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Questions & Answers

Confession

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › The Sacraments › Confession

The question

At what age should anyone start to confess and why?

The answer

Although there is no general rule for the starting age of confession, Christian moral development is highly recommended to begin while children are young and impressionable, though they are still pure. It may differ for each child, but by age seven, children have the ability and understanding of rules and consequences. Thus, they will benefit greatly from learning the importance of this Holy Sacrament in their lives and by practicing it consistently. Their spiritual growth and development will be strengthened and enhanced by establishing a good relationship with a confession father at an early age. When they are faced with serious challenges, they will have him as a resourceful advisor and will not be intimated or embarrassed to share their thoughts and feelings later in their lives.

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Related questions

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 2122 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.