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STEPS GUIDE in CONFESSING

The document provides a step-by-step guide to confession, outlining the process before, during, and after confession, including examining one's conscience, expressing contrition, confessing sins to a priest, receiving a penance, and giving thanks after.

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33 views

STEPS GUIDE in CONFESSING

The document provides a step-by-step guide to confession, outlining the process before, during, and after confession, including examining one's conscience, expressing contrition, confessing sins to a priest, receiving a penance, and giving thanks after.

Uploaded by

helen accompaniado
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Ozamis Cathedral School of Immaculate Conception Inc.

A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO CONFESSION

BEFORE GOING TO CONFESSION:

1. Pray. Ask God to give you the grace to make a good confession.

2. Examine your conscience. Reflect on your life, trying to recall all the times you sinned
against God since your last confession. Use an Examination of Conscience to help you.

3. Be truly sorry for your sins.

4. Make the resolution to avoid committing these sins in the future.

DURING CONFESSION:

1. Upon entering the confessional take your place. You may choose to either confess
anonymously by going behind the screen or by going face-to-face if this option is available.
Depending on the confessional, you may either kneel or sit.

2. Greet the priest. A simple “Good Morning” or “Good Evening” will do.

3. Then make the sign of the Cross and say the following: “Bless me father, for I have
sinned. It has been (state how many days, weeks, months, or years) since my last confession.
These are my sins.”

4. At this time, confess your sins briefly and clearly. It might be helpful to start with the one
that is most difficult to say since it will make it easier to mention the rest. Remember that for
a confession to be valid all mortal sins must be confessed. If you do not know whether a sin
is mortal or not, ask the priest for guidance. If you do not know what to say, feel uneasy or
ashamed, simply ask the priest to assist you. Be assured that he will help you to make a good
confession. Simply answer the questions he might ask you without hiding anything out of
shame or fear. Place your trust in God who is your merciful Father and wants to forgive you.

5. When you finish confessing your sins, say: “…and I am truly sorry for all my sins.”

6. The priest will then give you some words of advice and/or encouragement to help you
become a better person and a more faithful disciple of Jesus Christ.

7. Following this, he will assign you a penance which you are to do when you leave the
confessional. It might be something like saying a few prayers, doing an act of charity, or
making some sacrifice. Whatever it is, make sure that you understand it clearly and that you
remember to do it later.

8. After giving you the penance, the priest will ask you to say the Act of Contrition. You
may say whichever one you know. If you do not know an Act of Contrition, ask the priest to
assist you.
9. When you are finished praying the Act of Contrition, the priest will say the Prayer of
Absolution. Listen attentively to that prayer, bless yourself as he makes the Sign of the Cross
and at the end of the prayer, answer, “Amen.”

10. After giving you absolution, the priest will say, “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.”
at which you respond, “His mercy endures forever.” The priest then concludes by saying,
“Your sins are forgiven. Go in peace.” and you respond, “Thanks be to God.”

AFTER CONFESSION:

1. Say a prayer of thanksgiving. Give thanks to God for the gift of his infinite mercy and for
the sacrament you have just received.

2. Do your penance. It is advisable that you do your penance as soon as possible so that you
will not forget to do it.

Act of CONTRITION PRAYER:

The Act of Contrition is a heartfelt prayer expressing sorrow for our sins and
seeking God’s forgiveness. Here are a few versions of this prayer:

Traditional Version:
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I
detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments. But most of
all, because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and
deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of
Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of
sin. Amen.
From the Rite of Penance:

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong


and failing to do good, I have sinned against You, whom I should love
above all things. I firmly intend, with Your help, to do penance, to

sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus
Christ suffered and died for us. In His name, my God, have mercy.
Shortened Version:
Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

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