentially abuse of the sacrament…but it can be an abuse of the sacrament depending upon the person approaching…as any confessor can say with assurance. And more frequent than weekly certainly can be an abuse of the sacrament.

Over-approaching any sacrament would be an abuse of the sacrament and the minister of the sacrament is to safeguard against that – for the integrity of the sacrament as well as the spiritual well being of the person who has approached the sacrament. It can, actually, be an effective warning sign to an attentive sacramental minister that the person is in need of help…a help that is not to be found from the sacrament that they are approaching.

To be perfectly clear: any penitent may approach and seek the sacrament of penance, but it is the judgment of the confessor alone as to whether or not the sacrament will be conferred; the determination rests with him. It is not a judgment to take lightly but it is also not one to take reluctantly, when the proper response is evident.

Finally, and as an aside, as a confessor of many years, I have found beyond remarkable that there are people to be found in these fora who one can immediately discern are not priests, lacking as they do the theological and canonical formation of priests, but who try to present themselves as though they could speak with authority when, in fact, they have no authority on which to pronounce themselves at all…above all when it comes to the ministration of the sacraments. That is a sad and lamentable situation of which everyone reading the forum does well to be on the alert.
 
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