Is Frequent Confession (Once or Twice a Week) Good or Bad?

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Over the past years, I have never been to confession much, sometimes every couple years etc. However, Over the last few months, I started going twice a month.

OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS: I have started going to confession every week, mostly once a week, but sometimes even twice, or 3 times a week.

The reason for this is because I’m more aware of myself than before and I now see a need for it, I’m hoping that by doing this, I could correct myself as soon as possible.

I’ve been to confession 2 days ago, and I’m going back tomorrow morning. Is confession this frequent a good thing, or a bad thing?

Please advise,
Thanks,
Lucien
 
This question varies greatly from person to person. For the hard hearted, frequent confession is very beneficial. For the overly scrupulous, it’s ripping the scab off of a healing wound.

You don’t say you’re scrupulous, so I would say that your choice to go to confession frequently is a good one! Try and get a regular confessor, who can help you spiritually grow, and protect you from scrupulosity or a lax conscience.
 
Some saints went to confession every day! Personally I like going to confession once a week. Preferably Saturday. It’s like going for a nice shower to wash off all the dust and dirt before going to Mass on Sunday. Going twice a fortnight seems reasonable enough as well.

As Immaculata said above it really does depend on the person. I strong recommend that you speak with your spiritual director or the priest in the confessional about how often you go to confession. The Sacrament its self can never be at fault. Only how we relate to it.

I tell you… once I went to confession on Saturday. I went to confession the very next day on Sunday because of a sin I committed.

Father gave me a very, very, stern talking to. I only hope no one was near the confessional at the time… it’s paper thin :o!
 
Laudate_Dominum said:
Father gave me a very, very, stern talking to. I only hope no one was near the confessional at the time… it’s paper thin :o!
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Sigh. I wish I had a traditional parish near me. I am blessed to attend a great parish with a strong EF community, but I love how those FSSP priests don’t play!
 
TrueLight said:
Sigh. I wish I had a traditional parish near me. I am blessed to attend a great parish with a strong EF community, but I love how those FSSP priests don’t play!
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He wasn’t FSSP! Diocesan, offers the traditional Mass on Sundays and Tuesdays :p.
 
TrueLight said:
Ah. For some reason I thought you attended an FSSP parish.
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No, no. The FSSP is across the country (granted only an hour’s drive). I see Father (FSSP) occasionally though when he celebrates Masses for Una Voce. I can never seem to do any thing right around him though! He’s not bad but… well I know how to serve Low Mass. I could do it blind. But I always make at least one mistake around him and I don’t know why 😛
 
lucien123 said:
Over the past years, I have never been to confession much, sometimes every couple years etc. However, Over the last few months, I started going twice a month.

OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS: I have started going to confession every week, mostly once a week, but sometimes even twice, or 3 times a week.

The reason for this is because I’m more aware of myself than before and I now see a need for it, I’m hoping that by doing this, I could correct myself as soon as possible.

I’ve been to confession 2 days ago, and I’m going back tomorrow morning. Is confession this frequent a good thing, or a bad thing?

Please advise,
Thanks,
Lucien
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How can be bad?
 
Thanks for the replies everyone, I guess it isnt such a bad thing then. I wouldt consider myself scrupulous as someone mentioned, but I must say that I’m just sturggling with a couple things at the moment and I think I might need this frequency. It is also something I don’t intend in the long run.

Thanks again,
Lucien
 
Laudate_Dominum said:
I strong recommend that you speak with your spiritual director or the priest in the confessional about how often you go to confession. The Sacrament its self can never be at fault. Only how we relate to it.
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This is a very good answer.Although any priest at all can hear your confession, it is best to refrain from “confession shopping” if you want to go as frequently as you said. If you have a spiritual director to discuss this with, that is wonderful. But even without you should try to go to the same priest every week and let him know you have been coming every week. If he recommends that you go less often or continue, follow his advice.
 
Mrs Sally,

I go to the same priest all the time. And I’m quite sure he knows who I am because where I live, I’m one of the few foreigners and also the only person who speaks English in the confessional.

And my complexion is noticeably different from people here, so I’m quite sure he could p(name removed by moderator)oint me anywhere. Considering all this, I’m quite sure he’s aware that I’m coming every week. Thanks for the advise.
 
lucien123 said:
Mrs Sally,

I go to the same priest all the time. And I’m quite sure he knows who I am because where I live, I’m one of the few foreigners and also the only person who speaks English in the confessional.

And my complexion is noticeably different from people here, so I’m quite sure he could p(name removed by moderator)oint me anywhere. Considering all this, I’m quite sure he’s aware that I’m coming every week. Thanks for the advise.
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😛 Sorry, didn’t remember that you were living abroad. Aren’t you leaving there soon though? If you can find a priest who is able to offer spiritual direction as well as sacramental confession that would be ideal! I hope for such a situation myself.
 
Yes I am leaving relatively soon, approximately a month or two but the exact time is not confirmed yet.

It will be good if I find a director like that, but I guess it’s not possible now. Good luck finding one yourself!
 
I like to go weekly. Our FSSP parish preaches to go every 2 weeks so as to be able to gain plenary indulgences. If you have no sin to confess, then make a confession of devotion. Pius XII, of happy memory, went to daily confession.
 
What could possibly be bad about receiving sanctifying grace in confession once a week - wiping away all your sins, becoming a new person in Christ, renewed and strengthened to fight sin…

I go once a week if I can.
 
tradcathusa said:
I like to go weekly. Our FSSP parish preaches to go every 2 weeks so as to be able to gain plenary indulgences. If you have no sin to confess, then make a confession of devotion. Pius XII, of happy memory, went to daily confession.
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What is a confession of devotion?
 
TrueLight said:
What is a confession of devotion?
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The term is used as opposed to a Confession when we are in mortal sin and it is necessary to receive the Sacrament of Confession. A person who has not sinned mortally since his last Confession can nevertheless confess a venial sin in order to receive the grace of the Sacrament. That is called Confession of devotion.
 
floresco said:
The term is used as opposed to a Confession when we are in mortal sin and it is necessary to receive the Sacrament of Confession. A person who has not sinned mortally since his last Confession can nevertheless confess a venial sin in order to receive the grace of the Sacrament. That is called Confession of devotion.
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Okay, thanks. I’ve done that then. 🙂
 
Confession of devotion is where you have no mortal or venial sin to confess, In order to receive absolution you must have matter for the sacrament. In a confession of Devotion you confess a prior sin you have already confessed. Pius XII, of happy memory, wrotte in the late 1950’s on the this and recommended it. In the confessional you say I am not aware of any sins, and I’d like to make a confession of devotion and then tell your sin. This is useful for frequent confessions so you can gain indulgences, the traditional sacrament of pennace actually grants an indulgence.
 
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