25/01/2026
STEPS TO CONFESSION
Jesus says in today's Gospel Reading, "REPENT."
Marthew 4:17
Confession (the Sacrament of Reconciliation) involves five main steps: examining your conscience, being truly sorry, firmly resolving to amend your life, confessing your sins to a priest, and doing the penance assigned.
Prepare by reflecting on sins against the Ten Commandments, then confess them directly and honestly to a priest.
Steps to Confession:
Preparation: 3 R's
1) REVIEW - Examine your conscience, recalling sins since your last confession. Use the ten commandments to see whether or not you have sinned.
2) REMORSE - feel true contrition (sorrow) for your sins.
3) RESOLUTION - Make a firm resolve not to sin again but live a new life.
Then go to confession.
Entrance: Enter the confessional (behind a screen or face-to-face) and make the Sign of the Cross.
Greeting: Greet the priest with, "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [time] since my last confession".
Confession: Confess your sins clearly and simply, focusing on mortal sins, though venial sins should also be confessed.
Advice & Penance: Listen to the priest's advice and accept the penance (a prayer or act of charity).
Act of Contrition: Pray the Act of Contrition when prompted by the priest to express sorrow.
Absolution: The priest, acting in the person of Christ, will give you absolution, to which you respond, "Amen".
Dismissal: The priest will dismiss you; you may then leave and complete your assigned penance.
If you are nervous, you can tell the priest it has been a long time, and he will guide you through the process.
