How often do you go to Confession?

kryptonmight

I try to go every few weeks, more if needed.

Although I tried to go twice over the weekend in two different churches and there were no confessions either time even though they were advertised as being on.

PS: Has anyone been to St Teresas on Clarendon st in Dublin? They apparently have confessions most days but i was there on Fri around 5pm and there were none happening that i could see, even though they were supposed to be on, i even waited around for 20 mins and nothing.

georgieporgy

kryptonmight wrote: »

I try to go every few weeks, more if needed.

Although I tried to go twice over the weekend in two different churches and there were no confessions either time even though they were advertised as being on.

PS: Has anyone been to St Teresas on Clarendon st in Dublin? They apparently have confessions most days but i was there on Fri around 5pm and there were none happening that i could see, even though they were supposed to be on, i even waited around for 20 mins and nothing.

I go once a week. Confession is good for the soul.

You probably hit St Teresas on a bad day (over the christmas season?) when the regular schedule was changed. They are generally pretty generous with availability.

lazybones32

kryptonmight wrote: »

I try to go every few weeks, more if needed.

Although I tried to go twice over the weekend in two different churches and there were no confessions either time even though they were advertised as being on.

PS: Has anyone been to St Teresas on Clarendon st in Dublin? They apparently have confessions most days but i was there on Fri around 5pm and there were none happening that i could see, even though they were supposed to be on, i even waited around for 20 mins and nothing.

I used to be a weekly confessor but things happened and I haven't been in about 3 years.
Since Christmas only ends today, the normal practice of daily confession may be suspended. Tomorrow (Tues) should see services resumed.

noel farrell

over 40 years ago and cant see myself going any day soon

Galwayguy35

Near enough to 3 years now I'd say.

keano_afc

I confess my sins to God every day in the comfort of my own home. I see no need to invoke another sinner into the equation and confess to him.

noel farrell

Great answer was thinking on the same line myself , I was afraid of being devoured

gugleguy

Prefer to confess to African/Asian/European/SouthAmerican Priest, not Irish priest. it removes the familiarity. ("familiarity breeds contempt").

hinault

I try to attend Confession at least once per month.

I am a sinner and my sins are numerous.

I attend Confession to ask forgiveness for my sins and to ask for God's Grace to stop my sinning in the future.

indy_man

I try and make it once a month.


He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. -Proverbs 28:13

Manach

Honest answer, not often enough. This thread a handy reminder.

hinault

indy_man wrote: »

I try and make it once a month.


He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. -Proverbs 28:13

The foresaking bit is difficult for me.

I commit the same sin over and over again. It has got to the stage where I sometimes say that confessing these sins is meaningless because I am a repeat offender.

But I try my best after each and every confession not to repeat the same failings.............................

daveyeh

Never, I confess.

katydid

keano_afc wrote: »

I confess my sins to God every day in the comfort of my own home. I see no need to invoke another sinner into the equation and confess to him.

Well, some people prefer it that way. The act of voicing the transgressions is probably helpful.

I am not Roman Catholic any more, so I haven't been to confession for about forty years. But what I do remember of it, as a child and teenager, was trying to think of things to say. "I fought with my brother, I took an extra chocolate biscuit". It was ridiculous! How many "sins" has a ten year old. Yet you had to go on a regular basis, and so you had to come up with something to say.

The other thing that bothered me was the "punishment" of getting prayers for penance. I thought prayers were supposed to be a good thing, not a punishment!

I hope things have moved on since the seventies!

delthedriver

Never ever !

j80ezgvc3p92xu

I'm in your boat Manach, not often enough. However, there is a huge difference in the quality of confessors you will get in Dublin (maybe approach to confession more so than quality). Was in confession not so long ago and the priest literally stopped me after like 30 sec, told me no need to continue, then told me we have to accept ourselves for who we are/not to be too hard on ourselves. Then we had a laugh at my career choice. Seemed more like I was meeting a friend for a beer.

I also remember another confessor who called me out on my BS (I was subconsciously trying to to justify myself) and after all was done he talked to me for about 15 minutes, giving me sound life advise supported by Bible stories and Catholic theology. This man passed on some incredible wisdom and I will be forever grateful to him for acting as a shepherd is supposed to act. Wish I knew this priests name or at least what he looked like.

keano_afc

katydid wrote: »

Well, some people prefer it that way. The act of voicing the transgressions is probably helpful.

