How to Confess to the Priest
(Prayer aids on how to make a good confession will be available in the Church)
The Priest will often begin with the Sign of the Cross or a greeting and blessing.
May the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all the saints, whatever good you do and suffering you endure, heal your sins, help you grow in holiness, and reward you with eternal life. Go in peace. –Rite of Penance, no. 93
PREPARATION: Before going to confession, take some time to prepare. Begin with prayer, and reflect on your life since your last confession. How have you — in your thoughts, words, and actions — neglected to live Christ’s commands to “love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind,” and to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt. 22:37,39)? As a help with this “examination of conscience,” you might review the Ten Commandments or the Beatitudes (Ex. 20:2-17; Dt. 5:6-21; Mt. 5:3-10; or Lk. 6:20-26).
GREETING: The priest will welcome you; he may say a short blessing or read a Scripture passage.
THE SIGN OF THE CROSS: Together, you and the priest will make the Sign of the Cross. You may then begin your confession with these or similar words: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [give days, months, or years] since my last confession.”
CONFESSION: Confess all your sins to the priest. If you are unsure what to say, ask the priest for help. When you are finished, conclude with these or similar words: “I am sorry for these and all my sins.”
PENANCE: The priest will propose an act of penance. The penance might be prayer, a work of mercy, or an act of charity. He might also counsel you on how to better live a Christian life.
ACT OF CONTRITION: After the priest has conferred your penance, pray an Act of
Contrition, expressing sorrow for your sins and resolving to sin no more. A suggested Act of Contrition is:
O My God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee,
and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell;
but most of all because I have offended Thee, My God,
who art all-good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace,
to confess my sins, to do penance,
and to amend my life. Amen.
(Act of Contrition cards will be available in the Church/Confessional. Other approved acts of Contrition/Prayer of the Penitent are listed following this step-by-step process.)
ABSOLUTION: The priest will extend his hands over your head and pronounce the words of absolution. You respond, “Amen.”
PRAISE: The priest will usually praise the mercy of God and will invite you to do the same. For example, the priest may say, “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.” And your response would be, “His mercy endures for ever” (Rite of Penance, no. 47).
DISMISSAL: The priest will conclude the sacrament, often saying, “Go in peace.”
If it has been a while since your last confession, remember, “Do not fear” (Is. 41:10). The priest will help guide you. (For more information, visit www.usccb.org/confession.)
Copyright © 2013, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. Scripture excerpts taken from the New American Bible, rev. ed. © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Excerpts from the English translation of Rite of Penance © 1974, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. This text may be reproduced in whole or in part without alteration for nonprofit educational use, provided such reprints are not sold and include this notice.