The precept to confess at least once a year is a reminder to receive the sacrament of Penance(reconciliation) on a regular basis. If no grave sin has been committed in that time, confession is not necessary. However, frequent confession is of great value; it makes us more deeply conformed to Christ and more submissive to the voice of the Spirit.
Reconciliation is a personal encounter with Jesus Christ represented by the priest in the confessional or reconciliation room. The penitent admits to God that he/she has sinned, makes an act of sor
row, accepts a penance (prayers, acts of self-denial, or works of service to others), and resolves to do better in the future.
row, accepts a penance (prayers, acts of self-denial, or works of service to others), and resolves to do better in the future.
After prayer and an examination of conscience to find out what sins you have committed, you enter the confessional.
Father greets you kindly. You respond and then make and say the sign of the cross.Father invites you to have confidence in God. You answer “Amen“
Father may read or recite some short selection from the Bible. You introduce yourself and tell how long it has been since your last confession. You then tell your sins. (Each mortal sin must be confessed as well as possible). It is useful to mention your most frequent and most troublesome venial sins.
Father will give you any necessary advice and answer your questions. After he assigns a penance you make an act of sorrow : O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you. And I detest all my sins, because of your just punishments, but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are 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 occasions of sin.
Father then extends his right hand toward you and prays these words of forgiveness: God, the Father of mercies, through the Death and Resurrection of his Son has reconiled 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.
Father then says,”Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.“
You answer,”His mercy endures forever.”
Father then dismisses you in these or similar words,” The Lord has freed you from your sins. Go in peace.”
Father may read or recite some short selection from the Bible. You introduce yourself and tell how long it has been since your last confession. You then tell your sins. (Each mortal sin must be confessed as well as possible). It is useful to mention your most frequent and most troublesome venial sins.
Father will give you any necessary advice and answer your questions. After he assigns a penance you make an act of sorrow : O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you. And I detest all my sins, because of your just punishments, but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are 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 occasions of sin.
Father then extends his right hand toward you and prays these words of forgiveness: God, the Father of mercies, through the Death and Resurrection of his Son has reconiled 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.
Father then says,”Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.“
You answer,”His mercy endures forever.”
Father then dismisses you in these or similar words,” The Lord has freed you from your sins. Go in peace.”
There are five very important things to remember to do when you go to confession. They are:
1. Ask yourself how you have offended God.
2. Be truly sorry for your sins.
3. Make up your mind not to sin again.
4. Tell your sins to the priest.
5. Do the penance the priest gives you.
2. Be truly sorry for your sins.
3. Make up your mind not to sin again.
4. Tell your sins to the priest.
5. Do the penance the priest gives you.
Penance : Sacrament of Reconciliation
Penance is the sacrament by which we received God’s healing for forgiveness of sins committed after Baptism.
This sacrament is also called Reconciliation because it reconciles us not only with God, but with the Church community. Both these aspects of reconciliation are important.
As members of Christ’s body, everything we do affects the whole body. Sin wounds and weakens the Body of Christ; the healing we receive in Penance restores health and strength to the Church as well as to ourselves.
When a person turns aside or away from God’s love, the harm is to the sinner. Venial sin strains one’s relationship with God. Mortal Sin ruptures the relationship.
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