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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
confession of venial sin	Lyne	Thursday, March 19, 2009
Question: I have read the various questions and answers about confession. My question is if I find that I have had no mortal sins for many years (through the grace of God), should I go to confession once a month and confess venial sins or wait every two months or so since I only have venial sins to confess? I understand this would change if I committed mortal sin. But what do you do when month after month you are only confessing venial sins?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Lyne: The Church teaches and recommends that venial sin may be brought to the Sacrament of Confession. The Catechism states: 1863 Venial sin weakens charity; it manifests a disordered affection for created goods; it impedes the soul's progress in the exercise of the virtues and the practice of the moral good; it merits temporal punishment. Deliberate and unrepented venial sin disposes us little by little to commit mortal sin. However venial sin does not break the covenant with God. With God's grace it is humanly reparable. "Venial sin does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace, friendship with God, charity, and consequently eternal happiness. 1493 One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience. The confession of venial faults, without being necessary in itself, is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church. Even if no grave sins are present we must remember that the Sacrament of Confession is a Sacrament of healing, too. It strengthens charity and heals the small wounds of venial sin. As for frequency, that is up to you. The saints generally went to confession weekly. The Pope goes to confession weekly. I am impressed if it has been years since you have committed a grave sin. Even saints did not accomplish this. God bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

confession of venial sin

Lyne

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Question:

I have read the various questions and answers about confession.

My question is if I find that I have had no mortal sins for many years (through the grace of God), should I go to confession once a month and confess venial sins or wait every two months or so since I only have venial sins to confess?

I understand this would change if I committed mortal sin. But what do you do when month after month you are only confessing venial sins?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Lyne:

The Church teaches and recommends that venial sin may be brought to the Sacrament of Confession. The Catechism states:

1863 Venial sin weakens charity; it manifests a disordered affection for created goods; it impedes the soul's progress in the exercise of the virtues and the practice of the moral good; it merits temporal punishment. Deliberate and unrepented venial sin disposes us little by little to commit mortal sin. However venial sin does not break the covenant with God. With God's grace it is humanly reparable. "Venial sin does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace, friendship with God, charity, and consequently eternal happiness.
1493 One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience. The confession of venial faults, without being necessary in itself, is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.

Even if no grave sins are present we must remember that the Sacrament of Confession is a Sacrament of healing, too. It strengthens charity and heals the small wounds of venial sin.

As for frequency, that is up to you. The saints generally went to confession weekly. The Pope goes to confession weekly.

I am impressed if it has been years since you have committed a grave sin. Even saints did not accomplish this.

God bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum