Prayer before Confession: O Lord, grant me light to see myself as You see me,

1. Prayer before Confession: O Lord, grant me light to see myself as You see me, and the grace to be truly and effectively sorry for my sins. O Mary, help me to make a good confession.

2. Sin is a condition that effects the Body of Christ and each of us who make up that body If we sin against God We have sinned against ourselves And we have sinned against others Reconciliation, Reparation, Expiation is owed to the whole body of the Church

3. Its not enough to say, “The sin is my problem I’ll solve it.” We are not alone. Individualism is a lie Problems can be solved. Sin cannot be solved.The effect of an action due to the conditioncan’t be taken back.It can only be forgiven and healed.

4. The Economy of Forgiveness Jesus is sole holder of reconciling power He is the savior of the word He designates the proper means He gave authority to the Church

5. The Economy of Forgiveness The Church designates the method The Sacrament of Reconciliation is the opportunity provided to exercise God-given freedom

6. The Economy of Forgiveness Penance is not a mere human invention devised by the Church to secure power over consciences or to relieve the emotional strain of troubled souls It is the ordinary means appointed by Christ for the remission of sin.

7. The Economy of Forgiveness Man indeed is free to obey or disobey, but once he has sinned, He must seek pardon not on conditions of his own choosing but on those which God has determined. These for the Catholic Christian are embodied in the Sacrament of Penance.

8. The Economy of Forgiveness The priest represents both Jesus and His Body the Church His words of forgiveness are spoken for both No longer public but effective Because We the Church and Jesus the Savior accept this as the effective form for reconciliation of mortal sin.

9. No Catholic believes that a priest simply as an individual man has power to forgive sins. This power belongs to God alone But He can and does exercise it through the ministration of men. Since He has seen fit to exercise it by means of this sacrament, it cannot be said that the Church or the priest interferes between the soul and God Penance is the removal of the one obstacle that keeps the soul away from God.

10. Theology of ExchangeThe Economy of Forgiveness Love is unconditional The apology is accepted Forgiveness is given Trust is conditionalThe behavior has to change The wound has to be healed God has to be trusted

11. It is not true that for the Catholic the mere "telling of one's sins" suffices to obtain their forgiveness. Without sincere sorrow and purpose of amendment, confession avails nothing, the pronouncement of absolution is of no effect, and the guilt of the sinner is greater than before.

12. While this sacrament as a dispensation of Divine mercy facilitates the pardoning of sin, It by no means renders sin less hateful or its consequences less dreadful to the Christian mind Much less does it imply permission to commit sin in the future. In paying ordinary debts, as e.g., by monthly settlements, the intention of contracting new debts with the same creditor is perfectly legitimate; A similar intention on the part of him who confesses his sins would not only be wrong in itself but would nullify the sacrament and prevent the forgiveness of sins then and there confessed.

13. So! Why Confess My Sins? To ‘get it all out’ to another human being “At last I admitted to you I had sinned” Psalm 32 To ‘come back’ Luke 15:11-32 “I have sinned against heaven and against you” To ‘believe in sin’ Matthew 12:29-32 “Sin against the Holy Spirit” To see and hear forgiveness Luke 19:1-10 “Today salvation has come to your house” To recognize that our sin is linked with society’s 1 Corinthians 12:12-24 We are one body with Christ Both personal sin and structural sin are social sin

14. We believe in a loving Savior Who forgives our sins and Who gives us the grace to become a saint. Jesus Christ, through the ministry of His priests, does both in the Sacrament of Penance. How To Make A Good Confession

15. “Come now let us set things right says the Lord: Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool." (Isaiah 1:18) Go and learn the meaning of the words, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” I did not come to call the righteous but sinners. (Matt. 9:13) Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father hath sent Me, so I send you.” And when he had said this he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them; and whose sinsyou retain are retained." (John 20:21-23)

16. "Men have received from God a power not granted to angels or archangels. Never was it said to the heavenly spirits, ‘Whatsoever you shall bind and unbind on earth shall be bound and unbound in heaven.’ The princes of this world can only bind and unbind the body. The power of the priest extends further; it reaches the soul, and it is exercised not only in baptizing, but still more in pardoning sins. Let us not be embarrassed then, to confess our faults. He who is too embarrassed to reveal his sins to a man, and who will not confess, shall be covered with shame on the Day of Judgment in the presence of the whole universe." (St. John Chrysostom, Treatise on Priests, Bk. 3) Reconciliation is a purposeful act of humiliation before God and man.

17. The basic requirement for a good Confession is to have the intention of returning to God like the “prodigal son” and to acknowledge our sins with true sorrow before his representative, the priest. “To those who have been far away from the sacrament of Reconciliation and forgiving love I make this appeal: come back to this source of grace; do not be afraid! Christ himself is waiting for you. He will heal you, and you will be at peace with God!” (Homily of Pope John Paul II on September 13, 1987 at Westover Hills, San Antonio, Texas.)

