Is confession more than once a year supererogatory?

[fakename]

Is confession more than once a year supererogatory?

 

[Kithrus]

Is confession more than once a year supererogatory?

Hell no!

i used to go every week. I dont now because I work on the road and finding a church for sat night confession is not sure fire.

You can’t receive communion in the state of mortal sin. sins that deal with Lust are all mortal for example so you can see how easy the need to go to confession is.

 

[revert_jen]

Is confession more than once a year supererogatory?

I think that technically the answer to your question is, “Yes, assuming you have not committed any mortal sins in the meantime.”

If you have committed any mortal sins in the meantime, I believe putting off confession for up to a year would probably fall under the sin of presumption. You never know when “This night your soul is required of you,” and just assuming it will all be OK, without doing your best to cleanse your soul as soon as possible, is irresponsible at best.

Even if you have not committed any mortal sins, it is a good idea to go more often, but not required. AFAIK, that is the basic definition of superogatory.

–Jen

 

[Gertabelle]

Is confession more than once a year supererogatory?

CollinsWorld English Dictionary
supererogatory (ˌsuːpərɛˈrɒɡətərɪ, -trɪ)

— adj

1. performed to an extent exceeding that required or expected
2. exceeding what is needed; superfluous
3. RC Church of, characterizing, or relating to prayers, good works, etc, performed over and above those prescribed as obligatory

[C16: from Medieval Latin superērogātōrius; see supererogate ]

supere’rogatorily — adv

Goodness, had to look it up!

In answer to your question, no. The graces received from the sacrament are necessary aids in dealing with our concupiscence (tendency toward sin). And the holier one becomes, the more one will seek the sacrament – because growing closer to God shines a light on the soul’s shortcomings.

Of course, mortal sins should be confessed as soon as possible, since the next moment is not promised to us.

Gertie

 

[NickVA]

I confess every other week or every three weeks.

FREQUENT RECEPTION OF THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE IS A PIOUS PRACTICE THAT LEADS TO SANCTITY. ALL THE SAINTS DID IT.

 

[Dakota_Roberts]

Is confession more than once a year supererogatory?

If you have committed no mortal sins then yes it is technically above and beyond what is obligatory however it is still heavily encouraged

 

[thistle]

Is confession more than once a year supererogatory?

Confession even once a year is not required unless you have mortal sins to confess.
What is required once a year during the Easter period is to receive Communion.

 

[Dakota_Roberts]

Confession **even once a year is not required **unless you have mortal sins to confess.
What is required once a year during the Easter period is to receive Communion.

I, well actually the Catechism disagrees

II. THE PRECEPTS OF THE CHURCH

2041 The precepts of the Church are set in the context of a moral life bound to and nourished by liturgical life. The obligatory character of these positive laws decreed by the pastoral authorities is meant to guarantee to the faithful the very necessary minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort, in the growth in love of God and neighbor:

2042 The first precept (“You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor”) requires the faithful to sanctify the day commemorating the Resurrection of the Lord as well as the principal liturgical feasts honoring the mysteries of the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the saints; in the first place, by participating in the Eucharistic celebration, in which the Christian community is gathered, and by resting from those works and activities which could impede such a sanctification of these days.82

The second precept (“You shall confess your sins at least once a year”) ensures preparation for the Eucharist by the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation, which continues Baptism’s work of conversion and forgiveness.83

The third precept (“You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season”) guarantees as a minimum the reception of the Lord’s Body and Blood in connection with the Paschal feasts, the origin and center of the Christian liturgy.84

2043 The fourth precept (“You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church”) ensures the times of ascesis and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts and help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.85

The fifth precept (“You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church”) means that the faithful are obliged to assist with the material needs of the Church, each according to his own ability.86

The faithful also have the duty of providing for the material needs of the Church, each according to his own abilities.87

 

[LilyM]

It may be suoererogatory - IF you are in the incredibly rare and graced position to know for 110% certain that you have not committed any mortal sins in the past 12 months AND that you won’t be requiring the graces of the sacrament of confession to strengthen you against future sin either.

I for one don’t know how a person could make such a judgement call. St Joan of Arc said when asked if she was in a state of grace ‘if I am not, may God bring me to it, if I am, may God keep me in it!’ and really that is the only honest and accurate answer any of us can give.

I would rather confess 1000 times unnecessarily than risk not confessing when I should.

 

[fakename]

Thanks for the replies.

But confessing mortal sins is an obligation, even if you need to do it more than once and regardless of the time of year? I’m pretty sure it is but just asking.

And since the commandment is a law, and laws are framed for most people, then does this law imply that most people are capable of avoiding most mortal sins but for one sin in a year?

 

[thistle]

I, well actually the Catechism disagrees

Obviously that means mortal sins because we are NOT required to confess venial sins!
No mortal sins means no Confession required.

This is made clear in Canon Law:

Can. 989 All the faithful who have reached the age of discretion are bound faithfully to confess their grave sins at least once a year.

 

[Dakota_Roberts]

Obviously that means mortal sins because we are NOT required to confess venial sins!
No mortal sins means no Confession required.

This is made clear in Canon Law:

Can. 989 All the faithful who have reached the age of discretion are bound faithfully to confess their grave sins at least once a year.

Fascinating, then that precept seems to presuppose that Catholics will commit at least one mortal sin a year. That seems rather morbid.

