Examine your conscience:Examine your conscience: Before going to Confession, take time to reflect on your actions, thoughts, and behaviors since your last confession. Consider how you may have sinned against God’s commandments, yourself, and others.
Feel contrition: Develop genuine sorrow for your sins and a firm intention to avoid them in the future.
Check confession times
- Enter the confessional: You’ll typically have the option of confessing face-to-face with the priest or anonymously behind a screen.
- Begin with the Sign of the Cross: Once inside, make the Sign of the Cross and say, “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [length of time] since my last confession.”
- Confess your sins: Tell the priest all the sins you can remember, including their type and frequency. Be clear but not overly detailed. Start with the most difficult ones if that helps.
- Listen to the priest: The priest may offer spiritual guidance, ask questions for clarity, or provide words of encouragement.
- Receive your penance: The priest will assign a penance—prayers or actions to perform as a sign of your contrition and desire to make amends.
- Say an Act of Contrition: You’ll recite a prayer expressing your sorrow for sins. If you don’t know it by heart, the priest can provide one or you can bring a written version
- Receive absolution: The priest will extend his hand and recite the prayer of absolution, forgiving your sins in God’s name.
After Confession
- Complete your penance: Do the penance assigned by the priest as soon as possible.
- Give thanks: Take a moment to thank God for His forgiveness and grace.
- Make a resolution: Commit to avoiding situations that may lead you to sin again.
Additional Tips
- If you’re nervous or it’s been a long time, tell the priest—they’re there to help.
- You can bring notes to help remember what you want to confess.
- Be brief, concise, and frank about your sins.
- Remember that priests are bound by the “seal of confession,” meaning they cannot reveal what is confessed to them under any circumstances.
This sacrament is meant to be healing and restorative—an opportunity to reconcile with God and receive His mercy, not a cause for anxiety or fear.
There are many versions of The Act of Contrition. Here is a few that you can use.
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins because of thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who is 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. Amen.
Or
My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to
do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I
should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do
penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our
Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God,
have mercy. Amen.
Or
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven, and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who are 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 amend my life. Amen.
