Chapter III. Annual Confession

As the Council of Trent teaches, there is a divine law which prescribes that all who fall into grievous sin after receiving Baptism should confess such sin to a priest and receive absolution for it from him. This divine precept is contained in the institution of the sacrament of Penance, and will best be explained when we come to treat of that sacrament. Here we have to do with a positive ecclesiastical law which supposes the divine law, but further determines it according to time and the person to whom the confession is to be made. The divine law does not determine any precise time for making the confession nor does it limit the choice of confessor. This was done by the Fourth Lateran Council, c. 21: “‘ Let all the faithful of both sexes after they have come to years of discretion faithfully confess all their sins in private at least once a year to their own priest, and do their best to perform the penance which he shall enjoin them.”

It is the common opinion of theologians that this law only affects those who have fallen into mortal sin, so that although venial sin may be confessed and affords sufficient matter for sacramental absolution, yet there is no law, human or divine, which imposes any obligation on the faithful in general to confess venial sins. The divine law does not do this, as the Council of Trent explains (sess. 14, c. 5), and the Lateran law only determines the divine law.

One’s own priest, according to the modern discipline of the Church, is any priest who has faculties for hearing confessions in the place where they are made. ‘To satisfy the precept it is not sufficient merely to make one’s confession; it must be made fruitfully, so as to merit absolution and reconciliation with God.¹

¹ Prop. 14, condemned by Alexander VII.

No special time within the year is mentioned by the council, and various methods of reckoning the year would satisfy its requirements; but as Easter time is assigned for the annual Communion which is also prescribed, in practice the two precepts are fulfilled together within the time appointed for the Easter duties. If one has neglected to go to the Sacraments within the prescribed time, he is not free for a further term, but he should go as soon as he can (Can. 906, 907).