Not only does it [the Sacrament of Penance] free us from our sins but it also challenges us to have the same kind of compassion and forgiveness for those who sin against us. We are liberated to be forgivers. We obtain new insight into the words of the Prayer of St. Francis: “It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.”
Jesus entrusted the ministry of reconciliation to the Church. The Sacrament of Penance is God’s gift to us so that any sin committed after Baptism can be forgiven. In confession we have the opportunity to repent and recover the grace of friendship with God. It is a holy moment in which we place ourselves in his presence and honestly acknowledge our sins, especially mortal sins. With absolution, we are reconciled to God and the Church. The Sacrament helps us stay close to the truth that we cannot live without God.
“In him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).
How to Make a Good Confession: Examination of Conscience
In order to make a good Confession, ask yourself the following questions. When asking yourself these questions, truly ponder them one by one, and allow the Holy Spirit to guide your examination.
Did I deny or doubt God’s existence?
Did I refuse to believe God’s revelation?
Did I believe in (or use) horoscopes, fortune telling, good luck charms, tarot cards, Ouija boards or reincarnation?
Did I deny that I was a Catholic?
Did I abandon the Catholic Faith for any period of time?
Did I despair of or presume on God’s mercy?
Did I neglect prayer for a long time?
Did I fail to pray daily?
Did I blaspheme God or take God’s Name in vain, curse or break an oath or vow?
Did I miss Mass on a Sunday or on a Holy Day of Obligation through my own fault?
Am I always reverent in the presence of the Most Blessed Sacrament?
Was I voluntarily inattentive at Mass?
Did I arrive at Mass late through my own fault?
Did I leave Mass early?
Did I do unnecessary servile work on Sunday?
Did I disobey or disrespect my parents or legitimate superiors?
Did I neglect my duties to my husband, wife, children or parents?
Did I fail to actively take an interest in the religious education and formation of my children?
Have I failed to educate myself concerning the teachings of the Church?
Did I give a full day’s work in return for a full day’s pay?
Did I give a fair wage to my employee(s)?
Did I give scandal by what I said or did, especially to the young?
Did I contribute to anyone’s abandoning of the Catholic Faith?
Was I impatient, angry, envious, unkind, proud, jealous, revengeful, hateful toward others or lazy?
Did I give bad example, abuse drugs, drink alcohol to excess, fight or quarrel?
Did I physically injure or kill anyone?
Have I had an abortion, or advised or supported an abortion?
Did I participate in or approve of the grave evil known as “mercy killing,” euthanasia or doctor assisted suicide?
Did I attempt suicide or physically harm myself?
Did I willfully entertain impure thoughts and desires?
Did I dress immodestly or provocatively?
Did I use impure or suggestive words?
Did I tell impure stories or listen to them?
Did I deliberately look at impure television, internet, plays, pictures or movies?
Did I deliberately read or send impure material?
Did I perform impure acts by myself (masturbation) or with another (adultery, fornication or sodomy)?
Did I marry or advise another to marry outside of the Church?
Did I abuse my marriage rights?
Was I unfaithful to my marriage vows?
Have I kept company with someone else’s spouse?
Did I practice artificial birth control or was I or my spouse permanently sterilized (tubal ligation or vasectomy)?
Did I steal, cheat, help or encourage others to steal, cheat, or keep stolen goods?
Have I made restitution for stolen goods?
Did I deliberately fail to fulfill my contracts or to pay my bills?
Did I give or accept bribes?
Did I rashly gamble or speculate or deprive my family of the necessities of life?
Did I tell lies? Deliberately in order to deceive or injure others? (slander or calumny)
Did I commit perjury?
Did I vote in accordance with a properly informed conscience, in a way consistent with the teachings of the Church, in regard to the sanctity of marriage and of human life issues?
Was I uncharitable in thought, word or deed?
Did I gossip or reveal the faults or sins of others? (detraction)
Did I fail to keep secrets that I should have kept?
Did I eat meat knowingly on the Fridays during Lent or on Ash Wednesday? (Ages 14+)
Did I fast as required on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday? (Ages 18-59)
Did I fail to receive Holy Communion during the Easter Season?
Did I fail to confess my sins at least once a year?
Did I receive Holy Communion in the state of mortal sin?
Did I receive Holy Communion without fasting for one hour or more from food and drink? (water and medicine are permitted)
Did I make a bad Confession by deliberately not telling all the mortal sins I had committed?
Did I fail to contribute to the support of the Church?
Have I forgiven those who have hurt or harmed me or my loved ones?
How to Go to Confession
Has it been some time since your last Confession? Is this your first Confession? Follow these steps to make your Confession:
The priest will greet you.
The penitent (you!) says: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.” You then say how long it has been since your last Confession. If you have never been to Confession, you can tell the priest and he can help guide your Confession.
The penitent tells the priest their sins simply and forthrightly (if mortal sin, give kind and approximate number).
The priest will give you some advice and assign you a penance.
The penitent will next pray the Act of Contrition (see prayer below).
The priest then gives the penitent absolution.
The priest will then say: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.”
The penitent responds: “His mercy endures forever.” The priest will then dismiss you.
The penitent carries out the assigned penance.
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of hell. But most of all, because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen.
Prayer After Confession
Almighty and Merciful God, Whose mercy is boundless and everlasting and of Whose goodness the riches are infinite, I thank You because You have so graciously pardoned all my sins and restored Your Heavenly favor. I am awed by Your divine compassion and the incomprehensible love of Your Son, which has led Him to institute so gentle and powerful a remedy for sins. In union with all the gratitude that has ever ascended to You from truly penitent hearts, I proclaim Your merciful praises on behalf of all in Heaven, on earth and in purgatory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Want to print the Examination of Conscience? Download the Examination of Conscience.
Confession Times at Saint Clare
Wednesday 12:00-1:00pm
Friday 5:00-6:00pm (not on office holidays)
Saturday 2:30-3:30pm
Other times by appointment. Padre Hans y Padre Jacob hablan Español y Ingles.