Rite of Reconciliation

Adapted from the Archdiocese of Baltimore brochure

A Guide For Confession

The basic requirement for a good confession is to have the intention of returning to God like the "prodigal son" and to acknowledge our sins with true sorrow before the priest.

"To those who have been far away from the sacrament of Reconciliation and forgiving love, I make this appeal: come back to this source of grace, do not be afraid! Christ himself is waiting for you. He will heal you, and you will be at peace with God!" (Pope John Paul II)

Before Confession

Be truly sorry for your sins. The essential act of Penance, on the part of the penitent, is contrition, a clear and decisive rejection of the sin committed, together with a resolution not to commit it again, out of the love one has for God, which is reborn with repentance. The resolution to avoid committing theses sins in the future (amendment) is a sure sign that your sorrow is genuine and authentic. This does not mean that a promise never to fall again into sin is necessary. A resolution to try to avoid the near occasions of sin suffices for true repentance. God's grace in cooperation with the intention to rectify your life will give you the strength to resist and overcome temptation in the future.

Examination of Conscience

In answering the question of the young man in the Gospel, "What good deed must I do to have eternal life?" Our Lord replies, "If you would enter life, keep the Commandments."

The Ten Commandments state what is required in the love of God and love of neighbor. Each Commandment is followed by focus questions to assist in a good and proper preparation for confession. The references under each Commandment are not meant to be an exhaustive catalogue of sins, but rather guidelines to help you reflect on the state of your relationship with God and your neighbor.

The Ten Commandments

1. I the Lord, am your God. You shall not have other gods besides me.
Focus: Are God and prayer prominent in my life? Do I stand up for my faith in God and His Church?

2. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.
Focus: Using God's name disrespectfully; cursing others in God's name.

3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath Day.
Focus: Attendance at Mass on Sundays and Holydays.

4. Honor your father and your mother.
Focus: Honoring and caring for parents. Respect for proper authority. Respect between spouses. Proper religious education of children.

5. You shall not kill.
Focus: Anger, hatred, vengeance, destruction of life through murder, abortion and euthanasia. Scandal in leading others to do evil. Use or distribution of illegal drugs. Racial hatred. Holding grudges. Violence.

6. You shall not commit adultery.
Focus: Conjugal infidelity, fornication, impurity, contraception.

7. You shall not steal.
Focus: Theft, destruction of property; refusing to share good with the poor.

8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Focus: Harming others by lies, rash judgment, swearing falsely (perjury).

9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
Focus: Willful, lustful desires.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.
Focus: Envy, sadness at sight of another's riches or goods.

Remember, if you need help, especially if you have been away for some time, simply ask the priest and he will help you by "walking you through the steps necessary.

Celebration of the Sacrament

You can begin your confession by making the sign of the cross and greeting the priest: "Bless me father, for I have sinned." You may continue with the time since your last confession: "My last good confession was... (how many weeks, months, or years approximately)."

Say the sins that you remember. Start with the one that is the most difficult to say, after this it will be easier to mention the rest.

Conclude with "I am sorry for these and all the sins of my past life."

The priest will assign you some penance and give you some advice to help you be a better Christian. The priest will invite the penitent to manifest his /her contrition. The penitent may say for example: "Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." or an "Act of 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."

Listen to the words of absolution attentively.

God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of His Son has reconciled the world to Himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the church, may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

At the end answer: "Amen."

Be willing to do the penance as soon as possible. The penance will diminish the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven.