What is Wrong with Frequent Confession (And I mean like once a week)?

[TrueLight]

One person can do the church precept/law of 1 time a year, others feel better with monthly or 2 times a month or even weekly Confession.

Is it really possible to be seriously engaged in your faith and go once a year? I wonder.

 

[puzzleannie]

If you are able to go to weekly confession, why would it be considered scrupulous to do so?

I?

no, only for a person whose priest has told them they are battling with scruples and who has advised less frequent confession. Another question that the pentient should address to his regular confessor, not to strangers on the internet, for a personal answer.

 

[cheese_puff]

Is it really possible to be seriously engaged in your faith and go once a year? I wonder.

I’d have to say that if the Church says it is possible then, I believe it is possible.
I, on the other hand, feel I need the guidence and and forgiveness on a monthly basis but if I were someone else and in a much different possition everything could be very different.

God bless you,
cheese :christmastree1:

 

[I_Thirst]

Is it really possible to be seriously engaged in your faith and go once a year? I wonder.

I think so. Just consider those areas where even a Mass is hard to attend (due to political factors, for example).

 

[JRKH]

I have never heard of anyone doing daily confession, but God bless the Priest who offers this for the above poster.
Actually that frequency strikes me as being something akin to daily spiritual direction with absolution. Not a bad thing that…

Something else that I thought of in reading over the responses is how a “New” Catholic or someone freshly recommitted to the faith maybe should seek confession more frequently as an aid to growing in and understanding what it means to live the Christian life. Sort of as a brief, weekly, extension of catechesis.
By bringing your known sins and suspected sins and struggles to your confessor, and by listening carefully to his advice, one can grow greatly in their spiritual journey.
Later on, one might not feel the need to go as often, having developed a strong and healthy understanding of their sins, their strengths and weaknesses etc…Or…Maybe they will continue to desire the weekly “touching base” as their needs and circumstances change.

Peace
James

 

[MissRose73]

Is it really possible to be seriously engaged in your faith and go once a year? I wonder.

Some people think they are and go once a year, but I have no idea how they can be in my opinion. My mother goes 2 times a year at least, and she is very involved in church ministries & attending Mass.

 

[catharina]

To clarify, I’m not speaking about myself personally.

I just find it strange that people automatically see it as something wrong.

Please don’t say that. You’re making an unfounded genralization.
Do SOME people see it as something wrong? Maybe.

So what? They are mistaken.

 

[Melchior_1]

I go weekly. In fact, I think the amount of times I requested to go every week before Sunday evening Mass has resulted in one of our priests (or the guest priest if we have one) being available before said Mass.

Why? To put it bluntly; I mortal sin every week, I need to go every week. Some people who would say a specific issue is mitigated due to it being habitual, but I’m more inclined to still go every week. If I don’t make it, I play it safe and do a spiritual Communion while attending Mass.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

There’s nothing inherently wrong with frequent confession. But with all things that human beings are involved in there things can go askew. How?

1. It can exasperate scrupulosity. Individuals can literally live in fear that every small sin might send them to hell or that a particular action though not inherently sinful but may have had some subconscious sinful motive, etc.
2. Excessive focus on self. We’ve all met people who are so focused on themselves that they have problems being socially engaging. This is very similar to what an individual might spiritually go through when they’re over analyzing every last detail of every choice they make. They become unable to spiritually/socially/communally connect with others due to always gazing inwards.
3. Spiritual pride. “I’m a better Catholic than most because I go to confession so frequently and others go so rarely.”
4. “My sins are so much bigger than others, my choices are so important.” I usually correct that by joking, “You’re not that important to the devil…”

Human beings always have a way of taking something good and slightly slanting it. Frequent confession is a great thing, but we should use it as a spring board to a holier and fuller life and not merely as satisfaction for whatever psychological needs we have…

 

[Sarahforgiven]

Way back up to the 1960s if you were going to take Communion weekly you would be going to Confession weekly. I am reluctant to go weekly for fear of driving the priest to distraction.

