Why should I go to confession?

What is now known as the “sacrament

of penance” or of “reconciliation” has has changed a lot over the changed a lot over the years! years!

mmore and more ore and more cchristians, especially young people, are rediscovering this once-neglected sacrament. and it’s a good thing they are! Because for a long time,

“going to confession” was a frightening idea to many catholics. You had to draw up a list of your sins, make an “examination of make an “examination of conscience,” kneel in a conscience,” kneel in a confessional, and profess confessional, and profess all your faults without all your faults without forgetting any. forgetting any.

today the sacrament oday the sacrament oday the sacrament oday the sacrament today the sacrament tof penance is once again of penance is once again of penance is once again becoming what it always becoming what it always becoming what it always should have been in the should have been in the should have been in the should have been in the first place: a chance for a first place: a chance for a first place: a chance for a first place: a chance for a first place: a chance for a

real, confiding, prayerful dialogue with a priest, as well as an authentic way to have a personal and to have a personal and mysterious encounter mysterious encounter with God. By going to with God. By going to confession, we show ourselves to God as we really are, with all our strengths and weaknesses. and we receive God’s forgiveness.

How do I confess?I don’t go to confession to feel interesting sensations, or to see what advice I’ll get.

I go because I should submit myself to the power of God. That’s enough for me—

it gives me joy and peace. • Cardinal Martini

Practical tips for a good confessionFirst of all, briefly introduce your-self to the priest. Explain your family situation and the state of your life. If it’s been a long time since your last confession, tell him that as well. Before starting your confession, you can make the sign of the cross. When your session is over, express your sor-row using a traditional prayer of repentance or a prayer in your own words. The priest will raise his hand and speak the sacra-mental words of pardon: “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 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.” You should respond “Amen” and make the sign of the cross. Then the priest will give you a penance—usually prayers to say or a biblical passage to mull over at home.

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The Bible: A treasure trove waiting to be discovered (95BBiB)

Why should I go to confession? Why should I go to confession? Why should I go to confession? (95Bcon)

Depression…How can I overcome it?Depression…How can I overcome it?Depression…How can I overcome it?Depression…How can I overcome it? (95BDep)

Divorced: How do you rebuild your life? Divorced: How do you rebuild your life? Divorced: How do you rebuild your life? (95BDiV)V)

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Who is Jesus? (95B (95Bwho)

Why do evil and suffering exist?Why do evil and suffering exist? (95BsUf)

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the sign of the cross. When your session is over, express your sor-row using a traditional prayer of repentance or a prayer in your own words. The priest will raise his hand and speak the sacra-mental words of pardon: “God, the Father of mercies, through

from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” You should respond “Amen” and make the sign of the cross. Then the priest will give you a penance—usually prayers to say or a biblical passage to mull over at home.

matters

©istockphoto.com/Banks

The Bible: A treasure trove waiting to be discovered

Why should I go to confession? (95B

Depression…How can I overcome it?Depression…How can I overcome it?Depression…How can I overcome it?Divorced: How do you rebuild your life? Divorced: How do you rebuild your life?

© 2011 BY

changed a lot over the changed a lot over the

ore and more hristians, especially

young people, are rediscovering this once-neglected sacrament. it’s a good thing they are! Because for a long time,

“going to confession” was a frightening idea to many

atholics. You had to draw up a list of your sins, make an “examination of conscience,” kneel in a

mysterious encounter with God. By going to confession, we show ourselves to God as we

strengths and weaknesses. nd we receive God’s

forgiveness.

a frightening idea to many atholics. You had to

draw up a list of your sins, make an “examination of make an “examination of conscience,” kneel in a

Why should go to

confession?

Why should go to

confession)

(95BD

inc.

Why should I

Why should Why should I go to confession?

I go ?

I go

EVerYone, at one time or another, wants to

take stock of the way their life is unfolding. everyone experiences difficulties in their emotional, professional, and personal life. some choices are happy, others not so happy. there are some words we regret, and others that have borne fruit. there may be deep emotions that trouble,

disturb, and pain us. there may also be grave actions that weigh heavy on our conscience. Going to confession allows us to lay all of that before God, with the help of a priest. it allows us to experience his tenderness and forgiveness in our hearts.

