Frequent Confession - Advantages of Frequent Confession

Advantages of Frequent Confession

The advantages of frequent confession was discussed by Pius XII. He said that "the pious practice of frequent Confession which was introduced into the Church by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to be earnestly advocated."

By frequent confession, Pius XII explained:

• genuine self-knowledge is increased,
• Christian humility grows,
• bad habits are corrected,
• spiritual neglect and tepidity are resisted,
• the conscience is purified,
• the will strengthened,
• a salutary self-control is attained,
• grace is increased in virtue of the sacrament itself.

He then warned those "who make light of or lessen esteem for frequent Confession know what they are doing. What they are doing is alien to the spirit of Christ and disastrous for the Mystical Body of Christ."

Benedict Baur's book, Frequent Confession is a classic in explaining the advantages of frequent confession:

In frequent Confession we have everything that will guard us against tepidity. For one thing, frequent Confession compels us to look into ourselves seriously to see our sins and faults, to elicit an act of contrition for them and formulate a purpose of amendment regarding them. In other words, it makes us apply ourselves with full deliberation and determination to improving our lives.

Then, too, Confession is a sacrament and consequently, through it the power of Christ himself works in us. His greatest desire in this sacrament is to fill us with his own hatred of sin and with his own zeal to glorify his Father in all things, to be completely devoted to his service and fully resigned to his holy will.

Finally, of considerable value is the direction we get from our confessor, who in every Confession will urge us anew and encourage us to continue along the way of virtue with full fervor.

It is this conviction that makes the Church recommend so strongly, indeed prescribe as an obligation, frequent or weekly Confession for clerics and religious. Therefore let us consider frequent Confession as something important and holy. And let us endeavor always to make our Confessions well indeed to try and make them better and better every time.

John Paul II also enumerated these:

• we are renewed in fervor,
• strengthened in our resolutions, and
• supported by divine encouragement

He said those who discourage frequent confession "are lying."