[Question:]{.underline} Is a Catholic in mortal sin if he allows more than one year to pass since his last confession?
[Answer:]{.underline} It is one of the six precepts of the Church, and is explicitly stated in Canon 906 of the 1917 Code of Canon Law: “All Catholics of either sex who have reached the years of discretion, that is the age of reason, are obliged to confess all their sins accurately [at least once a year]{.underline}”. Since this is a clear obligation in a serious matter, established by the Church for the salvation of souls, it is clear that it is under pain of mortal sin, and that if a person deliberately omits to confess his or her sins, he commits an additional mortal sin.
However, there is a change in the wording of the corresponding canon in the 1983 Code. Instead of all sins, it now says “serious sins” (Canon 989).This leaves some ambiguity, but it must be understood as meaning “mortal sins” to use the precise term employed by the traditional code of Canon Law. This seems to take away all obligation to confess sins if one thinks that one has no “serious” or mortal sins on one’s soul. This is the common practice in the post-conciliar church, in which many practicing Catholics go for many years without seeing the need to go to Confession. It is a great tragedy, for their conscience becomes extremely lax. Who are they to judge of themselves that they have not committed any mortal sin? It is hard to understand how one who is familiar with the traditional teachings of the Church could be excused from the sin of presumption.
However, it must be admitted that “strictly speaking, only those are obliged by this precept who have committed a mortal sin” (Jone, §395, p. 279). This is confirmed by Woywood and Smith’s Practical Commentary on the Code of Canon Law (pp. 512 & 513). It is there pointed out that the obligation of confessing one’s mortal sins is of divine law, coming from Our Lord Himself. The time for the confession of sins was specified by the Fourth Lateran Council (1215), but the Council of Trent interpreted this as applying only to those sins that have to be confessed by divine law. Furthermore the 1917 Code of Canon Law itself states explicitly (Canon 902) that the confession of venial sins is optional, and one canon cannot contradict another. Hence it was never strictly obligatory under pain of mortal sin for a Catholic who was sure that he had no mortal sin to go to Confession every year.
However, putting aside this technical and unreal exception, (for who can really pretend to be free of mortal sin when he is so lax as to go to Confession only once a year?), it remains that the spirit of the Church is that which is contained in the letter of Canon 906 from the traditional code, and not that contained in the new code, namely that every Catholic should consider it his duty to go to Confession at least once per year.
In fact, it is not just once a year, but frequently that we should confess our venial sins if we hope not only to stay in the state of grace, but also to advance in virtue. This is what Pope Pius XII had to say on this subject in 1943: “It is true that venial sins may be expiated in many ways which are to be highly commended. But to ensure more rapid progress day by day in the path of virtue, We will that the pious practice of frequent confession, which was introduced into the Church by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, should be earnestly advocated.” (Mystici Corporis Christi, §88) Condemning the younger priests who “lessen esteem for frequent confession”, the Pope described some of the many advantages to the soul of the regular confession of our venial sins. “By it 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, and grace is increased in virtue of the Sacrament itself.” (Ib.) Is it any wonder that the Church requires that we go to Confession 8 days before or after gaining a plenary indulgence?
Answered by Father Peter Scott, SSPX.