ASK FR BITAJU | KAIORS GLOBAL | AUGUST 2021

Author: Fr Bitaju Mathew

Q41. Why are we encouraged to do biweekly/monthly confessions, especially during this Covid-19 pandemic, when everything has come to a standstill for the last few months? And yet we don't feel like we’ve lost anything due to lack of confession.

It is true that the Church encourages her faithful to frequent the sacrament of reconciliation (confession) for their spiritual benefit.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, ‘confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church. Indeed, the regular confession of our venial sins helps form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies…’ (CCC 1458).  Furthermore, the introduction to the Church’s rite of penance delineates the spiritual benefit of the sacrament when it says, ‘frequent and careful celebration of this sacrament is very useful as a remedy for venial sins.  Yet, it is not a ritual repetition or psychological exercise, but a serious striving to perfect the grace of baptism so that Christ’s life may be seen in us ever more clearly’ (No. 7b). In one of his weekly audiences in November 2013, Pope Francis revealed that he himself approaches the sacrament of confession every two weeks and considers it to be the best path to spiritual healing and health. ‘We all need this,’ the Pope said. 

While affirming the aforesaid, remember that the Church law requires confession only of grave (mortal) sins at least once a year. If the person has not committed any mortal sin, he/she is not obligated to go to confession.  The Code of Canon Law clearly states that ‘after having reached the age of discretion, each member of the faithful is obliged to confess faithfully his or her grave sins at least once a year’ (CIC 989). 

Your question is raised in the specific context of Covid-19 pandemic, and note how the Church comes to the aid of her faithful regarding the sacrament of confession.  In the context of the spread of the pandemic and the lockdowns imposed, Pope Francis reminded the Catholics that it is possible to confess their sins directly to God outside of sacramental confession. ‘Do what the Catechism says. It is very clear: If no priest is available to confess to, speak directly with God, your Father, telling him the truth.  Say, “Lord, I did this, this, this.  Forgive me,” and ask for pardon with all your heart.’ Moreover, the Pope underscored the importance of sacramental confession, adding, ‘Make an act of contrition … promise God, “I will go to confession afterward, but forgive me now.” And immediately you will return to a state of grace with God.’ (Homily during Holy Mass on 20 March 2020 referring to the Catechism of the Catholic Church #1452).  

Anyone seriously pursuing spiritual life would feel a great sense of loss when they are unable to approach the sacrament of reconciliation over a period of time.  This is because confession is not only for those who are in serious sin but for everyone who tries to advance in holiness. It is good to remember that the effect of the sacrament is not determined by what one feels or what is visible to the senses.  The Catechism makes it clear that ‘the sacraments are not wrought by the righteousness of either the celebrant or the recipient, but by the power of God’ (CCC 1128).  It further states that ‘the sacraments are efficacious signs of grace … by which divine life is dispensed to us… They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions’ (CCC 1131).

YOUCAT 232

What must I bring to a confession? 

Essential elements of every confession are an examination of conscience, contrition, a purpose of amendment, confession, and penance. [1450-1460; 1490-1492; 1494] 

The examination of conscience should be done thoroughly, but it can never be exhaustive. No one can be absolved from his sin without real contrition, merely on the basis of ‘lip-service’. Equally indispensable is the purpose of amendment, the resolution not to commit that sin again in the future. The sinner absolutely must declare the sin to the confessor and, thus, confess to it. The final essential element of confession is the atonement or penance that the confessor imposes on the sinner to make restitution for the harm done.