Holy Confession is a Mystery (Sacrament) which our Lord
Jesus Christ gave us. Through it we sinners are able to meet the Lord
in faith, receive His forgiveness and begin our lives anew in His peace.
In Holy Confession the sins we commit after our Baptism are
forgiven. We are born anew as children of Our Father in Heaven.
The power to forgive sins belongs to God. As the Son of God, Jesus
Christ has that power. One day Jesus gave the power to forgive sins to
His apostles. He told them "If you forgive the sins of any, they are
forgiven." The apostles passed on this power to the bishops and
priests of the Church.
The Sacrament of Holy Confession is a "second Baptism".
It washes away our sins. It gives us God's grace. It enables our
souls to become pure and holy as He wants them to be.
How To Confess Your Sins
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Take the time to examine your conscience: Think
about the sins you have done. Think about the commandments of God
and those of the Church. Be prepared to tell the Lord with the
priest as witness.
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Feel sorry for your sins: Pray to God and tell Him
that you are sorry
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Promise God that you will try to do better in your life:
This means that you should keep away from sin as best you can. Pray for
God's help and grace to do this.
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You must confess your sins: Tell the sins before the
priest - do not feel ashamed because he stands as God's servant to hear your
sins and to witness to your sorrow.
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Say the following prayer in faith and love:
Come, O Holy Spirit, and dwell within me, to
enlighten my mind that I may rightly know my sins; touch my heart
that I may be truly sorry for them, sincerely confess them, and
truly become better. Amen
Prepare for Holy Confession with the same reverence as you would
have in your heart if Jesus Christ our Lord were standing there in person ready
to hear your confession. Why? Because through the Holy Spirit, Jesus
is present! The priest is merely the representative of Christ and stands
for the entire community of believers. (Everything you say is held in
strict confidence.)
A Guide to Examine Your Conscience
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Have I experienced doubts in my faith?
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Have I despaired of God's mercies and spoken against the Lord in
times of adversity and trouble?
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Have I attended church regularly?
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Have I prayed daily, remembering others in my prayers?
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Have I kept Sunday and Holy Days "holy" and refrained from doing
unnecessary work?
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Have I observed the fasting periods of the Church?
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Have I put my belief in fortune tellers and astrology?
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Have I really loved God and tried to live as He wants me to
live?
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Have I spoken lightly of religious things?
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Have I taken the Name of God in vain?
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Have I cursed anyone or anything or abused someone verbally or
physically in anger?
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Have I been angry at others or caused others to anger?
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Have I oppressed anyone or felt hatred for others?
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Have I felt envious towards others?
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Have I injured anyone by word or action?
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Have I caused strife between others?
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Have I willfully entertained impure thoughts or desires?
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Have I read or viewed obscene literature or been guilty of
unchaste words or actions?
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Have I taken material things belonging to others without their
permission?
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Have I used the material benefits given me by the Lord wisely,
or have I squandered them?
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Have I partaken of Holy Eucharist (Communion) regularly and
faithfully?
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Have I properly prepared my self by honest self-examination and
prayer?
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Have I tried to reach out to others in need to show my Christian
love and charity?
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Have I properly prepared my children to be Christians?
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Do I really feel sorry for offending the Lord?
You can also prepare yourself spiritually by reading from the
Old Testament Book of Psalms, especially Psalm 51,the "Psalm of Repentance."
Also suggested - read Mathew 5:1-12 - "The Beatitudes."
Approach the confessional when you believe you are properly
prepared spiritually. Approach with the same reverence as you would if the
Lord were standing there in person ready to hear your confession. The
priest is only the witness and representative - Jesus Christ is present.
Do not think about the good you have done - come in humility thinking about the
good you have neglected.
Kneel down when you arrive. The priest will cover you with
his Epitrachion (Stole) and bless you. Please say the following prayer:
I, a sinner, confess to the Lord God
Almighty, one in the Holy Trinity, to the Blessed Virgin Mary,
Mother of God, to all the Saints, and to you, my Father
Confessor, all my sins.
Feel free to use the "Examination of Conscience" question
section to confess to the Lord your sins. The priest may offer spiritual
advice or comment.
The priest will give you a blessing. Please venerate the
Holy Gospel and Life-giving Cross and return to your pew. You may say the
following prayer with heart-felt repentance as time allows:
O Almighty and most Merciful God. I
thank you with all my soul for letting me come to confession,
and for forgiving me my sins. Bless me, o Lord, and help
me to be now and always, your child, that I may always do my
best to please you, Amen.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit, now and ever unto ages of ages, Amen.
"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth
is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will
forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we
have not sinned, we make him a liar, and His word is not in us."
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