 

[LilyM]

Fascinating, then that precept seems to presuppose that Catholics will commit at least one mortal sin a year. That seems rather morbid.

Firstly it’s not an absolute requirement. It presupposes nothing but the truth - that humans are both prone to sin and prone to trivializing and rationalising those sins, and some of us reluctant to admit and confess them.

Why should anyone think otherwise?

 

[thistle]

Fascinating, then that precept seems to presuppose that Catholics will commit at least one mortal sin a year. That seems rather morbid.

No it doesn’t. If you do not commit a mortal sin in a year you do not have to confess.
The requirement is that you receive Communion once a year during the Easter period. If you have committed mortal sins then of course you are required to confess them before you can receive.
If you do not commit a mortal sin in 12 months then you fulfill the reception of Communion without having to confess.

 

[Gertabelle]

Obviously that means mortal sins because we are NOT required to confess venial sins!
No mortal sins means no Confession required.

This is made clear in Canon Law:

Can. 989 All the faithful who have reached the age of discretion are bound faithfully to confess their grave sins at least once a year.

Holy guacamole!!! I would never, never, NEVER wait for one confession at some point in the year to confess a mortal sin – NEVER!!! If I had the will to commit a mortal sin in the first place, how could I possibly hope to have perfect contrition for that sin – there’s just no way!! And if I die with that mortal sin on my soul??? The eternal consequences are just too horrible to ponder!!

So many capital letters and exclamation points in a single post, my goodness. Point is, if I have committed a mortal sin, I run – rrrrruuuuuuunnnnn to confession as soon as possible, not add them all up and wait for that single annual confession. Of course, where I live, I have access to the sacrament (albeit with some driving) every single day – so I don’t have to worry about just one confession a year.

Let’s just keep praying for each other that we can refrain from mortal sin for the rest of this earthly life.

!!!

Just had to throw in a few more exclamation points

Gertie

 

[thistle]

Holy guacamole!!! I would never, never, NEVER wait for one confession at some point in the year to confess a mortal sin – NEVER!!! If I had the will to commit a mortal sin in the first place, how could I possibly hope to have perfect contrition for that sin – there’s just no way!! And if I die with that mortal sin on my soul??? The eternal consequences are just too horrible to ponder!!

So many capital letters and exclamation points in a single post, my goodness. Point is, if I have committed a mortal sin, I run – rrrrruuuuuuunnnnn to confession as soon as possible, not add them all up and wait for that single annual confession. Of course, where I live, I have access to the sacrament (albeit with some driving) every single day – so I don’t have to worry about just one confession a year.

Let’s just keep praying for each other that we can refrain from mortal sin for the rest of this earthly life.

!!!

Just had to throw in a few more exclamation points

Gertie

I agree with you but the discussion is about what we are required to do and not what is recommended we do.
The yearly obligation is to receive Communion during the Easter period. To fulfill this obligation we must be in a state of grace. If not then Confession is needed so we can receive.
If a person does not commit a mortal sin in a year they do not need to go to Confession.

 

[underacloud]

In considering whether receiving the sacraments, through which we receive real grace, is supererogatory we should recall Jesus’ words…

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” Matthew 5:48

With regard to the law, then as others have shown yes confession more than once a year (or even once a year if not in mortal sin) may be considered supererogatory. But the Pharisees loved to live life to the letter of the law.

With regard to God’s standard of perfection, I can’t see how reception of the sacraments could possibly be considered supererogatory (unless hypothetically one was perfect).

 

[fakename]

Does this law imply though, that most people will likely commit a mortal sin at least once a year?

Or is the law, a law framed only for a few extraordinarily bad people?

 

[revert_jen]

Does this law imply though, that most people will likely commit a mortal sin at least once a year?

Or is the law, a law framed only for a few extraordinarily bad people?

Actually, my understanding always was that you should confess your sins once a year assuming you have ever committed a mortal sin, even if you confessed it before. I have no idea whether this is Church teaching, but I certainly never was taught that most people will commit a mortal sin at least once a year. But then I was never taught that you should just do the bare minimum, either.

Besides, in my parish at least, if you wait too long to go, you get the admonition from the priest (“You know, you should really try to go to confession at least once a month.”) which feels and works a lot like the admonition from the dentist that you really should floss more often. You do it, if for no other reason than because you are tired of being told about it, and then when you do it, you realize that it really is helpful to your soul/mouth, and maybe the priest/dentist really knows what he’s talking about after all.

–Jen

 

[thistle]

Actually, my understanding always was that you should confess your sins once a year assuming you have ever committed a mortal sin, even if you confessed it before. I have no idea whether this is Church teaching, but I certainly never was taught that most people will commit a mortal sin at least once a year. But then I was never taught that you should just do the bare minimum, either.

Besides, in my parish at least, if you wait too long to go, you get the admonition from the priest (“You know, you should really try to go to confession at least once a month.”) which feels and works a lot like the admonition from the dentist that you really should floss more often. You do it, if for no other reason than because you are tired of being told about it, and then when you do it, you realize that it really is helpful to your soul/mouth, and maybe the priest/dentist really knows what he’s talking about after all.

–Jen

It is not a Church teaching that you have to confess already confessed sins. Whoever taught you that was wrong.
I don’t understand why the OP keeps on about confessing once a year. That is NOT a requirement. The requirement is that we receive Communion at least once a year during the Easter period. Obviously that means if someone is in a state of mortal sin then they have to confess before they can receive.