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Confession
Instruction
and Preparation for Confession Part
1 - Instruction on the Sacrament of Penance
Penance is a Sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ, in which, by the ministry of the Priest, actual sins are forgiven, and the conscience is released from the bonds by which it may be bound. In this Sacrament, also, the eternal punishment due to sin is remitted, and a part or the whole of the temporal punishment, according to the disposition of the penitent. This holy
and salutary institution is grounded on the words of Jesus Christ:
Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind on earth, shall be
bound also in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth
shall be loosed also in heaven (Matt. XVIII,18), and, 'As the
Father hath sent me, I also send you.' Hence we see the great necessity of this Sacrament; and the Council of Trent has decreed that it is not less necessary for salvation to those who have fallen into mortal sin after Baptism, than Baptism to those who have never been baptized. And although Penance may, at first sight, and in itself, seem to be a bitter and painful thing, yet, viewed in its fruits and consequences, it is full of consolation; and every Christian, as soon as he is conscious that he has fallen into a mortal sin, ought at once to have recourse to this fount of divine mercy. The evil
consequences of delay are manifold.
1. Place before yourself, as distinctly as you can, the sins which have come to your remembrance, and their circumstances. 2. Consider WHO GOD IS, against Whom you have sinned, how great, how good, how gracious to you; that He made you, that He gave His Only Son to die for you, that He made you His child in Baptism, that He has loaded you with blessings and prepared heaven for you. Consider how patient He has been with you -- how longsuffering in calling you and moving you to repent: Say, O most loving God, Infinite Goodness, I repent of having offended Thee; behold me at Thy feet. O my Father, my Creator, my Benefactor, grant me the grace of a true repentance, and the blessing of a pardon, for Thy dear Son's sake. 3. Consider the infinite wickedness of sin: Say, O my Saviour, I behold Thee on the Cross, torn and wounded, Thy sacred Body streaming with Blood; this is the work of my sin. In Thy Wounds, O my Saviour, I read the greatness of the guilt and malice of my sins. By the greatness of Thy pains and sorrows, O my loving Redeemer, I measure the hatefulness of my offences. 4. Consider the consequences of one mortal sin: that you might justly be now banished from God's presence for ever for one single unrepented, deadly sin, how many have you not committed! Say, O my God, how much do I owe Thee for not cutting me off in the midst of my sins. Before I fell into sin, heaven was my home, my inheritance, my country, my blessed resting-place; by sin, I have given up my title to the glory of the Blessed. For the sake of sin I have lost the love of Jesus, the sight of Mary, the communion with the Blessed Saints and with the Angels. O my God, would that I had never offended Thee, would that I had never consented to sin. In pity behold me now at Thy feet, full of sorrow and compunction. I hate sin, which is accursed of Thee; I renounce all that would draw me away from Thee; I most bitterly repent of my sin and folly, which would have deprived me forever of heaven if Thou hadst not mercifully brought me to repentance. I grieve that I have sinned against Thee, O my God, Who art all-good, all-bountiful, all-worthy of love. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us sinners, who have recourse to thee. I BELIEVE in Thee, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, my Creator, my Redeemer, and my Sanctifier; I believe that Thou art all-holy, just and merciful. I believe that Thou art willing to pardon and to save me, if I repent and forsake my sins. O MY GOD, strengthen and increase my faith, and grant me the grace of a true repentance, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. I HOPE in Thee, O my God, because Thou art almighty, faithful, and longsuffering. I humbly trust that Thou wilt pardon my sins for the sake of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, Who suffered and died for me upon the Cross; and that Thou wilt cleanse my sinful soul in His precious Blood, and make me holy, and bring me safe to everlasting life. O Lord, in Thee have I hoped, let me never be confounded. Amen. I LOVE Thee, O my God, above all things, because Thou hast been so good, so patient, so loving to me, notwithstanding all the sins by which I have so grievously offended Thee. I love Thee, O Blessed Jesus, my Saviour, because Thou didst suffer so much for love of me, an ungrateful sinner, and didst die on the Cross for my salvation. O make me love Thee more and more, and show my love to Thee by faithfully keeping Thy Commandments all the days of my life. Amen. O MARY Immaculate,
Mother of Fair Love: obtain for me that love of God, which is
so necessary for true contrition. Amen.
