Holy Confession

Here are some suggestions on how to make a good Confession:

1. Before going to the priest, examine your conscience. Try to remember all your sins against God, against your neighbour and against yourself from the time of your last Confession, including those you may have forgotten in previous Confessions.
   
2. Begin you confession:
   "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. My last Confession was... (state number)... days or weeks or months ago."
   
3. Then say:
   "These are my sins." Clearly mention your sins to the priest in kind and number. At the end say:
   "These are my sins for which I feel very sorry, and I ask pardon of God and penance and absolution of you, Father."
   
4. The priest speaks to you briefly about God's mercy and forgiveness. He then gives you a penance which is intended to help you make up for the wrong done. In most cases, the penance will consist of a number of prayers you are required to say.
   
5. You then recite an Act of Contrition, expressing how sorry you are for your sins which have offended God and hurt you and your neighbour, and how much you want to do better in the future. You may use the following, or a similar Act of Contrition:
   
   "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."
   
6. The priest then says the prayer of absolution through which God forgives the sins confessed.
   
7. At the end the priest says: "The Lord has freed you from your sins. Go in peace."
   And you answer: "Amen."
   
8. As soon as possible after the Confession,  you should say and/or do the penance which the priest suggested.