As we continue this catechesis on the Precepts of the Church, we now address the second precept: “You shall confess your sins at least once a year” (CCC, 2042). This assists Christians by ensuring “preparation for the Eucharist by the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation, which continues Baptism’s work of conversion and forgiveness” (ibid, 2042). The Code of Canon Law enshrines this precept in the law:
“A member of the Christian faithful is obliged to confess in kind and number all grave sins committed after baptism and not yet remitted directly through the keys of the Church nor acknowledged in individual confession, of which the person has knowledge after diligent examination of conscience” (can. 988.1).
Confessing grave sins (as distinct from venial sins) in “kind” means “naming the specific sin”, i.e. if one is guilty of engaging in sexual relations while not married, rather than saying “I committed impurity” one should say “I committed fornication”. Confessing grave sins in “number” means that you state, to the best of your ability, the number of times such sins occurred since your last confession, i.e. “I committed fornication two times”. If it has been a long while since your last confession and, after diligent examination, you legitimately cannot remember the number of times you committed a particular sin, saying “a few times” or “many times” is sufficient. When the law refers to “the keys of the Church”, that is a reference to Christ’s handing over of the keys to Peter, and through Peter to the Apostles, and from the Apostles to their successor bishops, and from the bishops to the priests. The “keys” indicate the authority of the Church’s ministers, given them by Christ, to “forgive” and to “retain” sins (cf. John 20:23). For grave sins to be forgiven, they must be “remitted directly through the keys”, i.e. by making a good, holy confession. This canon goes on to say “it is recommended to the Christian faithful that they also confess venial sins” (can. 988.2). While venial sins can be forgiven by non-sacramental means (such as through works of mercy or devout use of Holy Water when blessing oneself upon entering church), the law recommends confession of venial sins because of the supremacy of Sacramental Grace. While non-sacramental acts of devotion have a remedial effect (for venial sins), the Church strongly asserts that “the liturgy (above all the Eucharist and the other sacraments) ‘by its very nature far surpasses any of them’” (Commentary on the Code of Canon Law, 1171). Frequent confession, even if only for venial sins, is one of the surest paths to holiness, because it roots out the evil in us, humbles our pride, increases our faith, and disposes us to abundant grace. Furthermore, such confessions accustom us to the habit of confessing, and if we frequently confess “little” things, confessing “big” things when they occur is easier; we form the habit of self-accusation by which our egos are cast down and God can lift us up.
Now that the necessity of confession in general is established, the next canon in the Code states the precept of confessing at least yearly. “After having reached the age of discretion [the age at which one is capable of committing grave sin], each member of the faithful is obliged to confess faithfully his or her grave sins at least once a year” (can. 989). This gives a helpful elaboration on the precept, because it indicates the legal requirement of annual confession applies only to our grave sins, while maintaining the recommendation of more frequent confession of venial sins. Furthermore, this requirement to confess grave sins once a year is established “without suggesting that it is desirable to postpone the confession of grave sin for a period of an entire year” (CCCL, 1171). In other words, if one is conscious of grave sin, he or she ought to confess as soon as possible, because one who dies in a state of grave sin goes to hell. The legal obligation to confess once a year helps the faithful to avoid persisting in sin by obliging them to confess grave sins at least once a year, thereby encouraging us to remain in God’s grace and in communion with His Body, the Church.
As a “guardrail on our journey to Heaven”, the obligation to confess grave sins at least once a year helps us overcome the works of sin. While the precept only requires confession once a year, Catholics must remember they are obliged to receive sacramental absolution in confession prior to receiving the Holy Eucharist whenever they are conscious of grave sin, because receiving the Eucharist while conscious of grave sin is itself a grave sin, called “sacrilege”. This raises an interesting point: the first precept obliges Catholics to attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Day, but it does not oblige them to receive the Eucharist; Catholics are not obliged to receive the Eucharist every time they attend Mass, and unless they are in the state of grace they ought not to receive. Next week, we will look at the third precept regarding reception of Holy Communion, which will help to bring this into clearer focus, and as you will see these precepts form a kind of unified whole. For now, we thank the Church for this precept that protects us by obliging us to confess grave sins, so that we can be restored to life and friendship with God, continue to grow in holiness, and one day arrive safely at our destination. May God bless you in the week ahead and may Mother Mary lead you more deeply into the Sacred and Merciful Heart of Jesus. I remain,
Affectionately Yours in Christ,
Fr. Hess
