Question 3
Q
3.—How often should a senior go to confession? I pray an
act of contrition every single night before sleeping, just in case I might
not make it to the morning.
A
The church mandates that anyone having committed a
serious sin must go to confession at least once a year during the Lenten
season. However, keeping in mind the efficacy of the sacramental graces of
confession, we should all be going to confession more frequently.
A good norm for those in their golden years would be once a
month. It is not necessary to have sinned before going to confession. If
the penitent is not aware of any serious sins, the procedure would be to
tell the confessor how long it has been since the last confession and
state that he or she has not committed any serious sins and mention some
venial sin or a sin of the past in some general way; e.g., against the
Fourth or Sixth Commandment. That will provide the confessor with
sufficient matter for absolution, and the penitent will receive the
sacramental graces to overcome temptations and remain in the state of
grace.
It is always good to say an act of contrition, not only each
evening, but any time we slip and commit any sin. It helps to remind us
where we stand in our relations with God and makes us more aware of the
dangers of sin.
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