Weekly Confession

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CaptainPrudeman

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Would you suggest weekly confession? What if someone suffers from slight scruples, like myself? How do I explain to my parents that it’s something I want to do, especially since neither believes in the importance of the sacrament?
 
I’ve never had anyone suggest weekly confession to me. I would never suggest it to anyone.
 
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Oh my goodness - I’m going through the same thing. I feel complete when I can go to Confession weekly. I suffer slight scruples and often wonder how going as often could be a negative thing. I just want to ensure I’m in a state of grace when I’ve done/thought/omitted something mortally sinful or at least questionable. I don’t doubt God’s mercy, but I’m full aware of my numerous failings.

Plus I know that we receive sacramental and sanctifying graces with the Sacrament of Penance. So, it works for me.

Peace.

+JMJ+
 
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I was listening to EWTN last week and Fr. Larry Richards was on and he specifically said he would NEVER recommend weekly confession - monthly confession yes, but not weekly.
 
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If one has a need for weekly confession (mortal sins) then one needs a spiritual director to help a person fight through habitual sin.
 
For scruples, St. Alphonsus de Liguori strongly discourages weekly confession. You must only confess when you have mortal sins.
 
Many of the Saints went to weekly Confession so we should do the same
 
Don’t mind your parents. Keep going to confession, and pray for them. The grace you receive will work on them as well. Just keep praying for them, and ask your priest for advice regarding them.

Weekly? That’s up to you. If you need it, then, yes. Many saints went daily. But you need to know if you’re committing mortal sins. If you’re doing it every week, then you need to seek out a genuine spiritual director who can help you far more intimately than we can.

Confession isn’t counselling. It is forgiveness of genuine mortal sin. Going weekly is admirable! But necessary? Between you and God. A spiritual director will make a more informed decision than any of us can.
 
I had a spiritual director specifically for help with my Scrupulosity and he recommended once a month for me. In fact, that is probably what I hear the most commonly recommend even for folks without Scrupulosity. Once a week, with my personal experience with Scrupulosity, would probably mess me up. I would not recommend it for yourself if you are Scrupulous. I would recommend getting a spiritual director if your Scrupulosity causes a lot of distress.
 
Weekly confession would be fine if you have access to lit. I think it would be excellent. But if you are scrupulous, that would be a different matter. I would not know how to answer the question if that were the case.
 
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That seems strange to me. I would like to hear this because I think I would have a hard time agreeing with it if it’s exactly how you state it to be.

This topic might be one that many of us may disagree on.

Hearing all these different views from upstanding posters makes me think this issue will be quite divergent in viewpoints regarding frequency of confession.
 
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Pope John Paul II went to confession every day. Based on that fact, frequent confession is not always such a bad idea. It’s dependent on a number of factors.
 
A healing priest wrote in his book that for those who experience psychological and biological discomfort, he recommends monthly confession, and sometimes, if NECESSARY, weekly confession.

According to him, true confession entails saying everything, without any intention to hide, and a DEEP DESIRE to change and do penance.
 
I would not recommend any frequency of confession to anyone, nor dissuade anyone from whatever frequency of confession (s)he practices, because I am neither a confessor nor a spiritual director. Those who are scrupulous should find a regular confessor and do what he tells them to do.
 
OP, what the scrupulous need is a regular, experienced confessor to consult with. Asking such a question on the internet is not really a good idea. Neither is wrestling with one’s parents over this.
 
Weekly confession is just fine, if that’s where the Holy Spirit is leading you. Catholics tend to forget that weekly Saturday confession was the “norm” prior to Vatican II. It has nothing to do with scruples and everything to do with the help of the sacrament in our spiritual lives. You don’t have to have mortal sin or even a lot of venial sins to confess frequently; in return you get a one on one meeting with Jesus and all the healing power of the sacrament. I go every two weeks and may decide to start to go weekly. Please consider reading the book Frequent Confession. It has helped me a lot to understand the many graces coming from confession!
 
What mortal sins are you committing each week?

If you aren’t committing serious sins, then you probably shouldn’t be frequenting confession weekly; especially if you suffer from scruples.
 
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