Rachel Evans
Making a confession in the Catholic Church is a process that involves several steps. Firstly, it is important to prepare by examining one's conscience in light of the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, and the example of Christ. This involves reflecting on one's thoughts, words, and actions that may have distanced oneself from God, the Church, and others. It is recommended to pray for guidance and resolve to sin no more. When ready, one can enter the confessional, make the Sign of the Cross, and say, Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [state the time period] since my last confession. The penitent then confesses their sins, after which the priest offers guidance and assigns penance, which could be prayers, reflections, or acts of charity. The penitent concludes by praying the Act of Contrition, expressing sorrow for their sins and a commitment to change. Finally, the priest grants absolution, praying for God's forgiveness and concluding with Go in peace. Confessions can be done face-to-face or anonymously, and one can even opt for group reconciliation services during specific times like Lent.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Preparation | Compare your life with the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, and the example of Christ. |
| Examine your conscience and reflect on your thoughts, words, and actions. | |
| Pray for God's help and forgiveness. | |
| Make a firm resolution to sin no more and take concrete steps to avoid sin. | |
| Consider establishing a prayer routine, creating a balanced schedule, or installing pornography filters. | |
| Confess all mortal sins, stating the kind and number to the best of your ability. | |
| You can confess anonymously or face-to-face. | |
| During Confession | Begin by making the Sign of the Cross and saying, "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [state how long] since my last confession." |
| Confess your sins to the priest, who stands in the name of Christ and the Church. | |
| If you are unsure or nervous, ask the priest for help. | |
| After confessing your sins, say, "I am sorry for these sins and all the sins I cannot remember." | |
| After Confession | The priest will assign you a penance, which may include prayers, reflections, or works of charity. |
| Pray the Act of Contrition, expressing sorrow for your sins. You can use a formal prayer or your own words. | |
| Receive Absolution. The priest will pray for your sins to be forgiven by God. | |
| The priest concludes with "Go in Peace." |
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What You'll Learn
Preparing for confession
Prayer and Self-Reflection
Begin by offering a prayer to God, expressing your sincerity in leaving your evil ways and seeking forgiveness. You can use a prayer like the one below, or express your feelings in your own words:
> "O most merciful God! Prostrate at your feet, I implore your forgiveness. I sincerely desire to leave all my evil ways and to confess my sins with all sincerity to you and to your priest. I am a sinner, have mercy on me, O Lord. Give me a lively faith and a firm hope in the Passion of my Redeemer. Give me, for your mercy's sake, a sorrow for having offended so good a God. Mary, my mother, refuge of sinners, pray for me that I may make a good confession. Amen."
After praying, take time to reflect on your life since your last confession. Compare your thoughts, words, and actions against the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, and the example of Christ. You can ask yourself questions such as:
- Do I give God time every day in prayer? Do I seek to love Him with my whole heart?
- Have I been involved with superstitious practices or the occult?
- Have I gossiped or spoken badly of others behind their backs?
- Have I caused impure thoughts by what I read, watch, or listen to?
Express Sorrow and Seek Forgiveness
Confession involves expressing true sorrow for your sins and a firm resolution not to sin again. You can use the following prayer to express your contrition:
> "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 I have offended 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."
Confess Your Sins
When you are ready, go to the confessional and begin with the Sign of the Cross. You can say:
> "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [state how long] since my last confession."
Then, simply and honestly, tell your sins to the priest. You can start with the sins that are most difficult to say. Don't be afraid to ask for advice or direction from the priest. Remember, the priest is bound by confidentiality and is there to help you on your spiritual journey.
Finally, listen to the priest's advice and accept the penance given. This may include prayers, reflections, or acts of charity to show your commitment to changing your ways.
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What to say first
The first step in making a confession in the Catholic Church is to prepare. Begin with prayer, placing yourself in the presence of God and seeking forgiveness and healing. You can use this time to pray for God's help in making a good confession.
Then, review your life since your last confession, reflecting on your thoughts, words, and actions that did not align with God's command to love Him and others. This is called an "examination of conscience," and it can be guided by comparing your life with the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, and the example of Christ. You may also want to consider any mortal sins you have committed and confess them in number and kind as best you can.
Once you have prepared and examined your conscience, you are ready to enter the confessional. When you first enter, you can say something like, "Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [state the length of time] since my last confession." Alternatively, you can simply state, "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. My last confession was [give the time frame]."
If you are a new Catholic or unsure about the process, you can inform the priest, and they will be glad to help you.
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How to confess your sins
Preparation
Before going to confession, it is important to prepare. Begin with prayer, asking for God's help and placing yourself in His presence. Examine your conscience by reviewing your life since your last confession, reflecting on your thoughts, words, and actions. You can use the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, and the example of Christ as a guide to help you identify your sins. Remember that there is no universal playbook for the sins you need to atone for—follow your conscience and spend time examining your actions and their impact on yourself, God, the Church, and those around you.
Going to Confession
When you arrive at the church, the light above the middle door indicates that the priest is in. You can choose to have a face-to-face confession or remain anonymous, with a screen between you and the priest. Once you are in the confessional, you can make the Sign of the Cross with the priest and say, "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [state how long] since my last confession." Then, confess your sins, stating the kind of sin committed and how many times, to the best of your ability. If you are unsure or nervous, don't be afraid to ask the priest for help—they are there to guide you.
After Confession
After you have confessed your sins, you can say, "I am sorry for these sins and all the sins I cannot remember." The priest will then offer guidance and suggest ways to avoid sinning in the future, followed by assigning you a penance. The penance may take the form of a prayer, an offering, works of mercy, service, or sacrifice, and it is intended to help you grow spiritually and reconnect with God. After completing your penance, pray the Act of Contrition, expressing your sorrow for your sins and your resolve to sin no more. There are various versions of this prayer, or you can create your own, as long as it contains these essential elements.
Additional Tips
- If you are uncomfortable going to your own parish for confession, you can explore other churches in your area, or even chapels in airports if you are travelling.
- Some parishes offer communal reconciliation services, especially during Lent, where you can participate in the sacrament of penance with a group of fellow parishioners.
- It is recommended to go to confession once or twice a month to help form your conscience, overcome your sins, and grow in God's grace.
- Make concrete resolutions to amend your life, such as establishing a prayer routine, creating a balanced schedule, or taking practical steps to avoid temptation.
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What happens after confession
After confessing your sins, the priest may offer guidance and suggest ways to avoid sinning in the future. They will then give you a penance, which could be a prayer, an offering, an act of service, or a good deed. You can often complete your penance while still at the church. The Act of Contrition is a prayer expressing true sorrow for the sins confessed. You can use a formal prayer or put it into your own words. After this, the priest will grant absolution and say a prayer through which your sins are forgiven by God. The priest will then conclude with "Go in peace".
After confession, some people report feeling relief. However, others have reported feeling horrible anxiety, disgust, and self-judgement.
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Where to confess
Where to go to confess is an important question for Catholics. If you are nervous or uneasy about going to confession, remember that God is happy that you are there, no matter how long it has been since your last confession.
If you are not comfortable going to your own parish for confession, you may go to another church in your area. It is better to go to confession at a different church than not at all. Some airports also have small chapels staffed by Catholic priests, which can be a good opportunity to confess while travelling or before a big trip.
When you arrive at the church, look for the light above the middle door. If this is on, the priest is in. If a light is above one of the side doors, someone else is there. If neither side light is on, go in and choose between the side with the screen for anonymous confession, or the other side for face-to-face.
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