Confession               

 1.  The penitent should prepare to receive the Sacrament of Penance with a careful examination of conscience, recalling the Commandments of God, the Precepts of the Church and the duties of the particular state in life.  Silent reflection should be accompanied by prayer, especially to the Holy Spirit, and Scripture reading.  One should recall and regret all of the sins committed since the last Confession.

 2.  After the penitent has recalled all of the sins to be confesses and mentally expressed genuine sorrow for them, the confessional or other place set aside for the celebration of the Sacrament is entered.

 3.  After being welcomed by the priest, the penitent makes the sign of the cross saying: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Amen."

 4.  The priest may read a short Scripture passage, then the penitent states the time since the last confession and confesses the sins recalled in the examination of conscience, including all mortal sins.

 5.  After the sins are confessed, the priest counsels the penitent and asks the penitent to do a penance, usually some prayers or a charitable work.  The penitent accepts the penance.

 6.  The penitent expresses sorrow for sin in his or her own words, or by saying a short psalm of sorrow.  An example of prayer of sorrow is:

                    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

 7.  The priest then gives you absolution saying:

          "God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

 8.  The penitent replies, "Amen."

 9.  The priest then says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good."

10.  The penitent replies, "His mercy endures forever."

11.  The penitent is then dismissed by the priest in the peace of Christ.

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