As a Third Order Franciscan we are traditionally encouraged to go to confession at least once a month, as I found out not so long ago. I generally go when I have too many venial sins pile up or have to confess some complex (in my mind) situation, or something that ‘bugs’ me.

If the confessional boxes were opened before each Mass, I think it would be so much better. Every individual is different, but I wish this particular sacrament was offered as it was in the 1960s. I try to go every two weeks, but with the sacrament only available on Saturdays it is tough. I have even looked at the schedules in surrounding parishes. With the Pope encouraging priests to spend time hearing confessions, perhaps we can all pray that confession will be made more available.

 

[Anathama_Sit]

That’s more frequent than I was referring to. You are doing well by taking the advice of your confessor.

Thanks so much for sharing something personal.

Greetings Truelight,

I have found that those who go to Frequent Confession with the blessing of the Confessors are not scrupulous. There may be some exceptions to this rule though. Some who are against the practice of frequent Confession because to them they think that somehow frequent Confession encourages scrupolosity, I always challenge them to go at least once a month with the blessing of their Confessor. And so they happen to begin to go once a month. Time passes, and soon they realize they would like to go a bit more frequent, perhaps bi-weekly. And then more time passes and soon they realize that they desire to go once a week.

There is coming a time perhaps when Confession will not be readily available due to the worst persecution that is yet to come. Recourse to the Sacraments is always a blessing. It has been said that Every Mass that one attends will comfort you in your dying moments, perhaps the same can be said of every Confession that one has attended will be of much comfort as well.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit

 

[Anathama_Sit]

I have never heard of anyone doing daily confession, but God bless the Priest who offers this for the above poster.
Actually that frequency strikes me as being something akin to daily spiritual direction with absolution. Not a bad thing that…

Something else that I thought of in reading over the responses is how a “New” Catholic or someone freshly recommitted to the faith maybe should seek confession more frequently as an aid to growing in and understanding what it means to live the Christian life. Sort of as a brief, weekly, extension of catechesis.
By bringing your known sins and suspected sins and struggles to your confessor, and by listening carefully to his advice, one can grow greatly in their spiritual journey.
Later on, one might not feel the need to go as often, having developed a strong and healthy understanding of their sins, their strengths and weaknesses etc…Or…Maybe they will continue to desire the weekly “touching base” as their needs and circumstances change.

Peace
James

Greetings JRKH,

It actually is out there more than you think it is. To me Daily Confession is much more than spiritual direction. There are times when things are rough and I am confessing to particular vices that are hard for me to overcome, that yes there is spiritual advice given but I believe that it IS needed at these particular times and Confessions. However the purpose of confessing my sins and vices and shortcomings are never lost in my view, I believe that this is a grace. Spiritual direction is done at other times and periods.

Yes God Bless my Confessor/Spiritual Director. He is one of the greatest blessings in my life of which I am very thankful for.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit

 

[HonoraDominum]

If the confessional boxes were opened before each Mass, I think it would be so much better. Every individual is different, but I wish this particular sacrament was offered as it was in the 1960s. I try to go every two weeks, but with the sacrament only available on Saturdays it is tough. I have even looked at the schedules in surrounding parishes. With the Pope encouraging priests to spend time hearing confessions, perhaps we can all pray that confession will be made more available.

At my parish, the confessionals are open before and after every mass, and there’s someone taking advantage of that grace virtually every time the confessional is available.

My relationship with God has grown by leaps and bounds since I started going to frequent confession. I make sure at the bare minimum that I go every two weeks, as I do my best to earn as many indulgences for the Holy Souls in Purgatory as I can. For most indulgences, plenary or partial, the requirements are communion that day, prayers for the intentions of the Pope (Our Father - Hail Mary - Glory Be at minimum), and confession either 8 days before or after the indulgenced act or prayer. By making a habit of going to confession at least every other week, I ensure that I can at least earn a plenary indulgence.

