The Sacrament of Reconciliation - God Our Protector

Prayer Before Confession

I, a great sinner, come before you Lord, acknowledging my many sins and with an earnest desire to repent and to sin no more. Grant me perfect contrition for my sins, that i may detest them with deep sorrow. Send forth your light into my soul and reveal to me all those sins which i ought to confess at this time. Assist me with your grace that i may be sincere and humble in confessing them.

O Mary, my mother, be with me and help me to obtain remission of my sins with a contrite heart.

In The Confessional

The penitent and the priest begin with the sign of the Cross, saying: In the Name of the FAther and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

The priest urges the penitent to have confidence in God with these or similar words: May the Lord be in your heart and help you to confess your sins with true sorrow.

The priest may ready or say a passage from Sacred Scripture after which the penitent then states: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned, My last confession was (____, days/months/years) ago and these are my sins.” Confess your sins clearly and sincerely.

When you have finished confessing all the sins that you remember, say: For all these sins & the sins of my past life which I have forgotten, I ask absolution and penance from you, Father.

Listen attentively to the advice and the penance the priest will give you. At his invitation, recite the Act of Contrition. After having recited the Act of Contrition, bow your head and receive the priest’s absolution with humility and gratitude. Follow his words attentively and join him in say the closing “Amen!”

When I go to confession, I will remember that I should:

think of what I have done wrong.
be sorry for my sins.
make up my mind not to sin again
confess my sins to the priest – remember the priest takes the place of Jesus
do the penance the priest give me.

The best way to have a good confession is too:

Pray to the Holy Spirit.
Think of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Think of how much God loves you to send His only Son to give you eternal happiness.
Do the examination of conscience. (See the procedure below.)

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit, show me how good God is. Show me how I can love God and others as Jesus did. Show me how I have failed. Help me to be sorry for my sins.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful

And kindle in them the fire of your love.

When you go for confession

Begin your confession by making the sign of the cross.
Then say “Father, forgive me for I have sinned. This is my first confession or it has been ………………… since my last confession“.
Tell the priest what you have done wrong and why you did it. When you finish say: “I am sorry for all my sins“.
Listen carefully to what the priest says to you. He will help you learn how to be a good Christian. As penance, he will ask you to say a prayer or to do something to show that you are sorry for yours sins. Then recite the “Act of Contrition”.

Act of Contrition

O, my God, I am very sorry for all my sins, because they displease you, who are all good and deserving of all my love. With Your help, I will sin no more. Amen.

5. The priest says the words of forgiveness (Absolution).

“I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit.”

Make the sign of the cross with the priest and answer, “AMEN”

6. The priest says, “The Lord has freed you from your sins. Go in Peace.”

Your response” AMEN” then say “Thank you Father” and then you go.

After confession, be sure to do the penance Father asked you to do. Remember, it is Jesus who forgives your sins. Ask Him to help you try not to sin again.

How to Examine you Conscience

(to be done before going for confession)

We examine our consciences to find out how we have loved God and others. We ask ourselves how we have kept God’s commandments

When could I have made God sad:

Did I say my daily prayers?
Did I give my full attention when I prayed?
Did I say my grace before meals and thank God for the food he has given me?
When i spoke about God did I speak His name with love and respect?
Have I been distracted at Mass, have I sung the hymns and prayed at Mass?
Do I turn to God often during the day, especially when I am tempted?
Have I celebrated every Sunday and holy day by participating int he Eucharist. If I missed Mass was it for an important reason?
Have I thanked God for His goodness to me?
Have I often told God I was sorry when I sinned?

When could I have made my family, friends and neighbours sad:

Have I obeyed my mummy and daddy and all those who take care of me?
Did I talk back to them?
Have I loved and prayed for my parents?
Do I treat my friends equally or do i say mean things about some of my friends?
Did I use bad words or tell lies?
Did I make fun of old or handicapped people?
Did I teach others to do wrong?
HAve i used my talents in service to God and others?
Did I refuse to say “I am sorry” when i knew I was wrong?
Have I been mindful of the poor?
Did i leave out some friends when I was playing because I do not like them?
Did I damage anything that did not belong to me?
Have I copied my homework from a friend sometimes?
Did I insult someone or hurt them>
HAve I shown my feelings for other people in a loving and respectful way.
Am I grateful for what I have or am I always asking mummy and daddy for things because my friends have it.
Do I eat whatever mummy and daddy give me or do I grumble and make a fuss at meal times.
Did I hit my brothers, sisters or friends in anger.
Have I tidied up my room and my toys or left it in a mess for mummy to clean up?
Have I been selfish and not shared my toys with others?
Have I been moody because I did not get what I wanted?
Have I been arrogant, stubborn or rebellious?
Have I been kind and respectful to older people or others in authority like my teachers or those who take care of me at home?

Thanksgiving after Confession

I thank you for the blessings of this Sacrament of forgiveness and for your pardon and peace. Immaculate Virgin, my Angel Guardian and all you Saints,by your powerful intersession obtain for me the grace never to sin again.

Absolution

Confessor: 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. Amen.

The Priest may add: May the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all the sints, whatever good you do and suffering you endure, heal your sins, help you to grow in holiness, and reward you with eternal life. Go in peace. Amen.

Prayer After Confession

Almighty and merciful God, once again you have shown me your tender mercy by accepting me back even though I have fone on my own way. I renounce with my whole heart all the sins of my past life and resolve to commit them no more. I promise to hate sin and to avoid all the occasions that lead to it. Lord, without you I can do nothing; therefore, trusting in your grace I want to begin a new life. Mary, my mother, be at my side and assist me always.

Thanksgiving After Confession

I thank You Jesus for the blessings of this Sacrament of forgiveness and for Your pardon and peace. Immaculate Virgin, my Guardian Angel and all your Saints, by your powerful intercession obtain for me the grace never to sin again. Amen.

How to receive the Sacrament of Penance well?