No mortal sin. no confession

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ZMystiCat said:
Besides, as far as I know, we are required to go to Confession at least once a year.
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ONLY if one has grave sins to confess. People are not required to go to Confession if they have not committed gave sins.
 
Can it be said that we loved God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength?

No.

Thus we fall short, and we can confess, asking God for mercy and more grace.

Did we not nurse some slight by someone?
Did we not stir feelings of aversion about some item of work in front of us?
Did we refuse to interior complain all the time?
Did we give as humbly, quietly, generously, cheerfully, quickly as we could have?

Were our motives in our acts of charity purely out of love of God?

Did we not pine for consolation in this or that act?
 
TheLittleLady said:
Our venial sins are remitted in other ways, many other ways.
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I’m aware of that, but that doesn’t nullify that the Church still encourages confession of venial sins. As CCC 1458 says:
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
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I thought the rule was you’re required to go to confession at least once a year PERIOD. And this makes sense. If you go a year with only venial sins, you’re not receiving the sacramental graces much at all. So the minimum is to go once a year, if only for the graces.
 
ZMystiCat said:
Besides, as far as I know, we are required to go to Confession at least once a year. His lack of doing so is something to confess.
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2042 The first precept (“You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation.”) requires the faithful to participate in the Eucharistic celebration when the Christian community gathers together on the day commemorating the Resurrection of the Lord. [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]
 
However, we do not know this man commits venial sins. Perfection in this life, while rare, is attainable (or Christ would not have set it before us as a goal!)
 
We are obligated to go to confession once a year when aware of grave sin.

Sin is not inevitable. We are made in God’s image and meant to be holy. It is perfectly possible with to not commit mortal sin.
 
I cannot comment on anyone else’s belief that they haven’t committed a mortal sin and therefore do not need confession. All I can do is say that I used to be relieved that I hadn’t committed a mortal sin as stated in the 10 commandments (as I understood them), my views changed when I started to do a proper examination of conscience and looked into it more closely. As for venial sins, I will never forget Fr Wade Menzies homily (EWTN) on how they build up and to pay attention to them.

One thing I have learned about myself is that, if I think I haven’t sinned, whether mortal or venial, then it is time for a serious examination of conscience. I have also learned that the people I think who are genuinely devout and are an inspiration, are those who confess regularly.
 
TheLittleLady said:
However, we do not know this man commits venial sins. Perfection in this life, while rare, is attainable (or Christ would not have set it before us as a goal!)
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While it is true that we don’t know for sure that this man committed at least venial sins, I think it is safe to say that it’s more likely one isn’t aware of venial sins than one doesn’t commit them. When known saints frequently took advantage of the sacrament of confession, it leaves me doubtful that any random person wouldn’t benefit from it.
 
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Not to be over judgemental I think this person does not think he commits even venianl sin. He is suffering from Parkinson’s and just watches tv all day
 
While it is possible, it is highly improbable and I have never seen a single person claiming not to have committed a mortal sin in a YEAR’s time. We were created in God’s image - that’s true, but the original sin caused our will to be leant towards the evil which we are called to fight against. And it i snot a fight against the flesh and blood…
 
It’s possible to not commit mortal sin for a long time, especially for a pious person. I don’t know, I wouldn’t judge here because we don’t know the man’s relationship with God.
 
Catholicwife32 said:
I thought the rule was you’re required to go to confession at least once a year PERIOD. And this makes sense. If you go a year with only venial sins, you’re not receiving the sacramental graces much at all. So the minimum is to go once a year, if only for the graces.
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Latin Canon Law states that is for grave sins:
Can. 989 After having reached the age of discretion, each member of the faithful is ob-liged to confess faithfully his or her grave sins at least once a year.
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For an eastern Catholic it is not annually, but ASAP:
Canon 719 - Anyone who is aware of serious sin is to receive the sacrament of penance as soon as possible; it is strongly recommended to all the Christian faithful that they receive this sacrament frequently especially during the times of fasts and penance observed in their own Church sui iuris.
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It is very possible to go very many years without committing a mortal sin. Retired people, especially, are not exposed to sin as frequently as someone who is married or still in employment. They are far less likely to be troubled by sins of impurity, as would a youth. They are not as subject to coveting or theft, as most likely they are well provided for from their working years. Many saints have gone into the desert to avoid the trappings of sin and prepare their hearts to listen to God. For a retiree, this is often the same type of environment.
Did you guess? I am retired and widowed! 😁

Incidentally, that does not mean these folks fail to commit venial sins, and it is a good idea to go to confession to receive the grace to overcome even these, to please God.
 
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I am sure it’s likely he isnt committing mortal sin, we should all be doing that. But he should go to confession anyway as practicing Catholics we are required to go once a year at least, I believe the requirement is. But confession isnt just for mortal sin in practice(though it is in theory), it is also for devotion in other words you use it to grow in grace and practice devotion by confessing venial sins you learn which ones are causing issues and pertain your root sin and with direction from your confessor learn how to grow in grace and devotion. There is very little chance he isnt sinning, but that’ll be not confessing for you. It is possible not to commit mortal sins, but unlikely he’s not committing venial sins, though if he doesnt do a regular (daily) examen and regular confession then he won’t catch the little ones that grace would allow him to see.
Saying all that, you can mention that it is required for people to go to confession yearly or suggest he goes maybe even ask if he’ll go or if he does a regular conscience examen but you can’t go telling him he is committing mortal sins or any such things. Still you know him so you know best. I have a much older friend who does the same thing, she doesnt like talking about herself, she does go to daily mass though so I think her venial sins are taken care of there… I think she does the once a year confession under duration though. God bless
 
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An elderly man from my bible study said its easy to confess sins commited but much more difficult to confess sins of omission, not doing what God is calling you to do. Is God number one in your life?.. And without going into detail I know his wife gets frustrated with him being lacks in family matters and not taking care of things he should do. Once again not forme to judge but one needs to do a daily examen to see where you are at.
 
Actually the desert fathers were almost always spiritually attacked , isolation is not a slam dunk against mortal sin.
 
Bluebright said:
n anyway as practicing Catholics we are required to go once a year at least, I believe the requirement is. .
Saying all that, you can mention that it is required for people to go to confession yearly. God bless
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No, that isn’t so. See post 34, and/or Canon Law 989.

It’s only a requirement in the case of mortal sins (although confession of venial sins is highly recommended.)

We should not give wrong information, and cause anxiety.
 
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Yes, it’s possible. I rarely commit mortal sins, but I still go to confession every few weeks to be closer to the lord.
 
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