The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance)

Preparation for Confession | Examination of Conscience |
Thanksgiving after Confession

Preparation for Confession

Prayer - Most merciful God, You are our Father in heaven, the fountain of holiness and mercy for all your creatures. I come to you with confidence to confess my sins and ask Your forgiveness. You do not turn away a humble and contrite heart; nor do you wish the sinner to die but to return to You and live. Bless me and restore me to Your friendship. I acknowledge my ungratefulness towards You and I am deeply sorry for the wrong I have done. I sincerely want to become a better person according to Your holy will, and to imitate Christ your Son more closely in my life.

O Jesus, my savior, you are the Good Shepherd who seeks out the lost ones of your flock. I have not followed you. I have left the path you were leading me on, and have preferred my own ways which have harmed me and others. Accept me back into your flock. I now admit my sins, as sincerely as I would if I were at the moment of my death. Lord Jesus, give me the grace to examine my conscience well.

Holy Spirit come. Enlighten my mind and strengthen my will so that I can recognize my sins for what they are, confess them humbly, and change my ways. Mary my Mother, help me with your prayers. Holy Angels and saints of God, pray for me. Amen

Reading: Luke 15:1-7
The tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear him, at which the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." Then he addressed this parable to them: " Which among you, if he has a hundred sheet and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wasteland and follow the one until he finds it? And when he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders in jubilation. Once arrived home, he invites friends and neighbors in and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you, there will likewise be more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent."

Examination of Conscience

1. I am the Lord your God.
   Have I lost faith that God has been guiding my life?
   Do I sincerely want to be set free from sin?
   Have I deliberately concealed any grave sins in the past Confessions?
   Have I given way to feelings of hopelessness and discouragement?
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
   Have I love and reverence for God's name?
   Have I been angry with God?
   Have I offended him in blasphemy, swearing falsely or taking his name in vain?
3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
   Do I keep Sundays and feast days holy by taking full part, with attention and devotion, in the liturgy, and especially in the Mass?
   Am I a good example to my family? Am I bringing my children up in the Catholic faith?
4. Honor your father and your mother.
   In my family life, have I contributed to the well-being and happiness of the rest of the family?
   Have I been obedient to my parents, showing them proper respect and giving them help in their spiritual and material needs?
   Have I genuine love of neighbor? Or do I use them for my own needs?
5. You shall not kill.
   Am I estranged from others through quarrels, enmity, insults, anger?
   Have I done anyone physical violence?
   Have I agreed to an abortion?
   What use have I made of my time, of my health and strength of the gifts God has given me?
6. You shall not commit adultery.
   Have I dishonored my body by sins of impurity or unchastity in thought, or word, or deed?
   Have I sinned by sins of fornication, or sensuality, or unworthy entertainment?
7. You shall not steal.
   Have I take what does not belong to me?
   Have I destroyed anyone's property?
   Have I always done an honest day's work?
   Have I defrauded anyone?
8. You shall not bear false witness.
   Have I been dishonest with myself, or with my friends, or family?
   Have I spoken about others maliciously?
   Have I betrayed confidences or secrets which have been damaging?
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.
    Have I been jealous or envious?
    Have I been vain about my appearance?
    Have I been hypocritical or lazy?
    Have I been proud, thinking myself better than others? Have I judged them?
    Have I abused medicines? or taken harmful drugs?
    Have I led others into sin?

The Two Greatest Commandments:

1. You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul and with all your mind.
2. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

The Precepts of the Church:

1. You shall attend Mass o Sundays and on Holy Days of obligation and rest from servile labor.
2. You shall confess your sins at least once a year.
3. You shall receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter Season.
4. You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church.
5. You shall help provide for the needs of the Church.

How to Go To Confession:

1. The priest greets you.
2. The penitent says: "Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned." You then say how long it has been since your lst Confession.
3. The penitent tells the priest his/her sins and answers any questions.
4. The priest will give you some advice and will assign you a penance.
5. The penitent will next pray the Act of Contrition.
6. The priest then gives absolution
7. The priest will then say and bid you go in the peace of the Lord.
8. The penitent says: "Thank you father."

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 all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

Thanksgiving After Confession

Say your penance and add the Magnificat or prayer of thanksgiving.

Magnificat: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.
My spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.

Prayer of Thanksgiving: Almighty and wonderful God, how wonderfully you created man and still more wonderfully remade him. You do not abandon the sinner but seek him out with a father's love. You sent your Son into the world to destroy sin and death by his passion, and to restore life and joy by his resurrection. You sent the Holy Spirit into our hearts to make us your children and heirs to your kingdom. You constantly renew our spirit in the sacrament of your redeeming love, freeing us from slavery to sin and transforming us ever more closely into the likeness of your beloved Son. We thank you for the wonders of your mercy and with heart and hand and voice we join with the whole Church in a new song of praise: Glory to you through Christ in the Holy Spirit now and forever. Amen.