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Sacrament of Reconciliation

Confession

An examination of conscience is simply setting aside quiet time to honestly reflect on where you've fallen short before approaching the priest in Confession.

How to Make an Examination

  • Set aside some quiet, uninterrupted time for reflection.
  • Start with a short prayer to the Holy Spirit, asking for help seeing yourself honestly as you prepare for Confession.
  • Go through the questions below and reflect honestly on each one — this is meant to help sins come to mind, not to be answered line by line.
  • Feel free to jot down a few private notes to bring with you, just so nothing slips your mind.

What Makes a Sin Mortal?

For a sin to be mortal, all three of the following have to be true:

  1. 1Full Knowledge — you knew the act (in thought, word, or omission) was seriously wrong.
  2. 2Full Consent — you freely chose it; nobody and nothing forced you into it.
  3. 3Grave Matter — the act itself is serious, not minor (anything covered by the Ten Commandments or the Precepts of the Church). Not every theft carries the same weight, either. Stealing a pack of gum isn't the same gravity as stealing someone's life savings, even though both are theft.

If any one of these three isn't fully present, the sin is venial rather than mortal — still worth bringing to Confession, since even venial sin is worth confessing, but it doesn't carry the same weight.

How to Go to Confession

Penitent: the person confessing their sins. Confessor: the priest administering the Sacrament.

  1. 1Enter the confessional and kneel at the screen.
  2. 2Make the Sign of the Cross and say: "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been ______ (state the amount of time) since my last confession. These are my sins."
  3. 3Confess your sins. The priest will listen, but may ask a question or two if something's unclear, or to help you make a fuller examination of conscience. (Every mortal sin needs to be confessed by kind and number of times committed. Venial sins should be confessed too.)
  4. 4When you're finished, say: "For these and all my sins, I ask forgiveness of God and absolution from you, Father." The priest may offer some advice or counsel to help you take the next steps in amending your life.
  5. 5The priest gives you a penance (usually a prayer or a good work) and asks you to pray an Act of Contrition. There are a few different versions — one is usually posted in the confessional (or see below).
  6. 6After you've prayed the Act of Contrition, the priest gives absolution. Make the Sign of the Cross as he does.
  7. 7The priest closes with something like: "Your sins are forgiven. Go in peace." You respond: "Thanks be to God."
  8. 8Leave the confessional and complete your penance as soon as you reasonably can.

Acts of Contrition (choose one)

Traditional: “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 confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.”

Simple: “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. Amen.”

Examination of Conscience

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