Sacrament of Reconciliation

To help us prepare to receive within us the actual Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our merciful Savior in the Eucharist, our Lord left us another "miracle of mercy," the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Here, too, Jesus is present for us — for all of us, no matter how great our sins — as the merciful Savior, the fountain of mercy that cleanses, comforts, forgives, and restores to life.

In the Sacrament of Penance the Faithful who confess their sins to a Priest, are sorry for those sins and have a purpose of amendment, receive from God, through the absolution given by that Priest, forgiveness of sins they have committed after Baptism, and at the same time they are reconciled with the Church, which by sinning they wounded.  (Canon 959)

How to Make a Good Confession

Confession or Reconciliation may be face-to-face or screened between you and the priest.  Choose the option that is the most comfortable to you. 

• Begin with a prayer to Our Lady, the Spouse of the Holy Spirit.

Mary, Mother of Jesus and my Mother, your Son died on a cross for me. Help me to confess my sins humbly and with trust in the mercy of God, that I may receive His pardon and peace. Send the Holy Spirit to enlighten this priest so that he will understand my soul.

• Make an Examination of Conscious (see below)

• Upon entering the confessional, the priest greets you with a blessing and makes a Sign of the Cross.

• Make a sign of the cross and say, “Bless me father for I have sinned.  My last confession was _______ weeks, months, or years ago

• Confess all of your sins to the priest, starting with your mortal and then your venial sins.  The priest will help you to make a good confession.  If you are unsure about how to confess or feel uneasy, just ask the priest to help you.  Answer his questions without hiding anything out of fear or shame.  Place your trust in Jesus, the Merciful Savior, who wants to forgive you.  Ponder what Jesus said to St. Faustina, that “The flames of mercy are burning me. I desire to pour them out upon human souls. Oh, what pain they cause Me when they do not want to accept them!” (1074, paragraph 2)

• Following your confession say, “I am sorry for these and all the sins I have committed.”

• The priest will offer you guidance on how to lead a good Catholic life and give you a penance which you should complete as soon as possible.

• Say an Act of Contrition, expressing your sorrow for the sins committed. You can say,

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins, because of Your just punishments, 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 sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.

• The priest, acting in the person of Jesus Christ, then absolves you of your sins.

Here are some revelations our Lord gave to St. Faustina, as recorded in her Diary: 

In the Tribunal of Mercy [the Sacrament of Reconciliation] ... the greatest miracles take place and are incessantly repeated Come with faith to the feet of My representative. Were a soul like a decaying corpse, so that from a human standpoint, there would be no hope of restoration and everything would already be lost, it is not so with God. The miracle of Divine Mercy restores that soul in full. Oh, how miserable are those who do not take advantage of the miracle of God´s mercy! (1448). 

I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest ... I Myself act in your soul…when you go to confession, to this fountain of mercy, the Blood and Water which came forth from My Heart always flows down upon your soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy (1602). 

Make your confession before Me. The person of the priest is, for Me, only a screen. Never analyze what sort of a priest it is that I am making use of; open your soul in confession as you would to Me, and I will fill it with My light (1725). 

Examination of Conscience

I.  I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a graven image.

Have I sinned against Religion by seriously believing in New Age, Scientology, Astrology, Horoscopes, Fortune-telling, Superstition or engaging in the Occult?  Did I endanger my Catholic Faith or cause scandal by associating with anti-Catholic groups & associations (e.g., the Freemasons)?  Have fame, fortune, money, career, pleasure, etc. replaced God as my highest priority?  Have I neglected my daily prayers?

II.  You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

Have I committed blasphemy by using the name of God and Jesus Christ to swear rather than to praise?  Have I committed sacrilege by showing disrespect to holy objects (crucifix, rosary) or contempt for religious persons (bishop, priests, deacons, women religious) or for sacred places (in Church).  Have I committed sacrilege by going to Holy Communion in the state of mortal sin without first going to confession e.g., after missing Mass on Sunday or a Holyday?  Did I break the laws of fast and abstinence during Lent?  Did I neglect my Easter duty to receive Holy Communion at least once?  Have I neglected to support the Church and the poor by sharing my time, talent and treasure?

