Question about weekly Confession - when no mortal sins

[oremus1]

When one does not have any mortal sins to confess, still one is exhorted to attend confession often - perhaps weekly.

In those situations, does one confess venial sins? Because the Eucharist can remit venial sin

Or, in the Baltimore catechism, one is exhorted to re-confess a past mortal sin when they have no other mortal sins to confess, in order to strengthen ones resolve to avoid that sin in future, and for a reminder of ones sinful nature

Or what, do you just confess things you feel bad about even if not mortal sins?

If one is obliged by religious vows or such, Aquinas in Summa says breaching those vows / obligations does not necessarily constitute mortal sins. But one might be inclined to confess them anyway. Like if you were too lazy to go to daily mass, or missed saying Lauds. How does one deal with that because the priest is not likely to know who you are or anything about you state in life. Or do we need not confess those and save it for the Spiritual Director?

Another  question - many people talk about weekly confessors. but what if you are in mortal sin, surely you want to confess as soon as poss anywhere you can get to in case you die with such a blemish on your soul??

Confimation candidates = confirmandi
Confessors = confessandi??

Also confession times are like half an hour on Saturday in most places. so how do people get to weekly confession?

[truthfinder]

Most people do not go to weekly confession.  Even most traditional priests will say 2-4 weeks as a general rule.  You don't have to go to confession if you don't have mortal sins.  It's up to you at that point: you can go and confess venial sins (always a good practice - re-confessing old mortal sins is most likely to cause confusion on part of the confessor because it's incredibly rare to hear anyone preach it) or don't go (maybe allowing someone else the opportunity because of the little time allowed).  

Of course you can confess mortal sins asap as conditions allow (even if this means confessing the next day after the last confession).

But all this runs into whether one is being scrupulous and what's ones spiritual director or confessor has said.  Even if you don't have an sd or confessor, ask during confession or a priest outside Mass for advice.  Some of this is also on a personal level.  Most of the time I can last 2-3 weeks being relatively good (I definitely do sin), but by the fourth week I'm more liable to get myself in trouble.  So I make sure to go to confession every 2-3 weeks.  

[puellapaschalis]

I usually go weekly, even when not in a state of mortal sin, about an hour before Sunday Mass. Apart from anything else it reminds me how it's the same usual failings I'm guilty of. I have a regular confessor who pulls no punches (especially when dealing with possible scruples); I'm quite lucky.

I occasionally "re-confess" past (mortal) sins; the purpose (as I was taught) of doing so being to demonstrate sufficient contrition - although now I type that down I'm not convinced I've got that correct, so take it with a pinch of salt.

As for the issue of a confessor not knowing your state in life: I was taught to state simply at the beginning any information about myself that will help him in hearing my Confession. For example, "I am a married woman, with no children, and I work as an office assistant." Or somesuch.

[beatitude]

I go once every two weeks. Any more frequently, and I lose sight of what my main failings are and start nit-picking myself. Any less frequently, and I lose sight of what my main failings are and just end up listing vague general things. I think the important thing with confession is that you find a pattern that helps you to overcome your sin. For some people this will be more often than others. We're all different.

If I'm in mortal sin, I go as soon as possible. I see it as like a medical appointment: for some conditions you make a doctor's appointment and wait it out, but if something really bad happens you need to go to the emergency room.

I'm not sure about your other questions. I am not bound to say Lauds so I don't know what I would do if I were meant to say it and I missed it. I would probably do whatever was prescribed by the rules of the community I was in. As I'm not in a religious community, I wouldn't want to speculate on something not relevant to my own daily life.

[oremus1]

I go once every two weeks. Any more frequently, and I lose sight of what my main failings are and start nit-picking myself. Any less frequently, and I lose sight of what my main failings are and just end up listing vague general things. I think the important thing with confession is that you find a pattern that helps you to overcome your sin. For some people this will be more often than others. We're all different.

If I'm in mortal sin, I go as soon as possible. I see it as like a medical appointment: for some conditions you make a doctor's appointment and wait it out, but if something really bad happens you need to go to the emergency room.

I'm not sure about your other questions. I am not bound to say Lauds so I don't know what I would do if I were meant to say it and I missed it. I would probably do whatever was prescribed by the rules of the community I was in. As I'm not in a religious community, I wouldn't want to speculate on something not relevant to my own daily life.