I am not Roman Catholic any more, so I haven't been to confession for about forty years. But what I do remember of it, as a child and teenager, was trying to think of things to say. "I fought with my brother, I took an extra chocolate biscuit". It was ridiculous! How many "sins" has a ten year old. Yet you had to go on a regular basis, and so you had to come up with something to say.

The other thing that bothered me was the "punishment" of getting prayers for penance. I thought prayers were supposed to be a good thing, not a punishment!

I hope things have moved on since the seventies!

This made me laugh. I was preaching in my church on Sunday from Hebrews 10. The passage tells us that Christ's sacrifice on the cross was a once for all, never to be repeated sacrifice and there is as such no need for the offering of a sacrifice weekly. I was speaking about how the Catholic church would deviate from this, and used the exact same illustration of my days in school in the RC church and how we would line up waiting to confess our sins. I often made things up out of fear of having nothing to confess. Having my eyes opened to the gospel meant knowing that God is an omnipresent being that we can talk to whenever and wherever we want. There is no need to confess sins to a man that has no power to take them away.

katydid

keano_afc wrote: »

This made me laugh. I was preaching in my church on Sunday from Hebrews 10. The passage tells us that Christ's sacrifice on the cross was a once for all, never to be repeated sacrifice and there is as such no need for the offering of a sacrifice weekly. I was speaking about how the Catholic church would deviate from this, and used the exact same illustration of my days in school in the RC church and how we would line up waiting to confess our sins. I often made things up out of fear of having nothing to confess. Having my eyes opened to the gospel meant knowing that God is an omnipresent being that we can talk to whenever and wherever we want. There is no need to confess sins to a man that has no power to take them away.

No, there's no need. But I can understand how some people feel that they would prefer to be listened to by a human being who they do or don't believe is a channel to God's forgiveness. In these days of therapy, counselling etc., the idea of unburdening yourself to another human being in relative anonymity can be therepeutic.

homer911

keano_afc wrote: »

Having my eyes opened to the gospel meant knowing that God is an omnipresent being that we can talk to whenever and wherever we want. There is no need to confess sins to a man that has no power to take them away.

Thanks Keano.

Whenever this topic comes up with my RC friends, I try and direct them to Matthew 27:51, or the equivalent in Mark and Luke:

50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split .

The temple curtain was used to separate the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple, only the High Priests were permitted to enter. The splitting of the curtain signified man's ability to meet with God, without the need for an intermediary

lazybones32

keano_afc wrote: »

... There is no need to confess sins to a man that has no power to take them away.

Would you give your explanation of the words of Jesus as found in John 20:21-23

'Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (NIV)

It's interesting that, afaik, this is only the second time in Scripture where God breathes on humans...the first time was Adam, when God breathed His Life into him. Or maybe I'm incorrect and this was a non-event?

katydid

lazybones32 wrote: »

Would you give your explanation of the words of Jesus as found in John 20:21-23

'Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (NIV)

It's interesting that, afaik, this is only the second time in Scripture where God breathes on humans...the first time was Adam, when God breathed His Life into him. Or maybe I'm incorrect and this was a non-event?

The RC church has never said that a priest forgives sins. He acts as a channel to God, who is the one who forgives the sin.

lazybones32

katydid wrote: »

The RC church has never said that a priest forgives sins. He acts as a channel to God, who is the one who forgives the sin.

An explanation of the Gospel passage quoted, in light of the users comment, was the question.

katydid

lazybones32 wrote: »

An explanation of the Gospel passage quoted, in light of the users comment, was the question.

I know. I'm just pointing out that it's not RC theology.

keano_afc

lazybones32 wrote: »

Would you give your explanation of the words of Jesus as found in John 20:21-23

'Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (NIV)

It's interesting that, afaik, this is only the second time in Scripture where God breathes on humans...the first time was Adam, when God breathed His Life into him. Or maybe I'm incorrect and this was a non-event?

Sorry I havent had a chance to reply to you - I will. Been a busy couple of days.

