Question about confession frequency

  • Thread starter Thread starter Aurora_Dawn
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

Aurora_Dawn

Guest
Hello,

I have a question about confession, but first a little background: I am an inquirer in my local parish. I’ve only been to one meeting there, and I went to Mass yesterday. I was (I found out recently) baptized in the Congregational church as a baby. Otherwise, no one in my family is religious and I wasn’t raised in any faith. Other than those few times as a baby (at my grandmother’s insistence, I’m told) I’ve only ever been to church twice, once as a child with a friend, and I don’t remember what church or anything about it; and once at around age 20, when I went to the Baptist church in town and was immediate scared away after one service.

Ok, so that is all to tell you how little I know about anything to do with the Church!

I have a question, which I know I could ask about on Wednesday at next inquiry, but it’s on my mind today and I can’t really find an answer online anywhere (and since I’ve been inquiring on my own the last month or so, I’m always wanting to know more, more, more 👍)

My question is: I read and see that confession is very important and, my understanding, an intrinsic part of the Catholic faith. So I guess I’m confused on why it is offered so infrequently! I guess my image was that the confessional is open every day, and since you can’t take Communion if you are in a state of (mortal? I think, but not venial?) sin then I guess I’m surprised it’s not available more often.

Here there is only confession between 1st and 2nd mass the 1st Sunday of the month. Otherwise, go to another town about 30 minutes away, where it’s available from 4-4:30 on Saturdays.

(of course, you can schedule an appt. too, and I also realize that the priests can’t be on call 24/7, but I’m still surprised it’s so little given how important it is)

is it because I live in a small area? we have Mass 2x on Sunday and another on Wednesday evening. From what I can tell from the Bulletin, we have 570 registered families in the parish.

But I’m doing the math in my head and I don’t see how that’s enough time? The next town over with regular Saturday confession is quite a large town/small city…so how can even a fraction of the combined parishes go to confession in 30 minutes?
 
It all depends on the parish. At my home parish in Northern Va they have confession Wednesday after the 9am Mass, Friday evenings 6:30-7:30pm nd Saturdays 3:30-4:30pm and by appointment. They will drop almost anything to hear a confession.

Neasr my office on Capital Hill in DC both Catholic Churches have confession each business day before the Noon Mass, plus Saturdays.
 
Aurora_Dawn said:
Hello,

I have a question about confession, but first a little background: I am an inquirer in my local parish. I’ve only been to one meeting there, and I went to Mass yesterday. I was (I found out recently) baptized in the Congregational church as a baby. Otherwise, no one in my family is religious and I wasn’t raised in any faith. Other than those few times as a baby (at my grandmother’s insistence, I’m told) I’ve only ever been to church twice, once as a child with a friend, and I don’t remember what church or anything about it; and once at around age 20, when I went to the Baptist church in town and was immediate scared away after one service.

Ok, so that is all to tell you how little I know about anything to do with the Church!

I have a question, which I know I could ask about on Wednesday at next inquiry, but it’s on my mind today and I can’t really find an answer online anywhere (and since I’ve been inquiring on my own the last month or so, I’m always wanting to know more, more, more 👍)

My question is: I read and see that confession is very important and, my understanding, an intrinsic part of the Catholic faith. So I guess I’m confused on why it is offered so infrequently! I guess my image was that the confessional is open every day, and since you can’t take Communion if you are in a state of (mortal? I think, but not venial?) sin then I guess I’m surprised it’s not available more often.

Here there is only confession between 1st and 2nd mass the 1st Sunday of the month. Otherwise, go to another town about 30 minutes away, where it’s available from 4-4:30 on Saturdays.

(of course, you can schedule an appt. too, and I also realize that the priests can’t be on call 24/7, but I’m still surprised it’s so little given how important it is)

is it because I live in a small area? we have Mass 2x on Sunday and another on Wednesday evening. From what I can tell from the Bulletin, we have 570 registered families in the parish.

But I’m doing the math in my head and I don’t see how that’s enough time? The next town over with regular Saturday confession is quite a large town/small city…so how can even a fraction of the combined parishes go to confession in 30 minutes?
Click to expand...
It may seem that time for confession is offered infrequently, but you can make arrangements with the parish priest for any time outside of the posted times as well. While confession is important try to remember that confession for confessions sake does not make for a true confession. As a newcomer you will want to confess every little detail and often, don’t feel bad about that - even cradle Catholics like myself when we went as children to first confession were like that.

