How To Go to Confession
It has been two, five, ten, twenty years since your last confession. You would like to go to confession, but you are not sure what to do. You have grown out of the habit of receiving the sacrament, and you are not sure what to say, what to confess. It is not as complicated as it seems. All you need to do is the following.
Examine your conscience: This is a process of reviewing your Christian life since your last confession. What have you done contrary to the gospel? What have you not done that you should have done? How would you characterize your life at this point? What particular habits or patterns have you developed that are contrary to the gospel? How have you fallen short of living a life modeled on the selfless life of Christ? If you are married and have a family, have you been faithful and completely devoted to your spouse and children? If you are single, have you lived your life selflessly or selfishly? If you are a teen, are you simply following the bad example of the crowd? Have you honored and respected your parents?
Express your sorrow and resolve not to sin again. Before entering the confessional express your sorrow to God for your sins in your own words. Resolve to amend your life and not to sin again.
Confess your sins: Enter the confessional and confess your sins. When you go into the confessional you will have a choice of (1) kneeling behind the screen (2) or sitting face to face with the priest. Do what is most comfortable for you. Begin your confession in the way:
Bless me Father, for I have sinned. It has been _______ since my last confession, and these are my sins.
After you have confessed your sins, the priest will say a few words of encouragement and assign you a penance to atone for your sins. He may ask you to say certain prayers or do something to atone for what you have done.
The priest will then ask you to recite The Act of Contrition as an expression of your sorrow. Recite the Act of Contrition. If you have forgotten how to recite the Act of Contrition, here is a version that you can take into the confessional with you.
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.
After you have recited the Act of Contrition, the priest will pronounce the words of absolution over you whereby Christ will forgive your sins. These are the words you will hear.
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.
The priest will conclude by saying, “God bless you,” or “Go in peace.” Respond, “Thanks be to God.”
Perform your penance. After you leave the confessional, perform the penance the priest assigned to you.
Remember, every church in the Archdiocese of Hartford will be open for confessions on the Mondays of Lent, 6:00 to 7:00 PM. Take advantage of this to receive the Sacrament of Penance this Lent.