Penance and Reconciliation

What is the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

This is the sacrament through which sins committed after baptism are forgiven by God. Individual confession with a priest -- acting in the person of Christ -- is the principal means of absolution and reconciliation of grave sins within the Church. The Sacrament of Reconciliation frees us from sinful patterns of behavior and calls us to complete conversion to Christ. The sacrament heals our sins and repairs our relationships with God, self and others.

How do I prepare for a good confession?

 

  • Begin with prayer, placing yourself in the presence of God, our loving Father, seeking healing and forgiveness through repentance and a resolve to sin no more.
  • Review your life since your last confession. Search your thoughts, words and actions for anything that did not conform to God’s command to love him and one another through his laws and the laws of his church. This is called an examination of conscience. Click here for a sample examination of conscience to guide you.
  • Tell God how truly sorry you are for your sins.
  • Make a firm resolution not to sin again.

How do I go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

    1. Confession may be face-to-face or anonymous, with a screen between you and the priest. If the door to the Reconciliation Chapel is open, go in an choose the option that is most comfortable.

      • The priest gives you a blessing or greeting.
      • Make the Sign of the Cross and say, “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. My last confession was [give the number of weeks, months or years] ago.”
      • Confess all of your sins to the priest. (If you are unsure or uneasy, tell him and ask for help.) Say, “I am sorry for these and all of my sins.”
      • The priest assigns a penance and offers advice to help you be a better Catholic.
      • Say an act of contrition, expressing your sorrow for your sins. Click here for a sample.
      • The priest, acting in the person of Christ, then absolves you from your sins by placing his hands on or over your head. As he blesses you with the Sign of the Cross, you can make the Sign of the Cross on yourself.

      1. What are the spiritual effects of the Sacrament of Reconciliation? 

    2. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1496), these are the spiritual effects of the Sacrament of Reconciliation :
    • Reconciliation with God by which the penitent recovers grace
    • Reconciliation with the Church
    • Remission of the eternal punishment incurred by mortal sins
    • Remission, at least in part, of temporal punishments resulting from sin
    • Peace and serenity of conscience, and spiritual consolation
    • An increase of spiritual strength for the Christian battle

 Learn more

 

To read more about the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, click here.