when to go to confession

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Feanaro_s_Wife

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I am a new Catholic and have only made one confession so far. That one covered over 20 years worth of stuff and had many grave matters. But now when do I go again?

Are we only supposed to go when we have mortally sinned?

Should we go with only venial sins on our conscience? And since venial sins are forgiven at Mass, would we only confess venial sins that occurred after being to Mass?

I am confused and would really appreciate some help. If you go for venial sins do you do or say anything different? Do some priests get upset at you “wasting their time”?

Malia
 
Feanaro's Wife:
I am a new Catholic and have only made one confession so far. That one covered over 20 years worth of stuff and had many grave matters. But now when do I go again?

Are we only supposed to go when we have mortally sinned?

Should we go with only venial sins on our conscience? And since venial sins are forgiven at Mass, would we only confess venial sins that occurred after being to Mass?

I am confused and would really appreciate some help. If you go for venial sins do you do or say anything different? Do some priests get upset at you “wasting their time”?

Malia
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The Church encourages the confession of venial sin. You confess them for the grace you receive in the sacrament of Confession. Since you are not REQUIRED to confess venial sin, you may confess them with impunity in a devotional confession – part of the grace of the Sacrament is the counsel you receive from the Priest.

We are required to confess mortal sin before receiving Communion.

If you find a priest who gets upset at “wasting his time” with venial sin, leave the building and find somebody who understands and respects the Sacrament and who respects the penitent in his confessional. I believe it was Karl Keating who took the time to explain the Sacrament to a priest who asked him in the confessional why he was bothering to confess venial sin.

God bless you.
 
It is never a waste of anyone’s time to go to confession and catholics are required to participate in the sacrament of reconciliation at least once per year. I don’t go on a regular schedule but can sense when the time is ripe. Sometimes I’ll go after an incident that bothers me regardless of severity. Reconciliation is a beautiful sacrament and one where we can truly be close to God.
 
Yeah, of course go right away if there is a mortal sin troubling you, and of course you have to before you can partake in communion anyway. Otherwise, you have to go a minimum of once a year I think, but it’s best to go when you feel you should go…I have a tendency to put confession off if there’s nothing serious weighing on my mind but I try to participate in the sacrament at least once every two months, just to keep me on my toes. 😉 Pray about it and reflect on what you’re feeling.
 
I go to confession every week.🙂 I know that I really don’t need to go to confess venial sins but I love to go and I feel much better when I do.👍

I have just stated doing a one hour adoration and for me the sacrament of reconciliation is part of it.:yup:

If I could I would go to Mass daily but due to my job commute it just isn’t possible. So I attend Mass only on Sat. and Sun.:love:
 
My routine lately has been me arriving at Church an hour early, going to confession (even if its just venial sins), doing my penance and then saying the rosary that the deacon leads before Mass starts.

Like Santa Cruz said, I just love to go and it makes me feel so much better afterward - its such a cleansing experience for me. Its quite sad to see the confession lines getting shorter while the communion lines get longer. I would love to hear priests encourage the sacrament more during their homilies, I think it would help a lot of people realize how important going to confession regularly is.
 
Thanks everyone!

I have a good link to an examination of conscience website and I will continue to pray on this matter.

I guess I was just wondering if it was “normal” to go to confession for only venial sins. Thanks to you all I can see that it is a good thing. (didn’t mean to sound all Martha Stewart there, lol).

Without going into detail, do you have any advice for me about determining venial sins? This is all so new to me. I am very clear on the concept of mortal sin but am having trouble with the venial.

Malia
 
Just curious because you say you are a 'new Catholic" which left me wondering what kind of instruction you had and why this wasn’t covered.
 
tom.wineman said:
Just curious because you say you are a 'new Catholic" which left me wondering what kind of instruction you had and why this wasn’t covered.
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Because of personal circumstances I was not able to attend RCIA.

Most of my knowledge comes from all of you here at CA:) as well as numerous Catholic books etc. My husband is a cradle Catholic and acted as my informal sponsor.

After approx 2 years of self study, I met with our parish priest (had been attending Mass off and on since we were married 6 years ago) as well as a nun who made sure I was ready to be received into the Church.

I continue to educate myself and really want to be a faithful obedient Catholic. My husband is out of town right now so I don’t have him here to answer my questions. I thought I would ask here and see what kinds of responses I got. (all of them were inline with what I already thought, just wanted to be sure).

Malia
 
Feanaro's Wife:
Without going into detail, do you have any advice for me about determining venial sins?
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Everyone has their own style, and I’m sure you’ll find yours with time. I always ask the assistance of the Holy Spirit before I examine my conscience, so that I become aware of the right things and then so that I go and make a good confession.

After awhile, you may start to see that you have a predominant fault, like wanting to be the center of attention or talking too much. If you do, then you can work on the opposite virtue and pray for it. Humility is a common choice.

I don’t worry too much about the level of a sin, between an imperfection or a venial sin, that is. I just confess those things I especially want grace for or what seems appropriate for the time. I used to just confess anything I picked up from reading a list of sins, but I have moved away from that.
 
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Pug:
Everyone has their own style, and I’m sure you’ll find yours with time. I always ask the assistance of the Holy Spirit before I examine my conscience, so that I become aware of the right things and then so that I go and make a good confession.

After awhile, you may start to see that you have a predominant fault, like wanting to be the center of attention or talking too much. If you do, then you can work on the opposite virtue and pray for it. Humility is a common choice.

I don’t worry too much about the level of a sin, between an imperfection or a venial sin, that is. I just confess those things I especially want grace for or what seems appropriate for the time. I used to just confess anything I picked up from reading a list of sins, but I have moved away from that.
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Thank you!

Malia
 
Well, there is nothing like a sincere “Act of Contrition” each night before going to bed.
--------------------------------
Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and

I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the

**pains of Hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, **

**Who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, **

**with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, **

and to amend my life.

**Amen. **
 
I go every week. Before that, it was every other week. Before that, it was once a month. Before that, well, we don’t want you waiting that long. 😉

It’s a sacrament where you have to kind of find your owm moorings. For some people, once a month or even once a quarter suffices them. For others, it’s once a week. What is important is that you do go.
 
Feanaro's Wife:
I am a new Catholic and have only made one confession so far. That one covered over 20 years worth of stuff and had many grave matters. But now when do I go again?

Are we only supposed to go when we have mortally sinned?

Should we go with only venial sins on our conscience? And since venial sins are forgiven at Mass, would we only confess venial sins that occurred after being to Mass?

I am confused and would really appreciate some help. If you go for venial sins do you do or say anything different? Do some priests get upset at you “wasting their time”?

Malia
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I’d go once a month, the church encourages confession of venial sins as it helps you with graces not to commit any mortal sins in the future, combined with the Eucharist makes it all the more good. As you probably already know mortal sins have to be confessed as soon as possible.
And priests shouldn’t get upset, rather happy that you took the time to go to confession:)
Podo
 
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Podo2005:
I’d go once a month, the church encourages confession of venial sins as it helps you with graces not to commit any mortal sins in the future, combined with the Eucharist makes it all the more good. As you probably already know mortal sins have to be confessed as soon as possible.
And priests shouldn’t get upset, rather happy that you took the time to go to confession:)
Podo
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Thanks! I miss talking to you on IM…you really help me out on certain things (who says teens don’t know anything?)

Take care Podo

Auntie Malia
 
tom.wineman said:
Well, there is nothing like a sincere “Act of Contrition” each night before going to bed.
--------------------------------
Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and

I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the

**pains of Hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, **

**Who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, **

**with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, **

and to amend my life.

**Amen. **
Click to expand...

Thank you, I will do that!

Malia
 
I go every week.

The sad part is I need it. Even if I don’t have mortal sins to confess, the graces recieved through the sacrament is reason enough to go.
 
Ok, new question…

it seems common to want to go to confession often in order to receive the graces from that sacrament. Is that an ok reason to go?

What I mean is I feel a little uncomfortable going with the intention of “getting” something.

When I made my first confession it was with the intention to apologize to God for all of the ways I have offended Him. The amazing feeling of being forgiven was an unexpected side effect.

I am in no way saying that anyone who goes to confession to receive the graces it provides is wrong…just please help me understand it in a way that I can feel ok about, please.

Malia
 
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