Festus

Braelynn Millions Glue wrote: »

I'm in your boat Manach, not often enough. However, there is a huge difference in the quality of confessors you will get in Dublin (maybe approach to confession more so than quality). Was in confession not so long ago and the priest literally stopped me after like 30 sec, told me no need to continue, then told me we have to accept ourselves for who we are/not to be too hard on ourselves. Then we had a laugh at my career choice. Seemed more like I was meeting a friend for a beer.

I also remember another confessor who called me out on my BS (I was subconsciously trying to to justify myself) and after all was done he talked to me for about 15 minutes, giving me sound life advise supported by Bible stories and Catholic theology. This man passed on some incredible wisdom and I will be forever grateful to him for acting as a shepherd is supposed to act. Wish I knew this priests name or at least what he looked like.

I don't think it really matters who he was. Your experience is not dissimilar and there are very few bad priests out there despite what you might read in the papers or hear from anti-Catholic posters in this forum.

In terms of quality there are only really two types to be interested in - those going by the numbers and those who, as you have experienced, call you out on the BS of your own justification.

There is a third type who should be avoided at all costs - and they're the ones who tell you some sins are ok.

If in doubt the Cathecism is your guide.


( to answer the OP: I try to make it once a month and frequently fail miserably)

hinault

lazybones32 wrote: »

Would you give your explanation of the words of Jesus as found in John 20:21-23

'Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (NIV)

It's interesting that, afaik, this is only the second time in Scripture where God breathes on humans...the first time was Adam, when God breathed His Life into him. Or maybe I'm incorrect and this was a non-event?

Gospel of St.Mark Chapter 2 : 3-12 also

2:3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 2:4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay.
2:5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven."
2:6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 2:7 "Why does this man speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
2:8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus in your hearts? 2:9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, —Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, —Rise, take up your pallet and walk'?
2:10 But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" -- he said to the paralytic -- 2:11 "I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home."
2:12 And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

veganrun

I go fairly often, maybe once a week or every two weeks or so. I think what made me go more often was reading that Pope John Paul II went every week, as did Padre Pio and I'm nowhere near as good a person as they were.

What annoys me is that I sometimes feel like I commit the same sins over and over, even though I leave the confessional with the intent of not committing them again.

But I read/heard a good line. God doesn't tire of forgiveness, we tire of asking for it.

I regularly go to confession at the church on the Merrion road. I like it as they have confessions every day, the boxes are private and the priests take their time with you. I've been to confession in other places where you are in and out in about 60 seconds and sometimes it feels like the priest is just going through the motions. I like it when they take time to discuss things, but I know everyone is different and the thought of being in the confessional for longer than a minute or two is unbearable for some.

katydid

veganrun wrote: »

I go fairly often, maybe once a week or every two weeks or so. I think what made me go more often was reading that Pope John Paul II went every week, as did Padre Pion and I'm nowhere near as good a person as they were.
.

Don't be so hard on yourself. Unless you promoted a child abuser to high office and ignored those who criticised you for doing so, you are a far far better person than John Paul II.

Asarlai

hinault wrote: »

I try to attend Confession at least once per month.

I am a sinner and my sins are numerous.

I attend Confession to ask forgiveness for my sins and to ask for God's Grace to stop my sinning in the future.

But if you need to continue every month, surely that's clear evidence that what you're asking for is not working, and God is simply not giving you the grace that you're asking for.

Your practice seems to me to be similar to taking a pill for some medical problem, and continuing to take it even though the medical problem is not going away.

You'd be as well off not taking the pill, and in the same way, you'd just be as well off in terms of sinning by not going to confession, because according to you it's not making any difference.

Manach

Thanks to the promotion of this sacrament by this and previous Pope's it acts as a means of reflection and introspection on one's path in life. Loyala's path to spirituality has the self-same essence of asking where one has gone in life and is there a chance for a course change, which adds a clearer path to redemption.

hinault

Asarlai wrote: »

But if you need to continue every month, surely that's clear evidence that what you're asking for is not working, and God is simply not giving you the grace that you're asking for.

Incorrect.

All of us are sinners. We commit sin entirely through our own volition.

I attend confession.
I ask for absolution and absolution is granted. That is God's grace.

Asarlai wrote: »

Your practice seems to me to be similar to taking a pill for some medical problem, and continuing to take it even though the medical problem is not going away.

