Is every Catholic obligated to confess once a year even if they donot have Mortal sin

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I have read in Catholicism for Dummies that you are not required to go to confession if you do not have Mortal sin. I have done a small amount of research on this and I am prettt sure that the Church requires us to confess all our sins once a year.

The Fourth Laterin Council states this very clearly in the twenty first Cannon. The Council of Trent also restates this and adds anthiam to the cannon.

We could discuss the duties and respondsibliltes of the Church for providing the graces for our salvation. I would not do well in these kindes of talkes.

Does anyone have any opinions

catechumen
 
catechumen said:
I have read in Catholicism for Dummies that you are not required to go to confession if you do not have Mortal sin. I have done a small amount of research on this and I am prettt sure that the Church requires us to confess all our sins once a year.

The Fourth Laterin Council states this very clearly in the twenty first Cannon. The Council of Trent also restates this and adds anthiam to the cannon.

We could discuss the duties and respondsibliltes of the Church for providing the graces for our salvation. I would not do well in these kindes of talkes.

Does anyone have any opinions

catechumen
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Trust me that the Councils have more doctrine than Catholicism for Dummies;)and yes it is required once a year even if it is venial sin. But the Popes has said weekly confession is best!👍😃
 
The Church precept requires us to confess all grave sin at least once a year. Grave sin may or may not be mortal depending on the other two condidtions (full knowledge and full consent).

So, in my opinion, we must go to confession at least once a year since none of us is without some sin.
 
As far as I know, Catholcs are obligated to go to Confession once a year. Even if we have no mortal sins on our consciences, it is not a bad idea to go to Confession to get help in avoiding venial sins 🙂
 
catechumen said:
I have read in Catholicism for Dummies that you are not required to go to confession if you do not have Mortal sin. I have done a small amount of research on this and I am prettt sure that the Church requires us to confess all our sins once a year.

The Fourth Laterin Council states this very clearly in the twenty first Cannon. The Council of Trent also restates this and adds anthiam to the cannon.

We could discuss the duties and respondsibliltes of the Church for providing the graces for our salvation. I would not do well in these kindes of talkes.

Does anyone have any opinions

catechumen
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Well, opinion really has nothing to do with it. It is fact that the Church requires confession once a year at the very least, regardless of the presence of mortal sin or not. Of course, the Church encourages us to do more than “the least.”
 
catechumen,

A. If the book you have is Idiot’s Guide to Catholicism – throw it out. It’s horrible. I think it should be subtitled “A Dissenter’s Field Guide”

B. If it’s Catholicism for Dummies written by Fr. Trugilio (the priest on EWTN), that’s a different story – it’s a pretty good book!

I’m the lone poster so far on this thread who agrees with Fr. Trugilio. Here’s why:

It *seems *to me that Canon 989 and the precept of the Church regarding confession both require the faithful, at a minimum, to **confess mortal sins once per year.

**The precept, as related in the Catechism, doesn’t qualify the requirement to only mortals sins, but that seems to be the proper understanding given the requirements of the canonical law (or else one seems faced with a contradiction and redundancy).

There has been a question as to whether the phrase “grave sin” used in Canon 989, means something other than “mortal sin” as we traditionally understand it. There doesn’t seem to be a difference.

In support of this position:
  1. Fr. Hardon’s Modern Catholic Dictionary, on Mortal Sin: The terms mortal, deadly, grave, and serious applied to sin are synonyms. . . the Church never distinguishes among these terms as though they represented different kinds of sins.
  2. The *Compendium to the Catechism of the Catholic Church:*305. When is a person obliged to confess mortal sins?
Each of the faithful who has reached the age of discretion is bound to confess his or her mortal sins at least once a year. . .
  1. The National Directory for Catechesis, 36, B, 1:Diocese and parishes should present catechesis for the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation that. . .calls attention to the obligation to celebrate the sacrament whenever one has committed mortal sin, at least once a year.
  2. The Baltimore Catechism #3:293. What is meant by the commandment to confess our sins at least once a year?
By the commandment to confess our sins at least once a year is meant that we are strictly obliged to make a good confession within the year, if we have a mortal sin to confess.5. Heribert Jone’s Moral Theology:§395. All the faithful who have reached the use of their reason must sincerely confess their sins at least once a year. . .Strictly speaking, however, only those are obliged by this precept who have committed a mortal sin.
6. Fr. John Hardon’s *Moral Theology *(Ch. 3):The annual Confession is self-explanatory. It need not be made at Easter time, and strictly speaking it does not oblige those who (although they have not been to confession for a year) are not conscious of having during that time committed a **mortal sin.**What do you (and my fellow poster’s) think?

VC
 
If you can avoid mortal sin for more than an entire year, you’re my hero.
 
Jenny_Z said:
If you can avoid mortal sin for more than an entire year, you’re my hero.
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It all depends on what you consider a mortal sin and if all the three requirements for committing it are met. There are many things that are objectivly evil but if the culpability may be lessened from mortal to venial. Even a person procuring an abortion may not be culpable to the full extent (I believe there are 7 or 8 exceptions for full culpablity). Full consent, that is doing the sin anyway knowing that it is mortal, is required for culpability. Thus, while frequent confession of sin is a very good practice, I do beleive there are people who do not commit mortal sins within a year, based on not meeting the three conditions.
 
You are obligated to go to confession once a year only if you are under grave sin.

