The Sacrament of Reconciliation

Confession is an act of honesty and courage - an act of entrusting ourselves, beyond sin, to the mercy of a loving and forgiving God. So, go to your confessor; open your heart to him; display to him all the recesses of your soul; take the advice that he will give you with the utmost humility and simplicity. For God, Who has an infinite love for obedience, frequently renders profitable the counsels we take from others, but especially from those who are the guides of our souls


How to Go to Confession (Step-by-Step):

 

You may find this guide helpful so that you know what to expect, but remember that the priest will always be willing to walk you through what to do if you are not sure. The most important thing is to be sorry for our sins and ask for the Lord’s forgiveness; it doesn’t matter if you haven’t memorised all the words to the prayers.

 

1. Examine your conscience.

 

Before entering the confessional, take time to prayerfully reflect on your life and actions. Ask

the Holy Spirit to help you recognise your sins, especially serious ones, and to be truly sorry
for them. Using an Examination of Conscience based on the Ten Commandments or
 

Beatitudes can be helpful.

 

2. Be truly sorry for your sins (Contrition).

 
Sorrow for sin means not only regretting what you've done but also sincerely intending toavoid sin in the future. Perfect contrition comes from love of God; imperfect contrition comesfrom fear of punishment, but both are valid for Confession.
 

3. Enter the confessional and greet the priest.

 
You may kneel behind a screen or sit face-to-face, depending on the setup. Begin with theSign of the Cross and say: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [how long] sincemy last confession.”
 

4. Confess your sins.

 
Tell the priest your sins honestly, clearly, and simply, especially any mortal sins (serious sins)in kind and number, if possible. You may also mention venial sins. Don’t worry about phrasing it perfectly; the priest is there to help.
 

5. Listen to the priest.

 
The priest may offer advice, encouragement, or guidance tailored to your situation. He willthen give you a penance, a prayer or an action to help repair the damage caused by sin andto express your desire to make things right.
 

6. Make an Act of Contrition.

 
You express sorrow for your sins and your intention to avoid sin in the future. You may usethis version or another approved one:
 

“O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.”

 

7. Receive absolution.

 
The priest will extend his hand and pray the Prayer of Absolution, ending with the following words:
 
“I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Make the Sign of the Cross and respond: “Amen.”
 

8. Do your penance.

 
After you leave the confessional, complete the penance the priest gave you as soon as possible.