How to Make a Good Confession in the Catholic Church
Find out when confession is held., Be truly sorry for your sins., Make an examination of conscience., Search the Holy Scriptures., Pray often before a Confession.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Find out when confession is held.
Most parishes offer reconciliation services by the week, but some churches may have them daily.
If your parish does not offer a service that fits your schedule, call your priest and you can make a private appointment.
You can schedule a private session with the priest if you think your confession may last a bit longer (over 15 minutes).
This is a good idea if you have left the Church, committed a grave sin, or have not confessed in a long time. -
Step 2: Be truly sorry for your sins.
The idea of penance and confession is to feel truly remorseful
-- the act of contrition.
You must clearly reject the sin you have committed and resolve not to commit it again.
To show God that your sorrow is genuine and authentic is to be truly sorry and profess a refusal to commit the behaviors again.
This does not mean that you can never sin again; we humans do it every day.
You are simply resolving to try to avoid the near occasions that lead you to sin
-- this still counts as repentance.
If you want it, God will help you resist temptation, as long as you have the intention to improve yourself as well., Think about what you have done wrong, and why it is wrong.
Consider the pain you put God through in committing that sin, and that because of that sin Jesus suffered all the more on the cross.
For this you should express sorrow, and being truly sorry is a necessary component of a good Confession.
Consider asking yourself these questions when making your examination of conscience:
When did I last go to confession? Was it an honest and thorough confession? Did I make any special promise to God last time? Did I keep my promise? Have I committed any grave or mortal sin since my last confession? Have I followed the Ten Commandments? Have I ever doubted my faith? , A good place to start is the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17 or Deuteronomy 5:6-21.
Here are a few reminders of how God reaches out to us in loving forgiveness: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.
How has it been made possible for sins to be forgiven? "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 2:1,2.
To whom should sins be confessed, and why? "Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight." Ps. 51:4.
See Genesis 39:9. , You want to be honest and repentant.
Say a prayer to the Holy Spirit to guide you and help you remember and feel true contrition for your sins.
Perhaps something like: "Come Holy Spirit, enlighten my mind that I may clearly know my sins, touch my heart that I may be sorry for them, and better my life.
Amen." Try to identify the causes of your sins:
Do you have questionable inclinations? Is it a matter of personal weakness? Or just bad habits? Try to eliminate at least one of these causes.
This'll be easiest to do by either getting rid of one negative thing in your life or honing in on the most positive. -
Step 3: Make an examination of conscience.
-
Step 4: Search the Holy Scriptures.
-
Step 5: Pray often before a Confession.
Detailed Guide
Most parishes offer reconciliation services by the week, but some churches may have them daily.
If your parish does not offer a service that fits your schedule, call your priest and you can make a private appointment.
You can schedule a private session with the priest if you think your confession may last a bit longer (over 15 minutes).
This is a good idea if you have left the Church, committed a grave sin, or have not confessed in a long time.
The idea of penance and confession is to feel truly remorseful
-- the act of contrition.
You must clearly reject the sin you have committed and resolve not to commit it again.
To show God that your sorrow is genuine and authentic is to be truly sorry and profess a refusal to commit the behaviors again.
This does not mean that you can never sin again; we humans do it every day.
You are simply resolving to try to avoid the near occasions that lead you to sin
-- this still counts as repentance.
If you want it, God will help you resist temptation, as long as you have the intention to improve yourself as well., Think about what you have done wrong, and why it is wrong.
Consider the pain you put God through in committing that sin, and that because of that sin Jesus suffered all the more on the cross.
For this you should express sorrow, and being truly sorry is a necessary component of a good Confession.
Consider asking yourself these questions when making your examination of conscience:
When did I last go to confession? Was it an honest and thorough confession? Did I make any special promise to God last time? Did I keep my promise? Have I committed any grave or mortal sin since my last confession? Have I followed the Ten Commandments? Have I ever doubted my faith? , A good place to start is the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17 or Deuteronomy 5:6-21.
Here are a few reminders of how God reaches out to us in loving forgiveness: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.
How has it been made possible for sins to be forgiven? "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 2:1,2.
To whom should sins be confessed, and why? "Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight." Ps. 51:4.
See Genesis 39:9. , You want to be honest and repentant.
Say a prayer to the Holy Spirit to guide you and help you remember and feel true contrition for your sins.
Perhaps something like: "Come Holy Spirit, enlighten my mind that I may clearly know my sins, touch my heart that I may be sorry for them, and better my life.
Amen." Try to identify the causes of your sins:
Do you have questionable inclinations? Is it a matter of personal weakness? Or just bad habits? Try to eliminate at least one of these causes.
This'll be easiest to do by either getting rid of one negative thing in your life or honing in on the most positive.
About the Author
Gloria Martinez
Creates helpful guides on home improvement to inspire and educate readers.
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