The basic requirement for a good confession is to have the intention of returning to God like the "prodigal son" and to acknowledge our sins with true sorrow before the priest.

Sin in my Life

Modern society has lost a sense of sin. As a Catholic follower of Christ, I must make an effort to recognize sin in my daily actions, words and omissions.

The Gospels show how important is the forgiveness of our sins. Lives of saints prove that the person who grows in holiness has a stronger sense of sin, sorrow for sins, and a need for the Sacrament of Penance or Confession.

The Differences in Sins

As a result of Original Sin, human nature is weakened. Baptism, by imparting the life of Christ's grace, takes away Original Sin, and turns us back toward God. The consequences of this weakness and the inclination to evil persist, and we often commit personal or actual sin.

Actual sin is sin which people commit. There are two kinds of actual sin, mortal and venial.

Mortal sin is a deadly offense against God, so horrible that it destroys the life of grace in the soul.

Three simultaneous conditions must be fulfilled for a mortal sin: 1) the act must be something very serious; 2) the person must have sufficient understanding of what is being done; 3) the person must have sufficient freedom of the will.

Remember

If you need help especially if you have been away for some time simply ask the priest and he will help you by "walking" you through the steps to make a good confession.

Before Confession

Be truly sorry for your sins. The essential act of Penance, on the part of the penitent, is contrition, a clear and decisive rejection of the sin committed, together with a resolution not to commit it again, out of the love one has for God and which is reborn with repentance.

The resolution to avoid committing these sins in the future (amendment) is a sure sign that your sorrow is genuine and authentic. This does not mean that a promise never to fall again into sin is necessary.

A resolution to try to avoid the near occasions of sin suffices for true repentance. God's grace in cooperation with the intention to rectify your life will give you the strength to resist and overcome temptation in the future.

   Examination of Conscience

Before going to Confession you should make a review of mortal and venial sins since your last sacramental confession, and should express sorrow for sins, hatred for sins and a firm resolution not to sin again.

A helpful pattern for examination of conscience is to review the Commandments of God and the Precepts of the Church:

1.   Have God and the pursuit of sanctity in Christ

    been the goal of my life?

    Have I denied my faith? Have I placed my trust in    

    false teachings or substitutes for God? Did I     

    despair of God's mercy?

2.    Have I avoided the profane use of God's name in

     my speech? Have I broken a solemn vow or

     promise?

3.   Have I honored every Sunday by avoiding

    unnecessary work, celebrating the Mass

   (also holydays)? Was I inattentive at, or   

    unnecessarily late for Mass, or did I leave early?    

   Have I neglected prayer for a long time?

4.   Have I shown Christ like respect to parents,

   spouse, and family members, legitimate

   Authorities? Have I been attentive to the religious  

   education and formation of my children?

5.   Have I cared for the bodily health and safety of myself and all others? Did I abuse   drugs or alcohol? Have I supported in any way abortion, "mercy killing," or  suicide?

 

6.   Have I been chaste in thought and word? Have I

 used sex only within marriage and while open to                 procreating life? Have I given myself sexual gratification? Did I    deliberately look at impure TV, pictures, reading?