In this post, I will briefly review why we go to confession, what constitutes a mortal/venial sin, and then go through the steps of how to make a good confession! I hope this guide to confession helps!
why do we go to confession?
We go to Confession to revive our relationship with God. God loves us so much and He wants us to be as close to Him at earthly possible. We know that sin distances ourselves from God. By going to Confession we are humbling ourselves and making ourselves pure and holy again for God.
If you are scared and worried about going to confession, pray! Priests always say “there is nothing that we have not heard.” And if you’re concerned about the priest recognizing you, you can always go behind the curtain!
Mortal Vs. Venial sins: Venial are made pure at Mass, they are the small sins that we do more frequently.
Mortal sins have three components. To be considered a mortal sin, it:
1. Has to be grave(a very serious matter)- abortion, sex outside of marriage, birth control, etc.
2. We have to acknowledge that the act was wrong before committing it (if you did not know it was a mortal sin- for instance if you did not know that birth control was wrong at the time you used it)
3. Full consent of the will- cannot be forced upon you
Confession is such a healing Sacrament and process and I encourage everyone to receive the Sacrament as often as possible! I personally try to go to Confession once a month. It is said that when Pope John Paul became Pope, he went to Confession every single day!
How to go to confession
The very first thing I recommend doing is to prepare in advance for Confession with an Examination of Conscience. Here a really great guide you can print off and go over any time!
1. Once you get to the Church, there will likely be a line to go into the confessional. The confessional is a small room (usually lit with a red light when the priest is present)
2. When it’s your turn, go in. The Priest will begin by making the Sign of the Cross and then you say “Bless me Father for I have sinned. My last confession was___ (amount of time ago)”
3. Confess all mortal sins and then your venial sins
4. When you’ve confessed everything you can remember, at the end say something along the lines of ” for these and all of the sins of my life, I am so sorry”
5. Next, the priest may counsel you and talk you through specific sins
6. The priest will then give you a penance (something like 3 Hail Mary’s, an Our Father, or a Rosary)
7. You will then say an Act of Contrition and he will give you absolution ( “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”).
8. Afterwards, it’s customary to go into a pew and do your penance
I hope this was helpful! Confession is such an amazing gift God gave to us! It might seem scary but trust me you will fell like a new person when you are done! It is so worth it! God just wants to reconnect with us and confession is a great way to do it. And all Catholics need to go to confession at least once a year to be inlined with the Catholic church, it is considered a sin if you don’t go at least once a year. Mother Mary told the 3 kids of Fatima she recommends going at least once a month, I agree with her it is so amazing to be made clean again! My family goes at least once a month when we do our first Saturday devotion which I highly recommend! It truly is a great devotion to do alone or with your whole family HERE is how we do it or you can watch the First Saturday below the confession video.
2 Responses
Heather :
I feel like I know you already! I bumpted into your channel and cannot stop watching it. I share the catholic faith since I was very young and have a 7 and 2 yrs old boys. You have been a blessing in my life! I love watching your videos because you are soo real and honest and pouring out your true experience with Jesus. Father Agustino married me in 2013 and my husband and I will be 10 yrs married. I mention this because I heard you say you were with the Franciscan Friars in Bronx and was wondering if you met him. He is the founder of Corazon Puro (Chastity Movement).
Thank you for all your videos, I feel that I am not alone in motherhood, lol and sharing those moments where is a bit overwhelming. I work at a funeral home (Secretary) full time and also volunteered to teach RCIA teenagers while my 7yrs old son goes to his 1st communion Class. Me and my husband also have a marriage group as you see is a bit overwhelming. We are now working on a 3 day retreat for Confirmation II kids for 3 days. I ask for your prayers, May 19, 20, 21.
I have shared your video to many of my mommy friends as well.
God Bless you and your family!
Kindly,
Belkis Pena
Perth Amboy, NJ
Wow I am so glad you are here! I love that you are helping with a confirmation retreat! That is so wonderful! And so glad you are liking the videos!