You'd be as well off not taking the pill, and in the same way, you'd just be as well off in terms of sinning by not going to confession, because according to you it's not making any difference.

A pill won't absolve your sins. Or mine.

hinault

Manach wrote: »

Thanks to the promotion of this sacrament by this and previous Pope's it acts as a means of reflection and introspection on one's path in life. Loyala's path to spirituality has the self-same essence of asking where one has gone in life and is there a chance for a course change, which adds a clearer path to redemption.

And what a sacrament to have!
We should cherish all the priests who administer this sacrament to the Catholics everywhere.

I fear the day when there may not be a priest to administer this sacrament.

katydid

hinault wrote: »

And what a sacrament to have!
We should cherish all the priests who administer this sacrament to the Catholics everywhere.

I fear the day when there may not be a priest to administer this sacrament.

Can Roman Catholics not make their peace with God without an intermediary?

blackbird 49

katydid wrote: »

Well, some people prefer it that way. The act of voicing the transgressions is probably helpful.

I am not Roman Catholic any more, so I haven't been to confession for about forty years. But what I do remember of it, as a child and teenager, was trying to think of things to say. "I fought with my brother, I took an extra chocolate biscuit". It was ridiculous! How many "sins" has a ten year old. Yet you had to go on a regular basis, and so you had to come up with something to say.

The other thing that bothered me was the "punishment" of getting prayers for penance. I thought prayers were supposed to be a good thing, not a punishment!

I hope things have moved on since the seventies!

I have to agree with this, the last time I went and only because you were made go back in the 70s, I was about 8 is sitting outside and trying to think of things to say, I have never inflicted this on my kids, I wouldn't say things have changed that much.

j80ezgvc3p92xu

What most protestants don't seem to get is the whole issue of authority. The priest is ordained by the bishop, who is appointed by a cardinal, who is appointed by the pope who- and this is important- is a direct successor of Peter, given authority by Christ Himself ("whatever you shall bind on Earth..."). THIS is the reason why the priest is not some Joe off the street. The Catholic priest has immense power stemming from that line of authority. He has the power to forgive sins in Confession. He has the power to cast demons out during an exorcism. The issue of authority should not be overlooked.

blackbird 49

hinault wrote: »

Incorrect.

All of us are sinners. We commit sin entirely through our own volition.

I attend confession.
I ask for absolution and absolution is granted. That is God's grace.





A pill won't absolve your sins. Or mine.

Speak for yourself,(we are all sinners,) your the one that attends confession so YOU must of done something bad.

hinault

blackbird 49 wrote: »

Speak for yourself,(we are all sinners,) your the one that attends confession so YOU must of done something bad.

And who asked you.

katydid

Braelynn Millions Glue wrote: »

What most protestants don't seem to get is the whole issue of authority. The priest is ordained by the bishop, who is appointed by a cardinal, who is appointed by the pope who- and this is important- is a direct successor of Peter, given authority by Christ Himself ("whatever you shall bind on Earth..."). THIS is the reason why the priest is not some Joe off the street. The Catholic priest has immense power stemming from that line of authority. He has the power to forgive sins in Confession. He has the power to cast demons out during an exorcism. The issue of authority should not be overlooked.

That's not the issue. Even if a priest has authority to act as a channel for the forgiveness of sins, who says that this means people can only get forgiveness through a priest. If a person is repentant in their heart, where is the scriptural or theological basis for saying that they can't be forgiven directly from God? The Lord's Prayer says "forgive us our sins"...addressing God directly.

keano_afc

hinault wrote: »

And what a sacrament to have!
We should cherish all the priests who administer this sacrament to the Catholics everywhere.

I fear the day when there may not be a priest to administer this sacrament.

Why? Do you not trust God to forgive your sin if you confess it to Him?

keano_afc

Braelynn Millions Glue wrote: »

What most protestants don't seem to get is the whole issue of authority. The priest is ordained by the bishop, who is appointed by a cardinal, who is appointed by the pope who- and this is important- is a direct successor of Peter, given authority by Christ Himself ("whatever you shall bind on Earth..."). THIS is the reason why the priest is not some Joe off the street. The Catholic priest has immense power stemming from that line of authority. He has the power to forgive sins in Confession. He has the power to cast demons out during an exorcism. The issue of authority should not be overlooked.

1 Peter 2:9: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

The bible tells us that all who accept the free gift of salvation are priests. Biblically speaking, as a born again believer I am a priest. Further reading here:

http://www.gotquestions.org/priesthood-believers.html

hinault

keano_afc wrote: »

Why? Do you not trust God to forgive your sin if you confess it to Him?

If there isn't a priest to hear my confession, then I can't be certain that absolution has been granted.
In fact I'm certain that no absolution has been granted.

katydid

hinault wrote: »

If there isn't a priest to hear my confession, then I can't be certain that absolution has been granted.
In fact I'm certain that no absolution has been granted.

You don't think God listens to you? Or you think he listens and doesn't absolve you?

I thought Christians believed God always listens and always forgives.

Asarlai

hinault wrote: »

Incorrect.

All of us are sinners. We commit sin entirely through our own volition.

I attend confession.
I ask for absolution and absolution is granted. That is God's grace.

What does it mean that "absolution is granted"? And, whatever it is, how do you know that it has been granted?

You're stating as fact ("....absolution is granted...") what is clearly a belief on your part.

Gunney

Asarlai wrote: »

What does it mean that "absolution is granted"? And, whatever it is, how do you know that it has been granted?

Jesus gave the power to forgive sins to His first priests, the Apostles - John 20:21–23 . This power is confered on all His priests. Matt. 28:20. We know it is the power of Christ working through His priests, His annointed ones. As such there is no need to question - unless your sorrow for your sins and desire for forgiveness is not sincere.

Asarlai wrote: »

You're stating as fact ("....absolution is granted...") what is clearly a belief on your part.

Yes, Faith. Without doubt.

lazybones32

If a Garda stands in the street and holds his hand out, traffic is required by Law to stop. The Garda has the authority to stop traffic and he is authorised to do so by the Govt. He hasn't the power to stop a car that doesn't stop. There is the difference between power and authority. Every Christian has been given authority over the Deceiver but not every Christian has power over him. Christ summoned His Apostles aside from the body of believers and gave them extra duties, responsibilities and charges. He chose them; they didn't choose Him.

A priest is authorised, empowered and commissioned by God to continue the ministry of Christ "until the end of the age". That's why the priest, at the end of confession says "I absolve you from your sins in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit."
The priest has been empowered "I" to forgive sin and authorised to do so " in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit"

This doesn't make the priest the Master of God's forgiveness nor owner of this gift; rather he becomes its' servant. Like all the gifts of the Spirit, they are gifts that are given to help build up the Body of Christ, His Church, the People of God.

As a bonus question for those who confess privately: have you ever heard God tell you that you've been forgiven of your sins or is it something you had to claim for yourself?
People confessed to John at the river and Jesus justified and confirmed this aspect as being God's will and the only place where I find people saying "only God can forgive sin" is spoken by those whom Jesus told us to beware of.

katydid

lazybones32 wrote: »

T
People confessed to John at the river and Jesus justified and confirmed this aspect as being God's will and the only place where I find people saying "only God can forgive sin" is spoken by those whom Jesus told us to beware of.

What is the scriptural basis for this claim?

keano_afc

hinault wrote: »

If there isn't a priest to hear my confession, then I can't be certain that absolution has been granted.
In fact I'm certain that no absolution has been granted.

That's so sad. You trust a sinner more to forgive your sin than the most high God.

1 John 1:9 says "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

What's stopping you trusting God? You clearly know your scripture and seem to have a heart for God. But you don't trust Him. Why?

Manach

lazybones32 wrote: »

A priest is authorised, empowered and commissioned by God to continue the ministry of Christ "until the end of the age".

Which captures the essence of the community which dates from the foundation of the Church and the living tradition that makes the Word of God and his forgiveness as fresh now as then.

keano_afc

But I'm a priest. The bible tells us that all believers are the priesthood of God.

So can I forgive your sins?

hinault

keano_afc wrote: »

That's so sad

That's none of your business too.

hinault

katydid wrote: »

You don't think God listens to you?

No.

Where did I say that God doesn't listen?

katydid wrote: »

I thought Christians believed God always listens and always forgives.

Only through the sacrament of confession.