Confession Guide

Responsibilities to God: 

· Have I gone to Mass on Sunday? · Did I participate in the Mass or did I daydream? · Have I prayed every day? · Have I read the Bible? · Have I been rebellious toward God and his commands? · Have I misused the name of God by swearing and cursing? · Have I told the Father that I love him for creating me and for making me his son/daughter? · Have I thanked Jesus for becoming man, dying for my sin and rising to give me eternal life? · Have I asked the Holy Spirit to help me conquer sin and temptation and to be obedient to God’s commands? 

Responsibilities to others and myself: 

· Have I been rebellious, disobedient, or disrespectful to my parents, teachers and those in authority over me? · Have I lied to or deceived my parents or others? · Have I been arrogant and stubborn? · Have I gotten angry or nurtured and held grudges and resentments? Have I refused to forgive others? Have I cultivated hatred? · Have I been charitable towards those with whom I live? · Have I engaged in sexual fantasies? Have I looked at others lustfully? · Have I put myself in the occasion of sin, such as staying overnight at my boyfriend or girlfriend’s? · Have I viewed pornography or pornographic pictures, shows or movies? · Have I sent inappropriate pictures? · Have I masturbated? · Have I lustfully kissed or sexually touched someone?  · Have I engaged in sexual acts (oral, intercourse, etc)? · Have I had an abortion or encouraged another to have one? · Have I gossiped about others?  · Have I slandered anyone? · Have I told lies about others?  · Have I mocked or made fun of others? · Have I lied? · Have I cheated? · Have I stolen anything? Have I paid it back? · Have I been selfish or spiteful toward others? · Have I been jealous? · Have I drunk underage? · Have I gotten drunk? · Have I taken drugs? · Have I participated in anything that is of the occult: Ouija boards, fortune tellers, palm readers, séances, channeling, astrology? · Have I been patient, kind, gentle and self-controlled? · When my conscience told me to do something good, did I do it or did I ignore it? · Have I been lazy and wasted time?  · Have I spent excessive time on my phone? 

 Note: If you have never been to confession or are not Catholic, simply tell the priest, “I am not Catholic…” You will have a chance to talk and share with the priest whatever you’d like (although it will not be a sacramental confession with absolution). 

1.  Begin by making the sign of the cross (with the priest), then saying,  
“Bless me, father, for I have sinned.  My last confession was ______”   
(state the amount of time that has passed since your last confession, to the best of your ability). 

2.  The priest will then invite you to trust in God and may offer a Scripture. Then, share with the priest whatever sins you have committed. 

Anytime you feel nervous, or do not know what to do, simply tell the priest, “I’m not sure what to do.”  The priest desires to help you encounter God’s love and mercy and will guide you through the confession. 

3.  The priest may offer words of counsel and will then give you a penance to do after the confession.  This is a way of making right, in some way, the harm we have done by our sin, and to build ourselves up in charity.  Make sure you are clear on what the priest is asking you to do (ex: say a certain number of prayers or do a certain act). 

4.  The priest will then give you a chance to offer an act of contrition.  This is a prayer that you offer out loud to God, expressing the sorrow you have for having offended Him, and your need for His help in your life.  You may express this contrition in your own words, or say one that you have memorized, such as (you can read this to the priest):  

“O my God, I am sorry and repent with all my heart for all the wrong I have done, and for the good I have failed to do, because by sinning I have offended you, who are all good and worthy to be loved above all things. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid the occasions of sin. Through the merits of the Passion of our Savior Jesus Christ, Lord, have mercy.”  

5.  The priest will then give you absolution, asking God to forgive your sins.  

“God the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son, has reconciled the world to himself and poured out the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church, may God grant 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. Amen.” 

Priest:     Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.   

Penitent: For his mercy endures forever.   

Priest:    The Lord has forgiven your sins. Go in peace.