Q: Why confess our sins to a
priest? Why don’t we just confess
directly to Jesus and ask Him to
forgive our sins?
A:
Right before Catholics confess their sins to
a priest, they do pray directly to Jesus and
ask His forgiveness. They do so in
preparation for Confession as they examine
their consciences, make an act of contrition
and promise to avoid their sins in the
future. After doing these three salutary
things, the Catholic penitent then takes
advantage of the Sacrament of Forgiveness
which Jesus instituted precisely for the
forgiveness of our sins. On Easter Sunday
night, Jesus told the Apostles, His first
priests: “Receive the Holy Spirit.
If you forgive men’s sins, they are forgiven
them; if you hold them bound, they are held
bound.”
(John 20: 22-23).
Since “hold them bound” means not to forgive
them, priests could not know what sins to
forgive and not to forgive unless they were
first told the sins by the penitent. On the
cross, Jesus forgave all sins, then, in the
Sacrament of Penance described on Easter
Night, Jesus personalized that forgiveness,
giving us the assurance that His forgiveness
was not just a general absolution. Sigmund
Freud and the 5th Steps of the AA
Twelve Step Program advocate some kind of
individual confession of our wrongs to
another human being. Freud felt that we are
as sick as our secrets and AA’s 12 Step
Program asserts that struggling members
won’t get well unless they take the 5th
step and fess up to God, to themselves and
to another human being the exact nature of
their wrongs.
(“Peace of Soul,” F.J. Sheen)
(Alcoholics Anonymous, “How It Works”).
Q: Why is Sacramental Confession
necessary for Catholics but not for
other Christians?
A:
Catholics believe that Confession is
necessary for the forgiveness of
post-baptismal sins because Christ
instituted the Sacrament of Penance for this
purpose. John 20:
22-23).
Church Canon Law states: “All the
faithful who have reached the age of
discretion are bound faithfully to confess
their grave sins at lease once a year.”
(C # 989). Catholics who
confess their sins have the assurance of
Christ Himself that their sins are
forgiven (Matt 18:18; John 20:23).
Other Christians who do not believe in
this Sacrament of Forgiveness must confess
in their own way to God and hope that
their sins will be forgiven. On their own,
they do the best they can. God bless them!
Q: How often should one go to
Sacramental Confession?
A: “All the faithful who have reached
the age of discretion are bound faithfully
to confess their grave sins at least once a
year.”
(CIC, 989). “The faithful are
recommended to confess also venial sins.”
(CIC, 987-2). “Anyone who is
conscious of grave sin may not receive the
Body of the Lord without previously having
been to Sacramental Confession; unless
there is a grave reason and there is no
opportunity to confess.” (CIC, 915).
As a matter of devotion, monthly Confession
or Seasonal Confession (Christmas, Easter,
Pentecost) is recommended. Children and
RCIA Candidates are to go to Confession
prior to their receiving First Holy
Communion. (CIC, 914), (RCIA, 482).
Pastoral Counsel: “If you commit a mortal
sin, go to Confession as soon as you can and
certainly before your next Holy Communion.
For spiritual growth, go to Confession
regularly or seasonally.”
Q: “I understand that it is not
necessary to go to Confession before we
go to Holy Communion unless we have
committed a mortal sin. If we are not
guilty of mortal sins, do we still have
to go to Confession during the Easter
Season?”
A: You
are correct in stating that if we have
committed a mortal sin it is necessary to go
to Confession before receiving Holy
Communion. However, if we have not
committed a mortal sin it is not necessary
to go the Confession during the Easter
Season. A worthy Holy Communion is the
requirement at Easter Time. If, during the
Easter Season, a person is in the state of
grace, not in mortal sin, no Confession is
necessary. (“Canon Law,” 920-1-2;989).
The main event of going to confession is
the reception of God’s forgiveness. Don’t
let the mechanics of making a confession
discourage you.
Q: What is the Easter Duty?
A: The Easter Duty is the
obligation to receive a worthy Holy
Communion during the Easter Time, i.e., the
time between the first Sunday of Lent and
Trinity Sunday, a period of about a hundred
days. If we are not in the state of grace,
then we must go to Sacramental Confession
before receiving our Easter Duty Communion.
Q: Is it a sin if Catholics never go
to Confession?
A: “Never
say never.” The Catechism of the Catholic
Church states: “Children must
go to the Sacrament of Penance before
receiving Holy Communion for the first
time.” (CCC, #1457), (CIC, Can.
914). Also: “Anyone conscious of
a grave sin must receive the
Sacrament of Reconciliation before coming to
Communion.” (CCC, # 1385 and
1457), (CIC, Can. 989), (1 Cor II: 27-29).
And:
“…after having attained the age of
discretion, each of the faithful is bound by
an obligation fatithfully to confess serious
sins at least once a year.”
(CCC, # 1457), (CIC, Can. 989).
The Sacrament of Penance is part of the
“Catholic Sick Call” that prepares the sick
person for death. Holy Communion
(Viaticum), Anointing of the Sick (Extreme
Unction) and the Apostolic Blessing (Papal
Blessing) are also parts of the sick call
(CCC, # 1525). So, apart from these
times of necessary Confession, a person
without mortal sin need not go to
Confession. “Without being strictly
necessary, confession of everyday faults
(venial sins) is, nevertheless, strongly
recommended by the Church.” (CCC,
#1458), (CIC, Can. 988 #2). Jesus and
Sigmund might well say together: “Keep
in touch; Confession is good for
peace of soul and peace of mind.”