Preparing for Preparing for PreparingconfessionPreparingconfessionPreparing

This important step DemanDs some real

reflection! You don’t have

to draw up a list of sins, or rigorously examine your slightest actions. But you do have to sincerely review the essential features of your life. You can also choose a gospel passage that particularly touches you and that you’d like to talk about with the priest.

Give thanks first

WhY not BeGin YoUr confession BY GiVinG

thanks? thank God for an ordeal you’ve overcome, joys you’ve experienced, or happy events. it’s important to express these things before God and recognize his presence and action in the blessings of your life. Going to confession is also a profession of your faith—that is, by putting God at the center of everything and assuring God that you’re completely receptive to his ever-creative, ever-renewing will. By confessing, you also assure

God that you know you can do nothing without him.

Acknowledgethe problemAcknowledgethe problemAcknowledge

It’s not so mUch a matter of formallYof formallYof formall listinG

YoUr sins, even though it’s always good to explicitly acknowledge the actions that have distanced us from God. the important thing is to tell God what you want to change about yourself—what makes you uneasy.

often, these things could be attitudes, thoughts, or ways of being that are linked to deep currents in your psyche: pride, jealousy, or anger, for example. maybe you regret failing to form a sincere relationship with someone, or being disturbed by certain desires or irrepressible movements of your soul. maybe you have something very serious to confess. what you need to do is simply place yourself before God

and ask him for healing and forgiveness.

confession is asking God to purify us, illuminate us, relieve our burdens, and heal our sadness and skepticism. it’s calling on God’s love—a love that sympathizes, perfects, and raises us up.

Finish with a prayerFinish with a prayerFinish

YoU can enD YoUr confession BY praY praY pra inG

with the priest. Before pronouncing the words of pardon or absolution in the name of God, he may read a passage from the gospels and comment on it according to what you’ve told him. he can also give advice and illuminate anything that may seem unclear. But the most important thing is the simplicity and

sincerity of the step you’ve accomplished. the peace and joy that result are the fruits of this profound shift toward God. confession liberates us and makes us happy.

What next?

YoU neeD to make the Decision to chanGe!

especially if the faults you’ve specially if the faults you’ve confessed are serious and confessed are serious and have grave consequences have grave consequences for yourself and others. for yourself and others. sometimes, you’ll need to ometimes, you’ll need to start rethinking your life, and start rethinking your life, and plan on doing some follow-plan on doing some follow-up. Being forgiven implies up. Being forgiven implies starting anew. God’s strength starting anew. God’s strength is always with you when is always with you when you’re trying to distance you’re trying to distance yourself from evil. yourself from evil. •

“Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” » John 21:17

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do i need to confess need to confess often?often?• Depends who you are and what load you’re carrying. mmany people have a very hard any people have a very hard time going to confession, and time going to confession, and do so rarely. do so rarely. oothers have disthers have dis-covered all the spiritual and covered all the spiritual and even psychological benefits of confession, and go often. of confession, and go often. of confession, and go often. of confession, and go often. if you aspire to an authentic f you aspire to an authentic f you aspire to an authentic christian life, going to conhristian life, going to conhristian life, going to con-fession at least twice a year seems like a good average!

does the priest have the right to ask me prying questions?• the priest kindly wel-comes all those who come to confess. his role is limited to listening. to listening. to listening. of course, he can ask questions that light can ask questions that light can ask questions that light can ask questions that light can ask questions that light the way on your approach toward truth. But his words will be discreet and respectwill be discreet and respect--ful. personal topics will never ersonal topics will never be brought up unless you be brought up unless you choose to talk about them.choose to talk about them.

are some sins more re some sins more serious than others?serious than others?• Yes, of course. Yes, of course. theft, murder, and lying are serious murder, and lying are serious

sins. But there are others that cloud our relationship that cloud our relationship with God, with others, and with God, with others, and with God, with others, and with ourselves. with ourselves. each person ach person needs to honestly evaluate needs to honestly evaluate needs to honestly evaluate the consequences of their the consequences of their the consequences of their the consequences of their behavior, and see if they’re behavior, and see if they’re behavior, and see if they’re behavior, and see if they’re living in a good way. living in a good way. living in a good way. living in a good way. living in a good way. that’s why our conscience needs to why our conscience needs to why our conscience needs to be illuminated often.be illuminated often.be illuminated often.