Some will only go a couple times a year others more often, I ussually go once a month more/less as needed. At times I feel sorry for our parish priest - more often than not he spends the time set aside for confession sitting in the confessional reading a good book.
 
Just don’t commit mortal sin and then you don’t have to worry.
 
Joannm said:
Just don’t commit mortal sin and then you don’t have to worry.
Click to expand...
Easier said than done, I’d say. With God’s grace, it is possible, though. Regardless of mortal sin and having to “worry” - it’s still important (though I believe only “required” once per year) to go periodically even to confess just venial sins. Grace is still imparted through the sacrament, and that grace helps keep people out of sin (mortal and venial alike). I suggest going frequently…even if not in a state of mortal sin. Just my two cents…
 
BusterMartin said:
Easier said than done, I’d say. With God’s grace, it is possible, though. Regardless of mortal sin and having to “worry” - it’s still important (though I believe only “required” once per year) to go periodically even to confess just venial sins. Grace is still imparted through the sacrament, and that grace helps keep people out of sin (mortal and venial alike). I suggest going frequently…even if not in a state of mortal sin. Just my two cents…
Click to expand...
No, the annual requirement is only for mortal sin. It is not a blanket requirement for everyone. See Canon Law 989.

Confession of venial sins is highly recommended, though. Haing said that, don’t forget venail sins are absolved at the start of Mass.
 
Thanks for starting this thread, the topic is very near and dear to me. I live about 40 minutes away from a parish where confession is offered before every single Mass. It is also the only parish in our diocese which has weekly EF Mass, so go figure. I love confession, personally, and the pastor at this church has never told me to come less frequently.

Pope John Paul II, as Pope, made Reconciliation at least weekly, though I’ve also heard daily. He didn’t want the slightest sin, however venial, to come between him and God. I’ve heard similar things about some of the saints as well.
 
BusterMartin said:
Easier said than done, I’d say. With God’s grace, it is possible, though. Regardless of mortal sin and having to “worry” - it’s still important (though I believe only “required” once per year) to go periodically even to confess just venial sins. Grace is still imparted through the sacrament, and that grace helps keep people out of sin (mortal and venial alike). I suggest going frequently…even if not in a state of mortal sin. Just my two cents…
Click to expand...
Well said. I would add, weekly if possible. Why take the chance?
 
Joannm said:
Just don’t commit mortal sin and then you don’t have to worry.
Click to expand...
It’s not a question of worrying. Confession is a wonderful experience of God’s love and forgiveness and you don’t have to wait until you commit a mortal sin before you can go and confess. It is definitely not a “chore” I worry about but a wonderful opportunity.

OP, it depends on where you live. In my native Eastern European country in the capital there are churches where priests hear confessions every day. But as posters have said previously, you can always make an appointment with the priest. In fact you will find that if you confess face to face, it will often be a deeper and richer encounter with the Lord.
 
thanks everyone.

At this time I’m not “worried” at all, since I’m am only in inquiry. It was just something I’m curious about as I take all this in and learn whether this is right for me.

My understanding of confession is, as some have stated, a wonderful reconciliation with God, something you don’t HAVE to do every week or whatever, but something you want to do…and I thought was encouraged…so I was surprised to see it offered so infrequently.
 
I think that most parishes offer open times for confession based on how many people come. Many normal parishes I’ve been to offer confession once per week for may be an hour or two. If they had more time than that, the priest would end up just sitting alone in the confessional for a long time. The sad truth is that many Catholics do not utilize the sacrament as often as they could. I’ve been to shrine churches with much more “traffic,” and they offer confession at more times because they simply have more people coming for the sacrament.
 
Confession is offered so infrequently due to lack of demand, unfortunately. Where I live, we have a 45 minute slot on Saturdays to confess, or call the priest for an appointment, which they are happy to do.
 
It is true that the Catholic Church states how important going to Confession is, and yet it isnt available as often as it should be. I have heard many Catholics complain about how little the Confessional is Open other than calling and making a special appt. with the Priest. If I had my way, If All the Churches couldnt have the Confessional open every day of the week, than how helpful it would be then to have it open longer than a 1/2 hour, like they all seem to be. If it was open for atleast an hour each time, that would be very helpful. But thats just my opinion 🙂 But do go to confession as often as possible because it is truly a wonderful experience and keeps you close to Almighty God. I Love going and wish I could go more often.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top