THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

“HOW TO GO TO CONFESSION”

BY

SR. CHRISTIEN KELECHI NZE

PREAMBLE
 Good morning my beloved brothers and Sisters in Christ. In the language of today,
confession suggests almost exclusively the Sacrament of Penance and the Confessional. But
this current and ordinary meaning is a secondary and very specific use of the word. Through
the Vatican 11 Council, the sacrament has been review and renamed the Sacrament of
Reconciliation; the new name suggests a reconciliation of the sinner both with God and the
community.
 THERE ARE three forms of celebrating the sacrament. First form: (The Rite for
Reconciliation of individual Penitent) {here the individual prepares privately for the
sacrament, then approaches the Priest and received absolution privately. Afterwards the
penance given by the Priests is done privately. This is the most popular way of celebrating
the sacrament.
 Second form: This is group celebration of the sacrament with the provision for individual
confession. The merit of this rite is that it brings out the communal nature of sin and
forgiveness. Sin hurts the Christian community and separates us from the community. To
see other people going to Confession is also a great source of encouragement for those who
are careless or shy about confessing.
 Third form: This is similar to the just mentioned. The absolution is given by pronouncing
the words of absolution publicly; there is no individual confession here, strictly speaking.

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THE RITE OF THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

“He breathed on them and said: receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are
forgiven” (John 20:22 – 23).

Before Confession

1. Preparatory Prayer
I don’t want the sinner to die, I want him to repent and live” (Ezekiel 18:23)
“I have come to call sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32)
THE PENITENT should pray to God for the forgiveness of his sins. Come Holy Spirit and
Psalm 51 are highly recommended.
2. Reading of God’s Word
‘’ Your word is a lamp to my feet, a light on my path’’ (Psalm 119: 105). Through the word of
God, Christians receives light to recognize their sins, and are called to conversion and to
confidence in God’s mercy. The bible tells us how loving and merciful a father God is. Before
examining your conscience, read a passage of the scripture. It works as a mirror in which
you can look at yourself, see your faults and find courage to confess them. You can choose
among the following suggested passages or others: Isaiah 53: 4 – 6; Luke 6: 31 – 38; Luke
15: 1 – 7; John 20:19 – 23; Romans 5: 8 – 9; Luke 15; 11 – 32; 1John 1; 8 – 9; 2: 1 – 2

3. Examination of Conscience
“Examine me, o God, and know my heart; find it out if there is any evil in me’’ (Psalm 139:
23)
‘’ our love for God means that we obey his commands’’ (1 John 5:3)

4. Confession
I will get up and go to my father and say; - father, I have sinned against God and against
you’’ (Luke 15: 18). Father, I have sinned. It is … since my last confession. These are my

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 sins…” meanwhile; confess your sins openly…. ‘’for these and all others sins which I cannot
remember I am really sorry and I ask for forgiveness from God through your minister,
father.’

5. Advice from the Priest

“Anyone who listen to you listen to me” (Luke 10:16). Here the Priest will address you
briefly to help you understand better the real meaning of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

6. Work of Penance
‘if I have cheated anyone I will pay him back four times as much” (Luke 19:18).
Traditionally, this act of penance took the form of a few prayers.

7. Act of Contrition

“Father, I have sinned against you and am not worthy to be called your son” (Luke 15:18)

Act of contrition: Oh my God, because you are so good, I am very sorry that I have sinned
against you and by the help of your grace I will not sin again.

8. Absolution
“THOSE whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven” (John20:23). The Priest by the power and
in the name of God forgives your sins.

9. Dismissal
Now Lord you may let your servant go in peace, with my own eyes I have seen your
salvation (Luke 2: 29 – 30)

10. Good Resolution

“I DO NOT CONDEM YOU. GO, BUT DO NOT SIN AGAIN. (JOHN 8:11)

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 POWER OF THE SACRAMENT
 HEALING POWER, (B). RECOVERY POWER, ©. PREVENTIVE POWER, (D). GROWTH
POWER

THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION AND ITS PARTS

1. CONTRITION: Contrition hold first place among the acts of the penitent. it is a heartfelt
sorrow and the detestation of sin, with a firm purpose not to sin again. Penance cannot
be true penance without this heart – felt sorrow. Conversion must affect a man
interiorly, permeating him more and more deeply and bringing him more and more into
conformity with Christ.
2. CONFESSION: confession is part of the sacrament of reconciliation. It presupposes the
willingness to open up to God.
3. SATISFACTION: true conversion is completed by satisfaction for sin, by improvement of
life and repair of damage done.
4. ABSOLUTION: when a sinner discloses his conversion to the church’s minister, God
grant him pardon through the sign of absolution and thus the sacrament of
reconciliation is completed.

In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, therefore, the Father receives the home – coming son, Christ
puts the lost sheep on his shoulder and returns it to the sheep hold and the Holy Spirit satisfies his
temple again or dwell in it more fully.