How to Go to Confession

Confession is a beautiful Sacrament of healing. Only God's grace can heal the wounds that sin leaves on our souls. If it feels intimidating to confess your sins to a priest, remember that Jesus is present and acting through the priest. In the Gospel of John, we hear, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him." Jesus is not waiting to tell you how bad you are - He is waiting to reconcile with you. He made you good and wants to restore that goodness entirely through Confession. He died on the cross to be with you! Reflect on His sacrifice as you prepare for Confession.

If you haven’t been to Confession in a while, Lent is the perfect time to go since it is a season of repentance. Here is a reminder of how to go to Confession.

 1. Preparation 

Reflect on the sins you have committed since you last went to Confession. It may be helpful to go through the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes in the Bible. The Ten Commandments are found in Exodus Chapter 20, Verses 1-17. The Beatitudes are in the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 5, Verses 1-12. 

The USCCB website contains a guide to making an Examination of Conscience: https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/penance/examinations-of-conscience

If you struggle to think of your sins, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. Ask Jesus to help you make a good confession!

2. Greeting and Sign of the Cross

When you go to Confession, the priest will greet you and you will make the Sign of the Cross. Begin your Confession by saying, “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [give days, months, or years] since my last confession.”

3. Confessing Your Sins

Confess all the sins you can think of to the priest. Do not hold anything back due to embarrassment or fear. Remember that Jesus is present and acting through the priest! If you are confused or unsure of what to say, ask the priest for help. He will walk you through the process. When you are finished, conclude with these or similar words: “I am sorry for these and all my sins.”

4. Receiving Guidance and a Penance

The priest may give you spiritual guidance for avoiding future sins and living a more virtuous life. He will also give you an act of penance to do after Confession. This may be a prayer, a Scripture passage, or an act of service.

5. Act of Contrition and Absolution

When the priest is finished giving you advice and a penance, he will prompt you to make an Act of Contrition. There are different variations on this prayer. If you don’t have it memorized, consider bringing a prayer card with you to Confession or asking the priest for help. Here is a link to an Act of Contrition prayer: https://www.usccb.org/prayers/act-contrition

After you pray the Act of Contrition, the priest will say the words of Absolution and you will respond “Amen.”

6. Praise and Dismissal

The priest will praise the mercy of God and invite you to do the same. For example, the priest may say, “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.” And your response would be, “His mercy endures for ever.” He will conclude the Sacrament with “Go in peace.” After you leave Confession, spend a few moments in church thanking God for His forgiveness and mercy. Do your penance now or as soon as you are able.