306. Why can venial sins also be the object of sacramental confession?
(Comp
306) The confession of venial sins is strongly recommended by the
Church, even if this is not strictly necessary, because it helps us to form a
correct conscience and to fight against evil tendencies. It allows us to be
healed by Christ and to progress in the life of the Spirit.
“In brief”
(CCC 1493) One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God
and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he
remembers after having carefully examined his conscience. The confession of
venial faults, without being necessary in itself, is nevertheless strongly
recommended by the Church.
To deepen and explain
(CCC 1458) Without being strictly necessary, confession of
everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the
Church (Cf. Council of Trent: DS 1680; CIC, can. 988 § 2). Indeed the regular
confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil
tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the
Spirit. By receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the
Father's mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as he is merciful (Cf. Lk 6:36):
Whoever confesses his sins . . . is already working with God. God indicts your
sins; if you also indict them, you are joined with God. Man and sinner are, so
to speak, two realities: when you hear "man" - this is what God has
made; when you hear "sinner" - this is what man himself has made.
Destroy what you have made, so that God may save what he has made.... When you
begin to abhor what you have made, it is then that your good works are
beginning, since you are accusing yourself of your evil works. The beginning of
good works is the confession of evil works. You do the truth and come to the
light (St. Augustine, In Jo. Ev. 12,
13: PL 35, 1491).
On reflection
(CCC 2046) By living with the mind of Christ, Christians hasten the coming of the Reign of God,
"a kingdom of justice, love, and peace" (Roman Missal, Preface of Christ the King). They do not, for all
that, abandon their earthly tasks; faithful to their master, they fulfill them
with uprightness, patience, and love. (CCC 1783)
Conscience must be informed and moral judgment enlightened. A well-formed
conscience is upright and truthful. It formulates its judgments according to
reason, in conformity with the true good willed by the wisdom of the Creator.
The education of conscience is indispensable for human beings who are subjected
to negative influences and tempted by sin to prefer their own judgment and to
reject authoritative teachings.
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