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

[TrueLight]

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.

Hmm. I’d rather leave any prior sins I confessed behind me.

 

[LilyM]

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.

Anyone who goes for any real length of time thinking that they have no sins of any kind to confess is kidding themselves. Scripture is clear - ‘the JUST man falls seven times a day’. We all sin daily - In venial or mortal ways.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

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.

I thought we weren’t supposed to repeatedly confess sins we’ve been absolved of?



Isn’t that doubting God’s power to forgive our sins?

 

[floresco]

I thought we weren’t supposed to repeatedly confess sins we’ve been absolved of?



Isn’t that doubting God’s power to forgive our sins?

No, there is no doubt that the sin was forgiven earlier. But as people mature spiritually there understanding of the seriousness of sin increases. They may have more contrition than they did when they originally confessed. So they can express this greater contrition in the Sacrament.

 

[giuseppeTO]

I would suggest that if you believe you have committed mortal sin, go as soon as possible. If that is multiple times per week, then you probably need to find a priest who will agree to be your spiritual director and help you overcome the propensity to grave sin.

If you are going just to obtain the grace particular to the sacrament of Penance, then twice a month should be sufficient.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

No, there is no doubt that the sin was forgiven earlier. But as people mature spiritually there understanding of the seriousness of sin increases. They may have more contrition than they did when they originally confessed. So they can express this greater contrition in the Sacrament.

Well, I definitely have more contrition than when I confessed a lot of sins after 20+ years of being away from the Church…But I got mixed answers when I asked that on this forum. Should I re-confess? People said, “No, you already did it, it’s over.” And then some said, as you are now, “You can re-confess it at a different level.”

So now I am confused.

 

[Bookcat]

One can go as one wishes. Weekly confession is a wonderful thing! But one is free to go more if you choose. Though for some who are scrupulous it can problematic to go more than weekly.

The Priest can advise you if he thinks your going to often or tended towards scruples at any point. Since your seeing one Priest usually – you can even let him know it is you so he can assist you further in your Spiritual life etc.

 

[Bookcat]

Well, I definitely have more contrition than when I confessed a lot of sins after 20+ years of being away from the Church…But I got mixed answers when I asked that on this forum. Should I re-confess? People said, “No, you already did it, it’s over.” And then some said, as you are now, “You can re-confess it at a different level.”

So now I am confused.

One may bring up an already confessed and absolved sin in any confession (in fact it is good to do so at least in a general way at the end of the confession–something one is particularly sorry for --for example etc etc).

Though it can be problematic for some --such as those who struggle with scruples (they need to have a regular confessor etc) so they are often advised not to bring such up --except prob. in the general way at the end of confession “and all the sins since my baptism especially those against chastity and those of theft”.

It is a fact one can do that even more specifically though.

One may say for example “and all the sins of my life --especially for the murder I committed” (but I would not do that too often --for one wants to let go of the sins too and focus on living in Christ more and more)

Or one can make a general confession…(more involved).

It depends on the person.

 

[HonoraDominum]

Well, I definitely have more contrition than when I confessed a lot of sins after 20+ years of being away from the Church…But I got mixed answers when I asked that on this forum. Should I re-confess? People said, “No, you already did it, it’s over.” And then some said, as you are now, “You can re-confess it at a different level.”

So now I am confused.

As you progress in holiness, [hopefully!] you will lose attachment to both mortal and intentional venial sin. Also, as you get into the habit of frequent confession, you will find that some weeks you just don’t have a whole lot to confess. For a priest to be able to give absolution, there has to be some kind of sin to absolve or absolution cannot be given, even with a Confession of Devotion.

I always end my confessions with the phrase “And for these and any other sins I may have commited in my past life, including excessive loquaciousness and [insert sin or vice here - greed, sloth, etc], I am heartily sorry.” I always add that bit about loquaciousness because let’s just say Matthew 12:36-37 has me paranoid. And trust me when I say that with that little addition, I’ve got substance for confession until the end of my days. If you feel particular remorse for a sin of your past life, the above formula is a good way to confess it without taking a lot of confession time.

 

[Cristiano]

I would suggest that if you believe you have committed mortal sin, go as soon as possible. If that is multiple times per week, then you probably need to find a priest who will agree to be your spiritual director and help you overcome the propensity to grave sin.

If you are going just to obtain the grace particular to the sacrament of Penance, then twice a month should be sufficient.

I think that this is the best suggestion. I believe in frequent confession; however, to mature and grow we need spiritual direction. I think that it unwise to become our own spiritual directors through confession.