How to Go to Confession
Examine Your Conscience
Reflect on your sins since your last confession in light of God's Word and the Ten Commandments. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see your sins clearly.
Be Truly Sorry
Contrition is the most important part. You must detest your sins and firmly resolve to sin no more.
Confess Your Sins
Enter the confessional and say "Bless me Father, for I have sinned." Confess all mortal sins in kind and number, and any venial sins you wish to mention.
Act of Contrition
Pray the Act of Contrition when the priest asks. Express your sorrow and desire to amend your life.
Penance & Absolution
Listen to the priest's absolution. The penance he assigns is to help repair the harm caused by sin and to re-establish habits befitting a disciple of Christ.
Thanksgiving
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. Rejoice in the peace and serenity of conscience that comes from true reconciliation with God.
Renewal of Life
Return to your daily life with renewed spiritual strength. The sacrament restores God's grace, empowering you to fight against sin and to be a witness of His love.
Mass & Communion
With a cleansed heart, rejoice in the gift of receiving the Holy Eucharist at Mass. Give thanks for God's mercy and the grace to be united with Him once again.
Examination of Conscience
- Have I put God first in my life?
- Have I missed Mass or used God's name in vain?
- Have I been unkind, angry, or envious towards others?
- Have I been dishonest or stolen anything?
- Have I treated my body and others with purity and respect?
For a more detailed guide based on your state of life, please visit the USCCB website below:
View Full Examinations of Conscience
Like the father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, God runs to meet us when we return to Him. Confession is a sacrament of healing and joy, where we encounter His boundless love.