{"id":7892,"date":"2019-03-13T15:18:31","date_gmt":"2019-03-13T20:18:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.diocesealex.org\/old\/?p=7892"},"modified":"2019-03-13T15:21:31","modified_gmt":"2019-03-13T20:21:31","slug":"7892","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diocesealex.org\/old\/latest-news\/7892\/","title":{"rendered":"How to prepare for confession"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t

By Rachel Penate<\/em><\/p>\n

It felt as though the world had stopped, as though time stood still and was holding its breath for me \u2014 my sweaty hands clasped in front of my jittery body, waiting for what felt like eternity. I was in line for confession and what should\u2019ve been a rewarding anticipation, felt more like a punishing dread.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d love to tell you that this was a singular event in my life \u2014 that as a 27-year-old, I\u2019ve graduated from the nervousness that is stereotypically reserved for first time confessions or mortal sins, but this is the story of pretty much every confession I\u2019ve encountered since I was seven. To some degree, I\u2019ve anticipated every confession with gravity as to the weight of my sin. But, over the years, I\u2019ve learned that the nervousness I encounter is more a recognition of a deep desire to apologize and move forward in my relationship with God than a fear of expressing my sins to a priest.<\/p>\n

The day I recognized that the priest is merely a vessel of God\u2019s love and mercy, everything changed. The day I recognized that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is solely about amending an active and living relationship instead of (what I felt was) a \u201cone-time exam\u201d that I will either pass or fail, the whole entire process became less daunting. Confession is meant to be frequented and approached with great joy! And, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the best ways to grow in our relationship with the Lord.<\/p>\n

It is truly in the preparation that we set ourselves up for a fruitful confession. So, how do we ensure the confession of a lifetime? We continue to pursue it for a lifetime.<\/p>\nMake a Daily Change<\/strong>
\n1. Make a daily examination.<\/em> The first step in pursuing this beautiful sacrament with regularity is to start examining your relationship with God regularly. When you take time each day to examine your gratitude and short-failings, the process of examining your conscience before confession will feel less laborious and more of a natural extension of your life.\n

2. Research and have the local confession times on hand.<\/em> Start by checking your home parish\u2019s confession times on its website or bulletin, and then make a list of confession times at three or four other parishes near you. Pick parishes near your school, workplace, or home that will be easy to hit up after school or work. Even better, pick a parish that works best within your schedule and stick to a regular confession time.<\/p>\nApproach the Sacrament with New Conviction<\/strong>
\n1. Schedule the time into your day\/weekend.<\/em> As soon as you feel the pull to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, schedule the best confession time into your week. Make it non-negotiable and consider asking a friend to hold you accountable or go with you.\n

2. Make a good examination.<\/em> The day before or morning of your pre-planned confession, take at least 30 minutes to ask yourself how (since your last confession) you have closed yourself off from God\u2019s grace and chosen your will over His. Reflect not so much on which \u201crules you\u2019ve broken,\u201d but pray for the clarity to know how you have chosen yourself over God and others.<\/p>\n

3. Approach Jesus in the Sacrament with a contrite heart.<\/em> It is ideal that you approach the Sacrament not solely out of a sense of duty or obligation, but with a true heart of sorrow for your sins and a desire to never sin again. If you were to approach a friend and apologize for spreading a rumor about him but weren\u2019t truly sorry, only apologizing because your parents told you to, would that be an honest apology? God deserves honesty when we approach Him in the Sacrament. Approaching the Sacrament with a contrite heart also heightens our disposition to avoid sin again.<\/p>\n4. Go to confession.<\/em>
\nApproach the Sacrament with peace and courage! Once you\u2019ve taken time to examine your heart and actions, go confidently to the Sacrament! If you haven\u2019t been in a while or have forgotten the steps, here they are:\n

\u2022 Once you enter the confessional, kneel or sit wherever it is designated.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Begin with the Sign of the Cross and then say: \u201cBless me father for I have sinned. It has been _____ (list the time \u2014 weeks\/months\/years) since my last confession and these are my sins.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2022 State your sins honestly and freely. Make sure to name any mortal sins and number of times you\u2019ve committed them. Remember, this is not about confessing to the priest, it is about admitting your guilt to God through the ministry of the priesthood, and seeking your heavenly Father\u2019s forgiveness, which He gives so generously and freely when we ask Him.<\/p>\n

\u2022 When you have stated all of your sins, indicate to the priest you are finished by saying something like, \u201cfor these and all of my sins I am truly sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2022 Listen with an open mind and heart to the priest as he offers you any words of counsel and assigns you a penance (a prayer or an act to make reparation for your sins).<\/p>\n

\u2022 Make a good act of contrition. Often the priest will ask you to pray that act of contrition or to answer if you are truly sorry for your sins. A good act of contrition is as follows: \u201cMy 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 my penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Amen.\u201d Try to memorize this or a similar prayer, otherwise print it out and keep it in your wallet or Bible. If you happen to forget the prayer or paper, do not fret, simply ask the priest to help guide you in making your act of contrition.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Listen attentively as the priest prays the prayer of absolution and close with the Sign of the Cross.<\/p>\n

5. Follow through on your penance.<\/em> It is ideal to schedule ten extra minutes into your day to remain in the church to pray your penance. If you were assigned an act of charity or something that will need to be acted upon over multiple days, write it down or set an alert in your phone as a reminder until that penance has been completed. Offer these prayers or actions with a grateful heart, praising God for His great mercy and love.<\/p>\n

6. Go forth and pursue a life of virtue.<\/em> You\u2019ve come seeking forgiveness. Now that you\u2019ve received the Sacrament, go forth with joy and gratitude in knowing that God has poured out His great mercy and love on you! But don\u2019t forget to keep your eyes wide open to sin. Pray for the grace each day to avoid sin and the near occasion of sin. Remember the Sacrament isn\u2019t just a \u201cone time deal\u201d; the grace God offers through the confessional is available to you no matter how long it\u2019s been since your last confession. The Church requires practicing Catholics frequent confession at least once a year, but a good healthy practice is to frequent the confessional once a month.<\/p>\n

\u201cChrist Himself is waiting for you. He will heal you, and you will be at peace with God\u201d (St. John Paul II). Today is the day, my friends! Christ\u2019s Sacrament is not meant to frighten or deter, but to heal, mend, and grow. Satan would rather you stay quaking in your boots unable to move forward, but Christ tells us in truth that this is the way to good, the way to truth, and the way to everlasting peace.<\/p>\n

Rachel currently resides in Arizona, serving as Assistant to the Executive Vice President of Life Teen. She loves her job, the ocean, running half-marathons, her sweet daughter Cecilia, husband Robbie, and above all, the Lord. Follow Rachel on Instagram at @r_penate and Twitter at @LT_rachelp.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

For a printable “Examination of Conscience” you may access the USCCB’s “What Must I Do? The Sacrament of Reconciliation and Young Adults”<\/a><\/p>\n

Or:<\/p>\n

The Knights of Columbus examination of conscience.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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