III.  Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.

Did I miss Mass on any Sunday or Holyday of Obligation?  (Bad weather and being sick do not count) Have I shown disrespect by leaving Mass early, not paying attention or not joining in the prayers?  Did I do unnecessary work on Sunday which could have been done the day before?  Have I been stingy in my support for the Church?  Do I give of my time & talent?

IV.  Honor thy Father and Mother.

Parents: Have I set a bad example for my children by casually missing Mass, neglecting prayer, or ignore my responsibility to provide a Catholic education by either sending my children to parochial school or to C.C.D. (Religious Education Program)?  Do I show little or no interest in my children’s faith and practice of it?  Have I showed disrespect for those in authority, government or church?  Have I not expressed my moral values to them? 

Children: Have I been disobedient and/or disrespectful to my parents or guardians?  Did I neglect to help them with household chores?  Have I caused them unnecessary worry and anxiety by my attitude, behavior, moods, etc.?

V.  You shall not kill

Did I consent, recommend, advise, approve, support or have an abortion?  Did I realize that there is an excommunication for anyone who procures an abortion?  Did I actively or passively cooperate with an act of euthanasia whereby ordinary means were stopped or means taken to directly end the life of an elderly or sick person?  Have I committed an act of violence or abuse (physical, sexual, emotional or verbal)?  Have I endangered the lives of others by reckless driving or by driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol?  Do I show contempt for my body by neglecting to take care of my own health?  Have I been mean or unjust to anyone?  Have I held a grudge or sought revenge against someone who wronged me?  Do I point out others’ faults and mistakes while ignoring my own?  Do I complain more than I compliment?  Am I ungrateful for what other people do for me?  Do I tear people down rather than encourage them?  Am I prejudiced against people because of their color, language or ethnic-religious background?

VI. You shall not commit adultery

VII. You shall not steal

Have I stolen any object, committed any shoplifting or cheated anyone of their money?  Did I knowingly deceive someone in business or commit fraud?  Have I shown disrespect or even contempt for other people’s property?  Have I done any acts of vandalism?  Am I greedy or envious of another’s goods?  Do I let financial and material concerns or the desire for comfort override my duty to God, to Church, to my family or my own spiritual well-being?

VIII.   You shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

Have I told a lie in order to deceive someone?  Have I told the truth with the purpose and intention of ruining someone’s reputation (sin of detraction)?  Have I told a lie or spread rumors which may ruin someone’s reputation (sin of calumny or slander)?  Did I commit perjury by false swearing an oath on the Bible?  Am I a busybody or do I love to spread gossip and secrets about others?   Do I love to hear bad news about my enemies?

IX. You shall not covet thy neighbor’s wife

Did I have any sex before or outside of marriage?  Do I view pornographic material (magazines, videos, internet, or hot-lines)?  Have I gone to massage parlors or adult book stores?  Did I commit the sins of masturbation and/or artificial contraception?  Have I not avoided the occasions of sin (persons or places) which would tempt me to be unfaithful to my spouse or to my own chastity?  Do I encourage and entertain impure thoughts and desires?  Do I tell or listen to dirty jokes?  Have I committed fornication or adultery?

X.  Thou shall not covet thy neighbor’s goods.

Have I told a lie in order to deceive someone?  Have I told the truth with the purpose and intention of ruining someone’s reputation (sin of detraction)?  Have I told a lie or spread rumors which may ruin someone’s reputation (sin of calumny or slander)?  Did I commit perjury by false swearing an oath on the Bible?  Am I a busybody or do I love to spread gossip and secrets about others?   Do I love to hear bad news about my enemies?