Questions / Confession and the sacraments

Do I have to confess small, everyday sins?

Church teaching

Answered on video by Catholic Answers

Video: How Detailed Do You Need to Be in Confession?, Catholic Answers Live, published Jun 22, 2017. Checked 10 October 2026. Loads from YouTube (privacy-enhanced mode) only when you press play. Watch on YouTube

In short: Not strictly, but the Church strongly recommends it. Small things add up. CCC 1458

The answer, in writing

Church teaching

Confessing everyday faults (venial sins) is not strictly necessary, but the Church strongly recommends it. CCC 1458

Regular confession of venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight bad tendencies, and let Christ heal us. CCC 1458

Our words

Think of it like brushing your teeth. You don’t wait for a root canal. Small, regular confession keeps the little things from piling up.

Watch another on this

Play video: What is a Mortal Sin? (Catholic Explanation), Catholic Answers, from Catholic Answers Live, 2 min. Loads from YouTube when pressed.

What is mortal sin?

Play video: What's the Difference Between Mortal and Venial Sins? (Aquinas 101), The Thomistic Institute (Dominican friars), from The Thomistic Institute, 9 min. Loads from YouTube when pressed.

What is venial sin?

Play video: What if I Die Before Confessing a Mortal Sin?, Catholic Answers, from Catholic Answers Live, 6 min. Loads from YouTube when pressed.

What if I die before I can confess a mortal sin?

Next step: How confession works now

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Sources on this page

How we know · 1 Catechism paragraph

1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1458 (official text on vatican.va).

Stone & Incense restates Church teaching in plain words and cites every teaching claim. Our own wording is not an official Church text. Found a mistake? Report an errorCorrections.