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mtlopez
Guest
This question was asked at our last parent meeting for First Communion: How often does the Church require Catholics to attend Reconciliation?
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Tantum_ergo
Guest
Ever heard of what used to be called the Easter Duty? That was in reference to longstanding practice of attending reconciliation at least once per year, usually just before Easter as Lent is itself a penitential season.
So, once per year is usually the ‘minimum’. Of course if one is in a state of grace with no mortal sin, and consistently living with little if any venial sin, one does not strictly speaking ‘have to’ go to reconciliation as there would be nothing to reconcile. Speaking for myself, I don’t think that I have ever been able to manage even a period of a few days without being in at least venial sin, and venial sins have a way of weakening the person’s will thus causing more venial sins, and eventually even mortal sin becomes likely. . .so I try to get to reconciliation at least semi-monthly and I always have ‘plenty’ of venial sins to repent. I daresay that if more people were encouraged to look at an examination of conscience (you can find several good and THOROUGH ones on line even) they might find out that a lot of things they were sweeping ‘under the rug’ as being ‘no big deal’ were really venial sins, which they really ‘knew’ were sins as well. Kind of helps to bring in a little bit of humility and a sense of sin leading to a better relationship with God as we ‘see Him’ more often with more use and proper use of the sacraments.
God bless you!
So, once per year is usually the ‘minimum’. Of course if one is in a state of grace with no mortal sin, and consistently living with little if any venial sin, one does not strictly speaking ‘have to’ go to reconciliation as there would be nothing to reconcile. Speaking for myself, I don’t think that I have ever been able to manage even a period of a few days without being in at least venial sin, and venial sins have a way of weakening the person’s will thus causing more venial sins, and eventually even mortal sin becomes likely. . .so I try to get to reconciliation at least semi-monthly and I always have ‘plenty’ of venial sins to repent. I daresay that if more people were encouraged to look at an examination of conscience (you can find several good and THOROUGH ones on line even) they might find out that a lot of things they were sweeping ‘under the rug’ as being ‘no big deal’ were really venial sins, which they really ‘knew’ were sins as well. Kind of helps to bring in a little bit of humility and a sense of sin leading to a better relationship with God as we ‘see Him’ more often with more use and proper use of the sacraments.
God bless you!
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EasterJoy
Guest
It is taught in the current Catechism and the Compendium that it is a precept of the Church that Catholics must confess their sins at least once a year. The gravity of sins committed is not mentioned: that is, the Catechism does not say that the duty is abrogated if no mortal sins have been committed.
Most confessors I have spoken to say that confessing sins at least once each during Advent and Lent is a more reasonable practical minimum.
The Church encourages regular confession, although whether this is monthly, bi-weekily, or weekly depends on who you talk to and what your state in life is. When talking to our children making their first confession, our pastor encourages that they go to confession more like once every week or two at first, until they become well-accustomed to the ritual and more at ease with the processes of self-examination and confessing their sins. I talked to a woman who prepared students for confirmation, and she was appalled at the number who had not been to confession since their first time! Without a regular habit, though, that happens.
I teach catechism during the year when students make their First Confession and First Holy Communion. There is no better time to form the habit of regular confession than right at the start. If parents wait, they will find their children much less likely to be amenable to the change.
It is also worth reading Sacramentum Caritatis, to recognize the mutually-reinforcing connection between regular confession and the Eucharist. In fact, the year in which a child starts confession and communion is an excellent time to re-connect with the sacraments. It is like when they are born: it re-opens you to the everyday miracle of life. The sacraments are “everyday miracles”, too!
Most confessors I have spoken to say that confessing sins at least once each during Advent and Lent is a more reasonable practical minimum.
The Church encourages regular confession, although whether this is monthly, bi-weekily, or weekly depends on who you talk to and what your state in life is. When talking to our children making their first confession, our pastor encourages that they go to confession more like once every week or two at first, until they become well-accustomed to the ritual and more at ease with the processes of self-examination and confessing their sins. I talked to a woman who prepared students for confirmation, and she was appalled at the number who had not been to confession since their first time! Without a regular habit, though, that happens.
I teach catechism during the year when students make their First Confession and First Holy Communion. There is no better time to form the habit of regular confession than right at the start. If parents wait, they will find their children much less likely to be amenable to the change.
It is also worth reading Sacramentum Caritatis, to recognize the mutually-reinforcing connection between regular confession and the Eucharist. In fact, the year in which a child starts confession and communion is an excellent time to re-connect with the sacraments. It is like when they are born: it re-opens you to the everyday miracle of life. The sacraments are “everyday miracles”, too!
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mtlopez
Guest
Great answer, thanks! I’m forwarding it to the parents of our first communicants 
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Verbum_Caro
Guest
I don’t think it is as clear cut as that EasterJoy.
Catechism [1457](javascript
penWindow(‘cr/1457.htm’)
, citing Canon Law, says:According to the Church’s command, “after having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year.”
Also the Compendium to the Catechism, in 305 says:
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
It seems to me that both the Catechism and the Compendium mention the gravity of sins.
VC
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gez722
Guest
Even though this isn’t what you asked, I’d like to add a presonal recommendation. Going to confession at least monthy (even if you only have venial sins to confess) will change your life. The grace that you receive will help you greatly in refraining from sin. A few years ago, I resolved to go every 2 weeks and it has changed my life!
God Bless,
Gary
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