18. How to Confess: First examine your conscience well, you are obliged to confess only mortal sins, since you can obtain forgiveness for your venial sins by sacrifices (e.g. The Mass) and acts of charity. If you are in doubt about whether a sin is mortal or venial, mention your doubt to the confessor. Remember also, confession of venial sins is very helpful for avoiding sin and advancing toward Heaven.

19. Necessary conditions for a sin to be mortal: Serious Matter Sufficient Reflection Full Consent of the Will

20. I confess to almighty Godand to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, [All strike their breast thrice]through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault;therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. The Seven Deadly Sins and the Opposite Virtues Things I have done/ And things I have failed to do 1. Pride...................................................Humility 2. Covetousness....................................Liberality 3. Lust.....................................................Chastity 4. Anger..................................................Meekness 5. Gluttony...........................................Temperance 6. Envy...............................................Brotherly love 7. Sloth.....................................................Diligence

21. Examination of Conscience Preliminary Considerations: Have I ever deliberately failed to confess a past serious sin, or have I willfully disguised or hidden such a sin? Note: The deliberate concealing of a mortal sin invalidates one’s confession and makes the person guilty of another mortal sin. Have I been guilty of irreverence for this sacrament by failing to examine my conscience carefully? Have I failed to do the penance given to me by the priest? Have I any habitual serious sin to confess first (e.g. impurity, drunkenness, etc.)?

22. Nine Ways of Being an Accessory to Another´s Sin Have I knowingly caused others to sin?Have I co-operated in the sins of others: • By counsel. • By command. • By consent. • By provocation. • By praise or flattery. • By concealment. • By partaking. • By silence. • By defense of the ill done?

23. Have I obeyed the laws of then church? The Six Precepts of the Church Have I heard Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation? Have I fasted and abstained on the days appointed and have I kept the Eucharistic fast? Have I confessed at least once a year? Have I received the Holy Eucharist at least once in the year? Have I contributed as far as I must to the support of the Church? Have I observed the laws of the Church concerning Marriage, i.e.: Marriage without a priest present, or marrying a relative or non-Catholic?

24. In what I have done: First Commandment: I am the Lord thy God. Thou shall not have strange gods before Me. (Including sins against Faith, Hope and Charity) Have I: • neglected the knowledge of my faith as taught in the catechism, such as the Apostles’ Creed, the Ten Commandments, the Seven Sacraments, the Our Father, etc. or deliberately doubted or denied any of the teachings of the Church? • been indifferent with regard to my Catholic Faith — believing one can be saved in any religion, that all religions are equal? • participated in any non-Catholic worship or become a member of any non-Catholic religious organization, secret society or anti-Catholic group? • knowingly read any heretical, blasphemous or anti-Catholic literature or practiced any superstitions (such as horoscopes, fortune telling, Ouija board, etc.)?

25. First Commandment: I am the Lord thy God. Thou shall not have strange gods before Me. (Including sins against Faith, Hope and Charity) Have I: • dedicated myself daily to God and been faithful to my daily prayers? • abused the Sacraments in any way or received them irreverently or made fun of God, Our Lady, the Saints, the Church, the Sacraments, other holy things? • been guilty of great irreverence in church, e.g., conversation, behavior, or dress? • presumed on God’s mercy at any time or despaired of God’s mercy? • hated God or given too much importance to any creature, activity, object or opinion?

26. Second Commandment: Thou shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. Have I: • sworn by God’s name falsely, rashly or in slight and trivial matters? • murmured or complained against God (blasphemy)? • cursed myself or others, or any creature? • angered others so as to make them swear or blaspheme God? • broken a vow made to God?

27. Third Commandment: Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day. Have I: • missed Mass on Sundays or Holy Days of obligation? • been late for Mass on Sundays or Holy Days of obligation or left early through my own fault? • made others miss Mass on Sundays or Holy Days of obligation, leave early or be late for Mass? • been willfully distracted during Mass? • done or commanded unnecessary servile work on Sunday or Holy Days of Obligation? • bought or sold things not of necessity on Sunday and Holy Days of obligation?

28. Fourth Commandment: Honor thy father and thy mother. Have I: • been disobedient or disrespectful to my parents, or have I neglected or refused to aid them in their wants or to do their last will? • shown irreverence to others in positions of authority? • maligned or insulted priests or others consecrated to God? • failed in due reverence to aged persons? • mistreated my spouse or my children or been disrespectful to my spouse?

29. Fourth Commandment: Regarding children and giving reason to dishonor: Have I: • neglected their material needs? • failed to care for their early baptism or for their proper religious education or allowed them to neglect their religious duties? • failed to supervise the company they keep or the things they watch? • failed to discipline them when they need it? • given them a bad example or scandalized them by arguing with my spouse in front of them or by cursing or swearing in front of them? • guarded modesty in the home and not permitted them to wear immodest clothing? • denied their freedom to marry or follow a religious vocation?