Although one under only venial sins are not under this obligation, regular confession is the key to all our goals, and that is holiness. Frequent confession helps us to defeat sin, even if they are only venial.
 
catechumen said:
I have read in Catholicism for Dummies that you are not required to go to confession if you do not have Mortal sin. I have done a small amount of research on this and I am prettt sure that the Church requires us to confess all our sins once a year.

The Fourth Laterin Council states this very clearly in the twenty first Cannon. The Council of Trent also restates this and adds anthiam to the cannon.

We could discuss the duties and respondsibliltes of the Church for providing the graces for our salvation. I would not do well in these kindes of talkes.

Does anyone have any opinions

catechumen
Click to expand...
We are obliged to receive Holy Communion once a year during the Easter period which of course requires we confess any mortal sins.
I do not see anything documented that we have to confess once a year if we are not in a state of mortal sin.
 
I mean come on, how many people do you actually know who are not under grave sin? This is complete denial on the part of some.
 
turtle18 said:
I mean come on, how many people do you actually know who are not under grave sin? This is complete denial on the part of some.
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If one isn’t committing sexual sins and goes to Mass every Sunday and Holy Days, it would be very easy for one not to be in grave sin. I realize that there are more grave sins than sexual ones, but I would think they are the most common.
 
the actual precept of the Church is that we are required to confess all mortal sins once a year and to receive communion at least once during the Easter season.
 
For the life of me I can’t figure out why so many people are affraid of Confession. I go as often as I can…confession and the Eucharist are what makes being a Catholic truely wonderfull.:signofcross: :highprayer:
 
turtle18 said:
I mean come on, how many people do you actually know who are not under grave sin? This is complete denial on the part of some.
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I don’t know who are or are not in a state of mortal sin or how often they may or may not be. Only God knows that and its not for you to judge and scoff at.

That is anyway not the topic of the thread.
 
The value of frequent confession, in addition to the graces resulting for the avoidance of sin, is the refinement of vision to recognize our personal sins, including those we are habituated to but may not classify as “serious” (mortal). So the paradox is, that the more often we perform a true examination, and confess, the clearer we are about how often we are at least tempted and prone to serious sin, and possibly have committed that.

Not making any judgment whatsoever about any poster here, but it tends to be that the people with a lukewarm commitment (or a sense of mere obligation) are the same people who confess vague and trivial sins once a year, without deep reflection, because they are not habituated to deep confession, and whose “Easter duty” is routine. At least that’s according to priests who complain of that. (Like Fr. Larry Richards on his CD, etc.)

In my opinion, the most frequently unrecognized serious sins are those against charity: detraction, envy and jealousy which often result in various forms of sabotage, calumny, rash judgment, insults, the kind of gossip which results in harmful speculation & rumor (affecting the reputation of others), acts of commission or omission which reveal a hatred for particular others, or which reveal revenge or long-standing grudges against others which poison our lives.

We have become so accustomed to hearing toxic speech (and perhaps joining in it), that we become somewhat immune to its ugliness and effect upon others and upon our own souls.

In addition, the mere habit of living our lives in a self-absorbed, self-centered way results often in unrecognized sins against charity, as well as a direct sin against The First Commandment.

In addition, while we often think of dishonesty as the mere telling of lies or withholding of truth, there is also a spiritual dishonesty which blinds us to our own personal responsibility for some of the unfortunate events in our lives. It may be that another has wronged us, but that we additionally “set it up” by personal behaviors which encouraged or gave permission for that, yet we never acknowledged that we invited that evil into our lives by our attitudes or behaviors.

Knowing whether we have been faithful to all of the commandments, and in the way Jesus explained in Matthew, requires a fair amount of introspection, and we need to pray for that grace.

In all the above, I am not including any scrupulosity, but rather definable sin.
 
I have two teenagers. I have to go a LOT. BTW, my wife and kids say the same about me…

I guess theoretically you have to go once a year, but like others here,you would have to be really favored to get by with that (in my opinion).

If so, count yourself very blessed. Know that you are helping me be more humble as I try to conform my life to Christ.
 
bubba451 said:
I have two teenagers. I have to go a LOT. BTW, my wife and kids say the same about me…
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Good point. If you are a parent, or if you have a parent who is alive, you (we) most likely have sinned in the last 12 months. Same for a sibling.😉

We are often least aware of, but most transgressing toward, those closest to us. We engage in a kind of license that we feel less emboldened about outside of our intimate circle.
 
catechumen said:
I have read in Catholicism for Dummies that you are not required to go to confession if you do not have Mortal sin. I have done a small amount of research on this and I am prettt sure that the Church requires us to confess all our sins once a year.

The Fourth Laterin Council states this very clearly in the twenty first Cannon. The Council of Trent also restates this and adds anthiam to the cannon.

We could discuss the duties and respondsibliltes of the Church for providing the graces for our salvation. I would not do well in these kindes of talkes.

Does anyone have any opinions

catechumen
Click to expand...
An opinion…! yes.

Of the 7 Sacraments, 4 are permanent and non-renewable.

Which leaves us with: Confession - Communion and Extreme Unction. Which can take the form of Annointing of the sick and dying.

If I’m going to spend 1 day at the hospital for…whatever, I request that a priest come to hear my confession, bring me communion and annoint me with the Holy Oils. Viaticum.

Now…Confession is the inexhaustable source of grace - why would I want to relegate this renewable Sacrament to once a year or less??? I recieve communion every week!! I really can’t bring myself to confess my sins at least once a month!!!

Not me. You want to confess once a year !? … that’s your thing.

Not me.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.
 
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