Accept my confession, O most loving, most gracious Lord Jesus Christ, on Whom alone my soul trusts for salvation. Grant me, I beseech Thee, contrition of heart, and give tears to my eyes, that I may sorrow deeply for all my sins with humility and sincerity of heart. O good Jesus,
Saviour of the world, Who gavest Thyself to the death of the Cross
to save sinners, look on me, a miserable sinner who calls upon
Thy name. Spare me, Thou that art my Saviour, and pity my
sinful soul; loose its chains, heal its sores. Lord Jesus,
I desire Thee, I seek Thee, I long for Thee; show me the light
of Thy countenance, and I shall be saved; send forth Thy light
and Thy truth into my soul, to show me fully all the sins and
shortcomings which I must still confess, and to aid and teach
me to lay them bare without reserve and with a contrite heart;
O Thou Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, One God, world without end. Amen.
O most gracious
Virgin Mary, beloved Mother of Jesus Christ, my Redeemer, intercede
for me with Him. Obtain for me the full remission of my
sins, and perfect amendment of life, to the salvation of my soul
and the glory of His name. Amen.
I
implore the same grace of thee, O my Angel Guardian; of you, my
holy Patrons, N.N.; of you, O blessed Peter and Holy Magdalen,
and of all the Saints of God. Intercede for me a sinner,
repenting of my sins, firmly resolving to confess them, and to
avoid them for the future. Amen.
O Almighty and most merciful God, Who hast made me out of nothing, and redeemed me by the Precious Blood of Thine Only Son; Who hast with so much patience borne with me to this day, notwithstanding all my sins and ingratitude; ever calling after me to return to Thee from the ways of vanity and iniquity, in which I have been quite wearied out in the pursuit of empty toys and mere shadows; seeking in vain to satisfy my thirst in unclean waters, and my hunger with husks of swine: behold, O most gracious Lord, I now sincerely desire to leave all these my evil ways, to forsake the region of death where I have so long lost myself, and to return to Thee, the Fountain of Life. I desire,
like the prodigal son, to enter seriously into myself, and with
the like reception from His most tender mercy. But, O my
God, though I can go astray from Thee myself, yet I cannot make
one step towards returning to Thee, unless Thy divine grace move
and assist me. This grace, therefore, I most humbly implore,
prostrate in spirit before the throne of Thy mercy; I beg it for
the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who died upon the Cross for
my sins; I know that Thou desirest not the death of a sinner,
but that he may be converted and live; I know Thy mercies are
above all Thy works; and I most confidently hope that as in Thy
mercy Thou hast spared me so long, and hast now given me this
desire of returning to Thee, so Thou wilt finish the work which
Thou hast begun, and bring me to a perfect reconciliation with
Thee.
Prayer before the examination of conscience O Almighty God, Maker of heaven and earth, King of kings, and Lord of lords, who hast made me out of nothing in Thine image and likeness, and hast redeemed me with Thine own Blood; whom I a sinner am not worthy to name, or call upon, or think of: I humbly pray Thee, I earnestly beseech Thee, to look mercifully on me, Thy wicked servant. Thou Who hadst mercy on the woman of Chanaan and Mary Magdalen; Thou Who didst spare the publican and the thief upon the cross, have mercy upon me. Thou art my hope and trust; my guide and my succour; my comfort and my strength; my defence and my deliverance; my life, my health, and my resurrection; my light and my longing; my help and my protection. I pray and entreat Thee, help me and I shall be safe; direct me and defend me; strengthen me and comfort me; confirm me and gladden me; enlighten me and come unto me. Raise me from the dead; I am Thy creature, and the work of Thy hands. Despise me not, O Lord, nor regard my iniquities; but according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies have mercy upon me, the chief of sinners, and be gracious unto me. Turn Thou unto me, O Lord and be not angry with me. I implore Thee, most compassionate Father, I pray Thee meekly, of Thy great mercy, to bring me to a holy death, and to true penance, to a perfect confession, and to worthy satisfaction for all my sins. Amen. O Lord God,
who enlightenest every man who cometh into this world, enlighten
my heart, I pray Thee, with the light of Thy grace, that I may
fully know my sins, shortcomings, and negligences, and may confess