However, unless there is an extenuating circumstance, I usually go every week, before either the Saturday or Sunday mass depending on what kind of mood I’m in and how early I get up. The Saturday morning priest is the “Fire and Brimstone” priest, who is not afraid to be stern with me when I’m falling more frequently than I ought. He’s been known to say to me, “You know better than that, cut it out!” But when I’m feeling more scrupulous and need more of a gentle hand who can remind me of the mercy of God and the love that He has for all of His creatures, I go to Sunday morning confessional. The priest’s gentle guidance helps me to stop the cycle of beating myself up over a stumble and back on the path to loving God as best as I can.

Both of our priests speak regularly in their homilies about the graces of frequent confession, and both recommend bi-weekly confessions at minimum for the graces to earn indulgences as mentioned below. They also highly recommend weekly confession if there is time.

And yes, I know I am VERY fortunate to have not one, but two absolutely amazing priests for the confessional. At my previous parish, with 25,000 registered families (the second largest cathedral congregation in the nation, second only to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC), they had confession for 45 minutes before the English vigil mass and 45 minutes before the Spanish vigil mass on Saturdays. And that’s IT. My current parish has more than that on a regular old Monday! One of the reasons I switched parishes was because of the availability of confession, as well as the quality of spiritual direction I was given in the confessionals there.

 

[RosalieM]

To clarify, I’m not speaking about myself personally.

I just find it strange that people automatically see it as something wrong.

I go normally go once a week. The receptionist at my parish was wary at first, but now she accepts my doing this. It’s almost like you’re being judged as repeating mortal sin each week. I used to explain – the grace of the sacrament, venial sins and faults, the strength given so as not to fall into mortal sin.
I don’t bother explaining anything anymore. Once I mentioned to my most frequent confessor that some may think I’m nuts going once a week. He immediately and emphatically assured me that he did not.
Sometimes I’m aware of so many different opinions in the church that it brings to mind what Rome may have been like in centuries past. Maybe it’s always been that way.

 

[Laudate_Dominum]

Weekly confession should be pretty much standard. Don’t forget, you are not just reconciled to the Church in the Sacrament of Penance, but you’re also provided graces by it.

 

[TrueLight]

It’s comforting to see that some understand the graces of frequent confession.

 

[JRKH]

I must confess here that I do not take advantage of confession very often…Circumstances make regular confession difficult for me, but there have been times when I knew I really needed it - so I would go to Father at his office…usually unannounced.
The last time I went, when I was leaving I felt this terrific “wave” of peace, calm - you know GRACE…come over me as I was walking to my car. I hadn’t even done my penance yet.

I relate this because, as mentioned above, the sacrament isn’t just about reconciliation. It’s about grace too. And if one goes regularly they might not “feel” the grace like I did, but believe me - it’s there…

Peace
James

 

[puzzleannie]

If the confessional boxes were opened before each Mass, I think it would be so much better. .

sure it would, and it would be great if one priest did not have to say 5 Masses in 3 languages each Sunday and had more than 10 minutes between Masses to get a drink of water or prepare spiritually for the next Mass, or drive long distances to reach his mission churches

 

[Marybeloved]

If you are able to go to weekly confession, why would it be considered scrupulous to do so?

I found this article on Catholic Culture. Comments?

There’s absolutely** NOTHING **wrong with it. In fact, it’s ideal.

Anyone saying otherwise will have to take it upon himself to correct the Pope (Benedict XVI) who does it and provide a critique of the Blessed JP II who was reputed to do it twice a week and virtually all the saints, for that matter.

Peace.

 

[paperwight66]

Weekly confession should be pretty much standard. Don’t forget, you are not just reconciled to the Church in the Sacrament of Penance, but you’re also provided graces by it.

Well, that’s probably not realistic, is it. Say, 2000 parishioners, each taking three minutes minimum. The priest would have to spend one hundred hours weekly in the confessional. Even if they cut it down to two minutes each, it would mean 65 hours. And that’s not allowing for difficult cases.