Where should Where should Where should i go go to confession?to confession?to confession?• in a parish or at a spiritual n a parish or at a spiritual center. center. parishes often schedarishes often sched-ule penance services during ule penance services during ule penance services during advent and dvent and lent. ent. these services consist of preparaservices consist of preparaservices consist of prepara-tion time and celebration tion time and celebration tion time and celebration tion time and celebration followed by the opportunity followed by the opportunity followed by the opportunity to personally receive the to personally receive the to personally receive the sacrament. You must be bapsacrament. You must be bapsacrament. You must be bap-tized before you may receive tized before you may receive tized before you may receive tized before you may receive tized before you may receive the sacrament of penance. the sacrament of penance. the sacrament of penance. the sacrament of penance. the sacrament of penance. But no one will stop you from But no one will stop you from But no one will stop you from But no one will stop you from But no one will stop you from But no one will stop you from going to talk to a priest.going to talk to a priest.going to talk to a priest.going to talk to a priest.going to talk to a priest.going to talk to a priest.

should i tell all? tell all? tell all? tell all?• a priest is not a therapist. priest is not a therapist. priest is not a therapist. priest is not a therapist. priest is not a therapist. priest is not a therapist. priest is not a therapist. still, feel free to address till, feel free to address till, feel free to address till, feel free to address till, feel free to address any topic you need to. any topic you need to. any topic you need to. he is bound to secrecy and can bound to secrecy and can bound to secrecy and can never reveal anything he never reveal anything he never reveal anything he hears in confession.hears in confession.hears in confession.

Why should I go

or another, wants to take stock of the way their life is unfolding. everyone experiences difficulties

disturb, and pain us. may also be grave actions that weigh heavy on our conscience. Going to confession allows us to lay all of that before God, with the help of a priest. it allows us to experience

of confession, and go often. of confession, and go often. f you aspire to an authentic hristian life, going to con

fession at least twice a year seems like a good average!

oes the priest have the right to ask me prying questions?

he priest kindly wel-comes all those who come to confess. is role is limited to listening. f course, he can ask questions that light can ask questions that light the way on your approach toward truth. But his words

be illuminated often.be illuminated often.

Where should to confession?to confession?

ule penance services during ule penance services during dvent and

services consist of preparation time and celebration

sacrament. You must be bapsacrament. You must be baptized before you may receive the sacrament of penance. But no one will stop you from But no one will stop you from

next? to make the

ecision to chanspecially if the faults you’ve specially if the faults you’ve

confessed are serious and have grave consequences have grave consequences for yourself and others.

ometimes, you’ll need to start rethinking your life, and plan on doing some follow-up. Being forgiven implies starting anew. God’s strength is always with you when you’re trying to distance yourself from evil.

to confess. to listening. to listening. can ask questions that light the way on your approach toward truth. But his words

perfects, and raises us up.

FinishU can en

confession with the priestpronouncing the words of pardon or absolution in the name of God, he may read a passage from the gospels and comment on it according to what you’ve told him.

e can also give advice and illuminate anything

What

YoUecision to chan

specially if the faults you’ve confessed are serious and have grave consequences for yourself and others.

ometimes, you’ll need to start rethinking your life, and plan on doing some follow-

talk about with the priest.

Ghank God for an

joys you’ve experienced, or t’s important

before God and recognize his presence and action in

Going to confession is also

always good to explicitly acknowledge the actions that have distanced us from God. he important thing is to tell God what you want to change about yourself—what makes you uneasy.

often, these things could be attitudes, thoughts, or ways of being that are linked to deep currents in your psyche: pride, jealousy, or anger, for example. maybe you regret failing to form a sincere relationship

here may also be grave actions

confession allows us to lay all of that before God, with the help of a priest. t allows us to experience

you and that you’d like to talk about with the priest.

Give thanks not

confession hank God for an

ordeal you’ve overcome, joys you’ve experienced, or

t’s important to express these things before God and recognize his presence and action in the blessings of your life. Going to confession is also

Give thanks

Wthanks?ordeal you’ve overcome, joys you’ve experienced, or happy events.

oUr BY pra. Before

pronouncing the words