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AGuideforConfession
ThebasicrequirementforagoodconfessionistohavetheintentionofreturningtoGodlikethe
"prodigalson"andtoacknowledgeoursinswithtruesorrowbeforethepriest.

SininmyLife
Modernsocietyhaslostasenseofsin.AsaCatholicfollowerofChrist,Imustmakeaneffortto
recognizesininmydailyactions,wordsandomissions.

TheGospelsshowhowimportantistheforgivenessofoursins.Livesofsaintsprovethattheperson
whogrowsinholinesshasastrongersenseofsin,sorrowforsins,andaneedfortheSacramentof
PenanceorConfession.

TheDifferencesinSins
AsaresultofOriginalSin,humannatureisweakened.
Baptism,byimpartingthelifeofChrist'sgrace,takesaway
OriginalSin,andturnsusbacktowardGod.The
consequencesofthisweaknessandtheinclinationtoevil
persist,andweoftencommitpersonaloractualsin.

Actualsinissinwhichpeoplecommit.Therearetwokindsof
actualsin,mortalandvenial.

MortalsinisadeadlyoffenseagainstGod,sohorriblethatit
destroysthelifeofgraceinthesoul.Threesimultaneousconditionsmustbefulfilledforamortalsin:
1)theactmustbesomethingveryserious2)thepersonmusthavesufficientunderstandingofwhat
isbeingdone3)thepersonmusthavesufficientfreedomofthewill.

Remember
Ifyouneedhelpespeciallyifyouhavebeenawayforsometimesimplyaskthepriestandhewillhelp
youby"walking"youthroughthestepstomakeagoodconfession.

BeforeConfession
Betrulysorryforyoursins.TheessentialactofPenance,onthepartofthepenitent,iscontrition,a
clearanddecisiverejectionofthesincommitted,togetherwitharesolutionnottocommititagain,out
oftheloveonehasforGodandwhichisrebornwithrepentance.Theresolutiontoavoidcommitting
thesesinsinthefuture(amendment)isasuresignthatyoursorrowisgenuineandauthentic.This
doesnotmeanthatapromisenevertofallagainintosinisnecessary.Aresolutiontotrytoavoidthe
nearoccasionsofsinsufficesfortruerepentance.God'sgraceincooperationwiththeintentionto
rectifyyourlifewillgiveyouthestrengthtoresistandovercometemptationinthefuture.

ExaminationofConscience
BeforegoingtoConfessionyoushouldmakeareviewofmortalandvenialsinssinceyourlast
sacramentalconfession,andshouldexpresssorrowforsins,hatredforsinsandafirmresolutionnot
tosinagain.

AhelpfulpatternforexaminationofconscienceistoreviewtheCommandmentsofGodandthe
PreceptsoftheChurch:

1.HaveGodandthepursuitofsanctityinChristbeenthegoalofmylife?HaveIdeniedmyfaith?
HaveIplacedmytrustinfalseteachingsorsubstitutesforGod?DidIdespairofGod'smercy?

2.HaveIavoidedtheprofaneuseofGod'snameinmyspeech?HaveIbrokenasolemnvowor
promise?

3.HaveIhonoredeverySundaybyavoidingunnecessarywork,celebratingtheMass(also

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holydays)?WasIinattentiveat,orunnecessarilylateforMass,ordidIleaveearly?HaveI
neglectedprayerforalongtime?

4.HaveIshownChristlikerespecttoparents,spouse,andfamilymembers,legitimateauthorities?
HaveIbeenattentivetothereligiouseducationandformationofmychildren?

5.HaveIcaredforthebodilyhealthandsafetyofmyselfandallothers?DidIabusedrugsor
alcohol?HaveIsupportedinanywayabortion,"mercykilling,"orsuicide?

6.WasIimpatient,angry,envious,proud,jealous,revengeful,lazy?HaveIforgivenothers?

7.HaveIbeenjustinmyresponsibilitiestoemployerandemployees?HaveIdiscriminated
againstothersbecauseofraceorotherreasons?

8.HaveIbeenchasteinthoughtandword?HaveIusedsexonlywithinmarriageandwhileopen
toprocreatinglife?HaveIgivenmyselfsexualgratification?DidIdeliberatelylookatimpureTV,
pictures,reading?

9.HaveIstolenanythingfromanother,frommyemployer,fromgovernment?Ifso,amIreadyto
repayit?DidIfulfillmycontracts?DidIrashlygamble,deprivingmyfamilyofnecessities?

10.HaveIspokenillofanyotherperson?HaveIalwaystoldthetruth?HaveIkeptsecretsand
confidences?

11.HaveIpermittedsexualthoughtsaboutsomeonetowhomIamnotmarried?

12.HaveIdesiredwhatbelongstootherpeople?HaveIwishedillonanother?

13.HaveIbeenfaithfultosacramentalliving(HolyCommunionandPenance)?

14.HaveIhelpedmakemyparishcommunitystrongerandholier?HaveIcontributedtothe
supportoftheChurch?

15.HaveIdonepenancebyabstainingandfastingonobligatorydays?HaveIfastedbefore
receivingcommunion?

16.HaveIbeenmindfulofthepoor?DoIacceptGod'swillforme?

DuringConfession
AfterexaminingyourconscienceandtellingGodofyoursorrow,gointotheconfessional.Youmay
kneelatthescreenorsittotalkfacetofacewiththepriest.

Beginyourconfessionwiththesignofthecross,"InthenameoftheFather,andoftheSon,andof
theHolySpirit.Mylastconfessionwas_______weeks(months,years)ago."

ThepriestmayreadapassagefromholyScripture.

Saythesinsthatyouremember.Startwiththeone(s)thatismostdifficulttosay.(Inordertomakea
goodconfessionthefaithfulmustconfessallmortalsins,accordingtokindandnumber.)After
confessingallthesinsyouremembersinceyourlastgoodconfession,youmayconcludebysaying,
"Iamsorryfortheseandallthesinsofmypastlife."

Listentothewordsofthepriest.Hewillassignyousomepenance.Doingthepenancewilldiminish
thetemporalpunishmentduetosinsalreadyforgiven.Wheninvited,expresssomeprayerofsorrow
orActofContritionsuchas:

AnActofContrition
OmyGod,IamheartilysorryforhavingoffendedyouandIdetestallmysins,
becauseIdreadthelossofheavenandthepainsofhell.ButmostofallbecauseI
haveoffendedyou,myGod,whoareallgoodanddeservingofallmylove.Ifirmly
resolvewiththehelpofyourgrace,toconfessmysins,todopenanceandtoamend
mylife.Amen.

AttheEndofConfession

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AttheEndofConfession
Listentothewordsofabsolution,thesacramentalforgivenessoftheChurchthroughtheordained
priest.

Asyoulistentothewordsofforgivenessyoumaymakethesignofthecrosswiththepriest.Ifhe
closesbysaying,"GivethankstotheLordforHeisgood,"answer,"ForHismercyenduresforever."

AfterConfession
GivethankstoGodforforgivingyouagain.Ifyourecallsomeserioussinyouforgottotell,rest
assuredthatithasbeenforgivenwiththeothers,butbesuretoconfessitinyournextConfession.

DoyourassignedPenance.

ResolvetoreturntotheSacramentofReconciliationoften.WeCatholicsarefortunatetohavethe
SacramentofReconciliation.Itistheordinarywayforustohaveoursinsforgiven.Thissacramentis

apowerfulhelptogetridofourweaknesses,growinholiness,andleadabalancedandvirtuouslife.

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