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How To Make a Good Confession (especially if you haven't gone in years)
OSV ^ | Mike Aquilina and Fr. Kris D. Stubna

Posted on 12/20/2005 11:38:54 AM PST by NYer

 

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” - Matthew 16:19

What Is Confession?

Confession is a sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ in His love and mercy to offer sinners forgiveness for offenses committed against God. At the same time, sinners reconcile with the Church, because it also is wounded by our sins. We know this sacrament by various names: the Sacrament of Penance, Confession, or Reconciliation.

Many Catholics avoid the Sacrament of Reconciliation simply because we don't remember how to confess our sins. We simply don't know what to say, and are too embarrassed to ask.

Confession is not a difficult matter, but it does require some preparation. As with all things, we should begin with prayer, placing ourselves in the presence of God. Then we should try to review our lives since our last confession, searching out our thoughts, words, and actions that did not conform to God’s love, to His law, or to the laws of the Church. Reviewing our life this way is called an "examination of conscience," and it is a good practice for every day of our lives (see page 103).

We should not let too much time pass between our visits to the sacrament of reconciliation. The Church asks us to go at least once a year, but suggests that we go regularly, perhaps once a month. If we go more often, we can more often receive the graces to improve our lives.

Once you are there for the sacrament, follow these four steps to a good confession:

1. Tell all. Try not to leave any serious sins out. Start with the one that is toughest to say.

2. Be clear. Try not to be subtle or euphemistic.

3. Be sorry. Remember, it is God you have offended, and His forgiveness you seek.

4. Be brief. No need to go into detail. Often when we do, we are just trying to excuse ourselves.

If you have not been to confession in a while, this is not a reason to worry. The Church loves to welcome prodigal children home. But please do not delay any longer — just go. You might even want to make an appointment with your parish priest so you can spend a little more time without worrying about delaying others who might be waiting in line. Let the priest know at the start that it has been a while since your last confession, and that you are not sure how to proceed. And if you are nervous, say so. The point of the sacrament is repentance and mercy; so the more mercy the priest can dispense in the name of God, the more joyous the occasion should be.


TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; Current Events; General Discusssion; Ministry/Outreach; Moral Issues; Prayer; Theology; Worship
KEYWORDS: catholic; confession; goandsinnomore; reconciliation; sacrament
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To: NYer

Ping and thanks.


41 posted on 12/21/2005 12:39:44 AM PST by BlackElk (Dean of Discipline of the Tomas de Torquemada Gentlemen's Club)
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To: NYer


Whew. Got my son to go to Confession last night - it's been about 2 years for him. Teenagers can be tough. He wasn't struck by lightening - I think he was encouraged :)

I had a little pamphlet book on Confession to help him out and refresh his memory.

We had 4 priests on deck last night for Confessions and they're going to be doing the same thing all week from 7 pm until they're finished.

One thing that usually discourages me is to try to go to Confession and wait in line...then the priest is only there for 30 minutes and you don't get heard. Being able to go and know you'll be heard is worth the wait.

We are truly Blessed!


42 posted on 12/21/2005 5:06:59 AM PST by MudPuppy (Another Day ~ Another Adventure!)
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To: NYer

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

A little lax, compared with the old Latin version.

Ideo firmiter propono, adiuvante gratia Tua, de cetero me non peccaturum, peccandique occasiones proximas fugiturum.


43 posted on 12/21/2005 7:20:44 AM PST by dsc (‚³‚æ‚­‚µ‚ñ‚¶‚Ü‚¦)
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To: NYer

bookmark


44 posted on 12/21/2005 7:22:21 AM PST by jaime1959
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To: NYer

An excellent and timely post! We received the sacrament last Saturday. And the links to examining one's conscience are always appreciated.


45 posted on 12/21/2005 8:37:07 AM PST by fortunecookie
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To: Petronski; cyborg; onyx

Ping! You may have seen this already, but it bears repeating! ;-)


46 posted on 12/21/2005 8:38:06 AM PST by fortunecookie
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To: NYer

Marked for reference. Thanks.


47 posted on 12/21/2005 9:43:43 AM PST by Faraday
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To: MudPuppy
Got my son to go to Confession last night - it's been about 2 years for him. Teenagers can be tough. He wasn't struck by lightening - I think he was encouraged :)

Lol ... it doesn't get any easier. Since Confession is mandatory prior to receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, my daughter couldn't escape. They probably wonder how 'doing what everyone else is doing', could be a sin. Since then, a team of wild horses couldn't drag her back.

48 posted on 12/21/2005 10:08:16 AM PST by NYer ("Socialism is the religion people get when they lose their religion")
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To: NYer

Thank you for this, NYer. Merry Christmas.


49 posted on 12/21/2005 10:19:00 AM PST by Miss Behave (Beloved daughter of Miss Creant, super sister of danged Miss Ology, and proud mother of Miss Hap.)
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To: MudPuppy

See #35 in this thread!

Noel and S/F!
F


50 posted on 12/21/2005 4:08:18 PM PST by Frank Sheed ("Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions." ~GK Chesterton.)
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To: NYer

bttt


51 posted on 12/21/2005 4:31:33 PM PST by thegreatbeast (Quid lucrum istic mihi est?)
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To: fortunecookie


Thank you.
Just in time for Christmas.


52 posted on 12/21/2005 8:28:30 PM PST by onyx (Merry Christmas everybody.)
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To: Pyro7480; NYer
"That's a really good list. Thanks NYer. I think most of us are guilty of something under most of these on a regular basis. I know I am."

"Most of us"??

ALL of us -- save for the Perfect One 2000 years ago.

One itty-bitty "sin" is one too many for access to Heaven without the innocent blood of the Lamb of God.

Btw, I second the motion -- that was a great list, NYer.

53 posted on 12/21/2005 8:38:12 PM PST by F16Fighter
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To: F16Fighter
ALL of us -- save for the Perfect One 2000 years ago.

Don't forget the other exception, His Mother.

54 posted on 12/21/2005 8:50:21 PM PST by Pyro7480 (Sancte Joseph, terror daemonum, ora pro nobis!)
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To: NYer
This is the best little booklet on confession that I have found:

This wonderful and practical little booklet explains clearly and thoroughly how to make a good Confession--but in much greater detail than covered in most catechisms. It includes an Examination of Conscience (plus a discussion of lax, scrupulous and doubtful conscience), contrition and its necessary qualities, avoiding the near occasions of sin, the actual Confession of sins to the priest, and the penance given by the priest. This booklet also explains perfect and imperfect contrition and how to make acts of perfect contrition. It then considers sacrilegious Confession, how to rectify a bad Confession and the reasons for General Confession. Confession of venial sins is also discussed, as well as the many, unheralded benefits of frequent Confession.

After these beautiful, clear explanations, the booklet then guides the reader through preparation for a good Confession, including an Examination of Conscience based on the Ten Commandments of God, the Six Precepts of the Church, the Seven Capital Sins, the duties of one's particular state of life, and the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. Also included are considerations to excite contrition and prayers before and after Confession.

This is truly a most valuable little handbook about Confession, packed with the traditional teachings of the Church on the Sacrament of Penance--a Sacrament which is both the salvation of those in mortal sin and a much-neglected and easy means of growth in holiness for all Catholics.

Published by TAN Books and Publishers

I try to keep a few on hand to give away.

55 posted on 12/21/2005 8:56:54 PM PST by murphE (These are days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed but his own. --G.K. Chesterton)
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To: Pyro7480
"Don't forget the other exception, His Mother."

With all due respect, even Mary was borne in sin. That is why Jesus was borne via "Immaculate Conception" through the Holy Spirit.

Jesus was God in the flesh, and thus the ONLY sinless One.

56 posted on 12/21/2005 9:04:32 PM PST by F16Fighter
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To: F16Fighter
Our Lord Jesus Christ was indeed conceived through the Holy Ghost. However, you are confused in regards to the Immaculate Conception, for she is the Blessed Virgin Mary. I know you were trying not to offend by your words, but you must have known that they are theologically-controversial.

From very early in the Christian era, believers have held that Our Lord took His flesh of the Virgin Mary. If He did, and Mary's flesh felt the corruption of sin, what does this say about Our Lord? Of course, He has the power to preserve Himself, but that's not the way He chose to come into the world. For if the written word of God, the tablets from Mt. Sinai, had to be held in a vessel made of pure materials, then why would God send His Word, Jesus Christ, to be held in an impure vessel?

57 posted on 12/21/2005 9:25:25 PM PST by Pyro7480 (Sancte Joseph, terror daemonum, ora pro nobis!)
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To: F16Fighter

The Immaculate Conception doesn't refer to the conception and birth of Jesus. It refers to the conception of Mary free from all sin in her mother's womb. This special (and unmerited!) favor was accorded her by God in anticipation of her role as the living ark for the living Word of God. She didn't, strictly speaking, HAVE to have this done for her, but "it was fitting and proper," as the eastern Church says. She needed the salvation of the cross just like everyone else, but the fruit of the cross was applied to her beforehand.


58 posted on 12/22/2005 5:54:07 AM PST by magisterium
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To: magisterium
"The Immaculate Conception doesn't refer to the conception and birth of Jesus. It refers to the conception of Mary free from all sin in her mother's womb...as the eastern Church says."

I appreciate your explanation, but could you kindly cite any Scripture to support your assertion?

59 posted on 12/22/2005 6:01:39 AM PST by F16Fighter
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To: Pyro7480
"From very early in the Christian era, believers have held that Our Lord took His flesh of the Virgin Mary. If He did, and Mary's flesh felt the corruption of sin, what does this say about Our Lord?...

[And] why would God send His Word, Jesus Christ, to be held in an impure vessel?"

Doesn't Scripture tell us ALL who came after Adam and Eve are tainted with "original sin"? Even now...

Yes, Christ was indeed born of the flesh virgin Mary -- though NOT "conceived" through sin.

But what this says about Our Lord was that He is a man as well as God, as only a sinless man of the flesh could redeem us.

We can not know all the mysteries of God, but one can only refer to Scripture for support -- rather than "church tradition."

60 posted on 12/22/2005 6:15:14 AM PST by F16Fighter
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