30. Fifth Commandment: Thou shall not kill. Have I: • procured, desired, or hastened the death or bodily injury of anyone? • borne hatred or oppressed anyone or desired revenge or caused enmity between others? • quarreled or fought with anyone or wished evil on anyone? • intended or attempted to injure or mistreat others or is there anyone with whom I refuse to speak, or against whom I bear a grudge? • taken pleasure in anyone’s misfortunes or been jealous or envious of anyone? • had or attempted to have an abortion or counseled anyone else to do so?

31. Fifth Commandment: Thou shall not kill. Have I: • mutilated my body unnecessarily in any way or become drunk or used illicit drugs or overeaten or do I neglect to eat properly, i.e., nutritious foods? • entertained thoughts of suicide, desired to commit suicide or attempted suicide? • failed to correct in Charity or harmed anyone’s soul, especially children, by giving scandal through bad example? • harmed my own soul by intentionally and without necessity exposing it to temptations, e.g.: bad TV, bad music, beaches, etc.

32. Sixth Commandment: Thou shall not commit adultery. Have I: • observed the church’s laws regarding marriage? • remained faithful to my marriage vows to love and honor my spouse? • used suggestive movies, TV programs, or Internet pornography to replace intimacy with my spouse? • used work, friends and hobbies as an excuse to be away from home? • used intimacy as a weapon within my marriage? • unnecessarily remained alone in the company of someone of the opposite sex?

33. Seventh Commandment: Thou shall not steal. Have I • stolen anything or acquired anything known to be stolen? What or how much? • damaged anyone’s property or negligently spoiled anyone’s property or been negligent in the stewardship of other people’s money or goods? • cheated or defrauded others or gambled excessively? • refused or neglected to pay any debts or failed to return things borrowed? • cheated my employer of an honest day’s work or cheated my employees of their wages? • been stingy or refused or neglected to help anyone in urgent need? • failed to make restitution for my stealing, cheating and frauds? (Ask the priest how to go about making restitution, that is, returning to the owner what you unjustly took from them.)

34. Eighth Commandment: Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Have I: • lied about anyone (calumny) and have my lies caused them any material or spiritual harm? • rashly judged anyone (i.e. believed firmly, without sufficient evidence, that they are guilty of some moral defect or crime)? • injured the good name of another by revealing true but hidden faults (detraction)? • disclosed another’s sins or been guilty of tale bearing, (i.e. reporting something unfavorable said of someone by another so as to create enmity between them)? • lent an ear to or encouraged the spreading of scandal about my neighbor or am I, without necessity, critical, negative or ever uncharitable in my talk? • taken false oaths or signed false documents or flattered others?

35. Ninth Commandments: Thou shall not covet thy neighbor’s wife. Have I • read indecent literature or looked at bad pictures, attended immodest dances or indecent plays? • watched suggestive movies, TV programs, or Internet pornography or permitted my children to do so? • used indecent language or told indecent stories or willingly listened to such stories? • been in lewd company and boasted of my sins or taken delight in past sins? • consented to impure glances or neglected to control my imagination? • avoided laziness, gluttony, idleness, and the occasions of impurity? Do I prayed at once to banish such bad thoughts and temptations?

36. Tenth Commandment: Thou shall not covet thy neighbor’s goods. Have I • been envious of another because I don’t have what they have or been jealous of what another has? • been grasping and avaricious, placing too great importance upon material goods and comforts? Is my heart set on earthly possessions or on the true treasures of Heaven?

37. And what I have failed to do:

38. The Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy Have I neglected to do the following when circumstances obliged me: The Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy • To admonish sinners. • To instruct the ignorant. • To counsel the doubtful. • To comfort the sorrowful. • To bear wrongs patiently. • To forgive all injuries. • To pray for the living and the dead? The Seven Corporal Works of Mercy • To feed the hungry. • To give drink to the thirsty. • To clothe the naked. • To visit and ransom the captives. • To shelter the homeless. • To visit the sick. • To bury the dead?

39. Remember, if you need help, especially if you have been away for some time, simply ask the priest and he will help you by walking you through the steps necessary.

40. You begin your confession by making the sign of the cross and greeting the priest: "Bless me father, for I have sinned." You continue with the time since your last confession: "My last good confession was... (how many weeks, months, or years approximately)." Say the sins that you remember. Start with the one that is the most difficult to say, after this it will be easier to mention the rest. Conclude with "I am sorry for these and all the sins of my past life.“ The priest will assign you some penance and give you some advice to help you be a better Christian. Then the priest will invite the penitent to make an act of contrition.

41. The penitent may say for example: "Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." or an "Act of Contrition" "O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because I have offended 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."

42. Listen to the words of absolution attentively. God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of His Son has reconciled the world to Himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the church, may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. At the end answer: "Amen." Be willing to do the penance as soon as possible. The penance will diminish the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven.