234. The confession of sins

The confession of sins 

YOUCAT Catechism + Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 234

Ave Maria series

234  When is a Catholic obliged to confess his serious sins?  How often should one go to confession?

Upon reaching the age of reason, a Catholic is obliged to confess his serious sins.  The Church urgently advises the faithful to do this at least once a year.  At any rate one must go to confession before receiving Holy Communion if one has committed a serious sin.  [1457]

Saint Augustine of Hippo (354–430), Latintheologian. His writing on free will and original sin remains influential in Western Christendom.…..234

By “the age of reason”, the Church means the age at which one has arrived at the use of reason and has learned to distinguish between good and bad.  315-320

“It is not correct to think we must live like this, so that we are never in need of pardon.  We must accept our frailty but keep on going, not giving up but moving forward and becoming converted ever anew through the sacrament of Reconciliation for a new start, and thus grow and mature in the Lord by our communion with him.”  Pope Benedict XVI, February 17, 2007

 [1457]

The confession of sins 

1457  According to the Church's command, "after having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year."(compare Codex Iuris Canonici, Can. 989; Council of Trent (1551): Denzinger-Schönmetzer 1683; DS 1708.)⁵⁶  Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution, unless he has a grave reason for receiving Communion and there is no possibility of going to confession.(compare Council of Trent (1551): Denzinger-Schönmetzer1647; 1661; Codex Iuis Canonici, can. 916; Corpus Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium, can. 711.)⁵⁷  Children must go to the sacrament of Penance before receiving Holy Communion for the first time.(Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 914.)⁵⁸ –CCC

Saint  Age of reason