It is called the sacrament of Reconciliation, because it imparts to
the sinner the love of God who reconciles: "Be reconciled to God."
He who lives by God's merciful love is ready to respond to the Lord's call:
"Go; first be reconciled to your brother.
How to prepare to make a good confession:
Begin your preparation with prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to
open your heart and mind to see those things that you have done which have
offended our Lord and other people. What are those things that you neglected
to do that you should have done? Prayerfully meditate on the Ten Commandments.
Reflect on a written examination of conscience (se the Examination of
Conscience below).
When you feel properly prepared to celebrate this moment of
grace, call you local parish for the times of scheduled confession or make an
appointment with a Priest to celebrate the Sacrament.
Below is a form which may assist you in your confession:
- Make the sign of the cross as you say, "Bless me
Father, for I have sinned, it has been (state how long since your last
confession) since my last confession, and these are my sins."
- Tell the Priest your sins.
- When you have finished confessing your sins, say,
"For these and all the sins of my past I am truly sorry." The
Priest will give you a suitable penance, and he may give you some advice.
- Make an act of contrition. "O my God, I am heartily
sorry for having offended Thee. I detest all my sins because of Thy just
punishments, but most of all because they have offend Thee, my God, who
art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help
of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to avoid the near
occasions of sin. Amen."
- The Priest will say the prayer of absolution. At the end
of the prayer, say "Amen".
- The Priest will say, "Your sins are forgiven, go in
peace."
- Than say, "Thank you Father."
- Perform the penance you were assigned by the Priest.
Examination of Conscience:
Many of these sins are mortal and the Eucharist is forbidden
until a good confession is made to a priest. If in doubt whether a sin is
mortal or venial, consult a good catechism or priest very loyal to the Holy
Father and Rome's teachings. A mortal sin involves a serious matter, there is
sufficient reflection and it is committed with full consent of the will.
- Did I deny or doubt God's existence? Did I refuse to
believe God's revelation?
- Did I believe in horoscopes, fortune telling, dreams,
good luck charms or reincarnation?
- Did I deny that I was a Catholic? Did I leave the
Catholic faith?
- Did I despair of or presume on God's mercy?
- Did I neglect prayer for a long time? Did I fail to pray
daily?
- Did I blaspheme God or take God's name in vain, curse or
break an oath or vow?
- Did I miss Mass on Sunday or Holyday of Obligation
through my own fault?
- Am I always reverent in the presence of the most Blessed
Sacrament?
- Was I inattentive at Mass? Did I come to Mass late? How
late? Did I leave Mass early?
- Did I do unnecessary physical work on Sunday?
- Did I disobey or disrespect my parents or legitimate
superiors?
- Did I neglect my duties to my husband, wife, children, or
parents'
- Did I fail to actively take an interest in the religious
education and formation of my children?
- Have I failed to educate myself on the true teachings of
the Church?
- Did I give a full day's work in return for my full day's
pay?
- Did I give scandal by what I said or did, especially to
the young? Was I the cause of anyone leaving the faith?
- Did I give a fair wage to my employee?
- Was I impatient, angry, envious, unkind, proud, jealous,
revengeful, hateful toward others, lazy?
- Did I give bad example, abuse drugs, drink alcohol to
excess, fight or quarrel?
- Did I physically injure or kill anyone? Have or advise
for an abortion? Regarding abortion, check with your priest to see if you
were automatically excommunicated and this has to be lifted first.
- Did I participate in or approve of the grave evil known
as "mercy killing"? Did I attempt suicide?
- Did I willfully entertain impure thoughts and desires?
Did I dress immodestly?
- Did I use impure or suggestive words? Tell impure
stories? Or listen to them?
- Did I deliberately look at impure TV, plays, pictures or
movies? Or deliberately read impure material?
- Did I perform impure acts by myself or with others? Which
ones?
Note: in the area of deliberate sexual sins, all are mortal if there is
sufficient reflection and full consent of the will.
- Did I marry or advise another to marry outside the
Church?
- Did I abuse my marriage rights? Was I unfaithful to my
marriage vows?
- Have kept company with someone else's spouse?
- Did I practice artificial birth control or was I or my
spouse sterilized?
- Did I steal, cheat, help or encourage others to steal, or
keep stolen goods? Have I made restitution for stolen goods?
- Did I fulfill my contracts; give or accept bribes; pay my
bills; rashly gamble or speculate; deprive my family of necessities of
life?
- Did I tell lies? Deliberately to deceive; or injure
others by lies? Did I commit perjury? Was I uncharitable in word or deed,
gossip or reveal others faults and sins? Fail to keep secrets I should
have?
- Did I eat meat on the Fridays of Lent or Ash Wednesday?
- Did I fast as required on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday?
- Did I fail to receive Holy Communion during the Easter
time? Fail to confess at least once a year?
- Did I go to Holy Communion in the state of mortal sin?
Without fasting (water and medicine permitted) for one hour or more from
food and drink?
- Did I make a bad confession?
- Did I fail to contribute to the support of the Church?
FIVE STEPS for a GOOD CONFESSION
1. Examine your conscience.
2. Be sincerely sorry for your sins.
3. Confess your sins.
4. Resolve to amend your life. After your confession do
the penance the priest assigns.