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Offline xavierpope

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Question on confession
« on: June 01, 2018, 03:11:45 PM »
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    • Hi all,

    Just wondering how often you go to confession, I read that Padre pio said the go everyweek to "clear out cobwebs" or something along those lines.

    Do you go only when you mortal sin, or do you go for venial sins? :confused:
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    Online Ladislaus

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    Re: Question on confession
    « Reply #1 on: June 01, 2018, 03:14:22 PM »
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    • I go regularly, even just for venial sins.  I think that's very important.  But I try to avoid going too often to give other people a chance who might need it more.  So, if I see a long line and just have venial sins to confess, I'll wait it out til next time lest I bump someone who might have a mortal sin to confess.
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    Offline Jaynek

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    Re: Question on confession
    « Reply #2 on: June 01, 2018, 05:08:05 PM »
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    • It is very beneficial to confess venial sins even if not strictly necessary.  Pius XII taught about this in Mystici Corporis :

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    It is perfectly clear, therefore, that in these false doctrines the mystery which we are considering is not directed to the spiritual advancement of the faithful but is turned to their deplorable ruin.

    88. The same result follows from the opinions of those who assert that little importance should be given to the frequent confession of venial sins. Far more important, they say, is that general confession which the Spouse of Christ, surrounded by her children in the Lord, makes each day by the mouth of the priest as he approaches the altar of God. As you well know, Venerable Brethren, it is true that venial sins may be expiated in many ways which are to be highly commended. But to ensure more rapid progress day by day in the path of virtue, We will that the pious practice of frequent confession, which was introduced into the Church by the inspiration of the Holy spirit, should be earnestly advocated. By it genuine self-knowledge is increased, Christian humility grows, bad habits are corrected, spiritual neglect and tepidity are resisted, the conscience is purified, the will strengthened, a salutary self-control is attained, and grace is increased in virtue of the Sacrament itself. Let those, therefore, among the younger clergy who make light of or lessen esteem for frequent confession realize that what they are doing is alien to the Spirit of Christ and disastrous for the Mystical Body of our Savior.
    http://w2.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/en/encyclicals/docuмents/hf_p-xii_enc_29061943_mystici-corporis-christi.html

    A book that I found helpful with advice on frequent confession of venial sins is
    Frequent Confession: Its Place in the Spiritual Life by Dom Benedict Baur.  (First published in 1922, although the English translations are later.)

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    Offline Seraphina

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    Re: Question on confession
    « Reply #3 on: June 01, 2018, 10:38:15 PM »
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    • Whenever I have the opportunity, which is very seldom since I’ve had no Mass since November of 2014.  Home Alone Not By Choice.  
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    Offline klasG4e

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    Re: Question on confession
    « Reply #4 on: June 02, 2018, 10:05:11 PM »
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    • Quote from: Jaynek on June 01, 2018, 05:08:05 PM
    A book that I found helpful with advice on frequent confession of venial sins is
    Frequent Confession: Its Place in the Spiritual Life by Dom Benedict Baur.  (First published in 1922, although the English translations are later.)
    Yes!  I have that book.  It is extremely good -- very informative, very inspiring, very beneficial!
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    Offline Jaynek

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    Re: Question on confession
    « Reply #5 on: June 03, 2018, 11:57:36 AM »
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    • Quote from: klasG4e on June 02, 2018, 10:05:11 PM
    Yes!  I have that book.  It is extremely good -- very informative, very inspiring, very beneficial!
    Oh good, someone else has read it.  I am going to try to remember some ideas from it since the OP may find it helpful.  You can correct me if I get anything wrong.

    The book Frequent Confession is about going to Confession every week or so and confessing venial sins.  It is not for people who are committing mortal sins frequently.  Confessing mortal sins is a straightforward subject that most Catholics understand.

    There are certain challenges associated with confessing venial sins.  For one, many people do not understand that it is of great spiritual value.  Even though it is not strictly necessary it can lead to much spiritual growth.  For another, it can be difficult to develop proper contrition for these sins due to the tendency to try to dismiss them as "only" venial. Yet another challenge is that venial sins are often habitual sins and this can lead to discouragement when one keeps confessing the same thing week after week.
    The author recommends giving a lot of attention to the purpose of amendment. It should be very specific, not a vague "I'll try harder."  He says to pick one venial sin to focus on.  (Unlike mortal sins, there is no obligation to confess all the venial sins one can remember.) If it is a habitual sin, don't be discouraged but keep coming back to confess the same sin because this will give access to the graces needed to conquer it.
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    Offline MMagdala

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    Re: Question on confession
    « Reply #6 on: June 05, 2018, 01:36:58 AM »
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    • The problem is that I often have a sense of urgency about "only" my venial sins, and I would like to go once/week for that reason (or when I do have that sense of urgency), but my director won't let me confess my venial sins to him more often than every 2 weeks.  (Neither he nor I think I am scrupulous.)  So sometimes I will go to another confessor if it's been only a week since my last one, which I feel guilty about doing, but it does depend on how strong the urge is.
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