​
Many thanks

Somehow traditional priests think weekly confession is necessary and if one has not gone once a week, they think that is the reason for your sins. Personally, I would rather go once a fortnight also

You are bound to say Vespers right? what would you do if you missed it for lazy reasons. would that be mortal sin? would you confess it? I think Aquinas said those things are not binding as sins

[MarysLittleFlower]

When one does not have any mortal sins to confess, still one is exhorted to attend confession often - perhaps weekly.

In those situations, does one confess venial sins? Because the Eucharist can remit venial sin

Or, in the Baltimore catechism, one is exhorted to re-confess a past mortal sin when they have no other mortal sins to confess, in order to strengthen ones resolve to avoid that sin in future, and for a reminder of ones sinful nature

Or what, do you just confess things you feel bad about even if not mortal sins?

If one is obliged by religious vows or such, Aquinas in Summa says breaching those vows / obligations does not necessarily constitute mortal sins. But one might be inclined to confess them anyway. Like if you were too lazy to go to daily mass, or missed saying Lauds. How does one deal with that because the priest is not likely to know who you are or anything about you state in life. Or do we need not confess those and save it for the Spiritual Director?

Another  question - many people talk about weekly confessors. but what if you are in mortal sin, surely you want to confess as soon as poss anywhere you can get to in case you die with such a blemish on your soul??

Confimation candidates = confirmandi
Confessors = confessandi??

Also confession times are like half an hour on Saturday in most places. so how do people get to weekly confession?

​Yes I think when you don't have mortal sins, you just confess venial sins if you're almost a Saint and have no deliberate venial sins, then you can confess imperfections.

Regarding breaking any sort of promise/vow, I think it's good to confess that to whatever priest you are confessing to, and it's okay if he doesn't know your state in life because you can summarize it in one sentence... such as: "I made a vow of ... and then broke it by ...". Or "I made a (such and such) promise and then... "

If possible I think it's good to have a regular confessor though

If someone has a mortal sin on their soul and needs to go to confession ASAP, - they should go. You don't have to go just "once" a week as the absolute maximum. If a person needs to go more, they can go more. My parish has Confession before every Mass, so it's easy, but in many parishes where it's once a week, if someone has a mortal sin perhaps they could make an appointment with the priest?

Some people are only allowed confessing to their regular confessor, if he told them so, because they get confused with advice from other confessors. (like people with scruples often fit this category). If they need Confession and can't go to another priest, they should ask their priest to hear their Confession, or just go to him when he's available but try to go as soon as possible still.

Sorry I don't know about the grammar question!

Last question - good question. It's a great blessing if a parish offers Confession often but that's often not the case. I guess the only thing you can do in this case is just go on the Saturday and come ahead of time so there's time for you to confess. If that's impossible, and you need Confession, you can make an appointment with a priest I think.

God bless!

[MarysLittleFlower]

​Many thanks

Somehow traditional priests think weekly confession is necessary and if one has not gone once a week, they think that is the reason for your sins. Personally, I would rather go once a fortnight also

You are bound to say Vespers right? what would you do if you missed it for lazy reasons. would that be mortal sin? would you confess it? I think Aquinas said those things are not binding as sins

​My parish is FSSP and I never heard that we "have" to go to Confession weekly.  It can be suggested in spiritual direction, but it's not talked about like a "must" for everyone. Maybe as a good suggestion.

[MarysLittleFlower]

Just as another point: though re-confessing old mortal sins has been suggested as a way to deeper contrition, there are cases where this should not be done. For example, for a scrupulous person.. they should not go into their old confessions and just leave them in the past. Anyway if they have scruples they should be guided by their priest about how to confess

[Spem in alium]

I generally go once a month. In our convent (and in other houses in my province) we have a monthly retreat with Exposition, Reconciliation, and Mass. Our confessor has recently moved interstate (please pray we can find a new one soon!), but in the past we would have a religious priest come regularly. It was wonderful to be able to confess to another religious rather than to a diocesan priest, because he really understood the interesting package that is community life . I cannot speak for other congregations, but in our case, because we have retreats, the priest was well aware of the nature of the vows we take, and of our charism (to an extent). Re. spiritual directors, mine has been particularly useful when dealing with scruples or temptations.