them with that true sorrow and contrition of heart which I so
much need. I desire to make full amends for all my sins,
and to avoid them for the future to Thy honour and glory, and
to the salvation of my soul, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Note:
A) MY FORMER CONFESSIONS I have made
bad confessions (lack of preparation, of contrition, or of a firm
purpose of amendment) ... times B) THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD FIRST COMMANDMENT 1. Sins which detract from the honour and worship due to God; such as: Neglect of Prayer; Superstitious practices; Divination; Consulting fortune-tellers; Attaching undue importance to dreams, omens; Tempting God by exposing one's self to danger of soul, life or health, without grave cause; Sacrilege; Profane or superstitious use of blessed objects; Profanation of places or things consecrated to God; Receiving the Sacraments in a state of mortal sin. 2. Those against Faith, such as: Wilful doubt of any article of Faith; Reading or circulating books or writings against Catholic Belief or practice; Joining in schismatical or heretical worship; Denying one's religion; Neglecting means of religious instruction. 3. Those against Hope: Despair of God's mercy, or want of confidence in the power of His Grace to support us in trouble or temptation; Murmuring against God's providence; Presuming on God's mercy, or on the supposed efficacy of certain pious practices, in order to continue in sin. 4. Those against Charity, such as: Wilfully rebellious thoughts against God: Boasting of sin; Violating God's Law, or omitting good works, through human respect. SECOND COMMANDMENT All irreverence
towards God's most Holy Name; such as: Cursing and profane swearing;
False, unlawful, and unnecessary oaths; Membership in societies
condemned by the Church; Breaking or deferring lawful vows; Irreverence
in Divine Service, and in churches and holy places even when service
is not going on.
THIRD COMMANDMENT Neglect to
hear Mass on Sundays and Holydays of Obligation; Working or making
others work without necessity on such days (2 hours' work is considered
'serious matter')
FOURTH
COMMANDMENT
For
Parents: Hating their children; Cursing them; Giving scandal
to them by cursing, drinking, etc.; Allowing them to grow up in
ignorance, idleness, or sin; Showing habitual partiality, without
cause; Deferring their children's Baptism; Neglecting to watch
over their bodily health, their religious instructions, the company
they keep, the books they read, etc.; Failing to correct them
when needful; Being harsh or cruel in correction; Sending children
to Protestant and other dangerous schools.
For
Husbands and Wives: Ill-usage; Putting obstacles
in the fulfilment of religious duties; Want of gentleness and
consideration in regard to each other's faults; Unreasonable jealousy;
Neglect of household duties; Sulkiness; Injurious words.
For
Employers: Not allowing one's employees reasonable
time for religious duties and instruction; Giving bad example
to them, or allowing others to do so; Withholding their lawful
wages; Not caring for them in sickness; Dismissing them arbitrarily
and without cause.
For
Employees: Disrespect to employers; Want of obedience
in matters wherein one has bound one's self to obey; Waste of
time; Neglect of work; Waste of employer's property, by dishonesty,
carelessness, or neglect.
For
Professional Men and Public Officials: Culpable
lack of the knowledge relating to duties of office or profession;
Neglect in discharging those duties; Injustice or partiality;
Exorbitant fees.
For
Teachers: Neglecting the progress of those
confided to their care; Unjust, indiscreet, or excessive punishment;
Partiality; Bad example, loose and false maxims.
For
all: Contempt for the laws of our State and
Country, as well as of the Church; Disobedience to lawful authority.
FIFTH COMMANDMENT Unjust taking of human life (and hence, indirectly and implicitly, violence in thought, word, or act which may lead thereto); Exposing life or limb to danger without reasonable cause; Carelessness in leaving about poisons, dangerous drugs, weapons, etc.; Desires of revenge; Quarrels; Fights; Showing aversion or contempt for others; Refusing to speak to them, when addressed; Ignoring offers of reconciliation, especially between relatives; Cherishing and unforgiving spirit; Raillery and ridicule; Insults; Irritating words and actions; Sadness at another's prosperity; Rejoicing over another's misfortune; Jealousy at attentions shown to others; Tyrannical behaviour; Inducing others to sin by word or example; Gluttony; Drunkenness; Rash use of opiates; Injury to health by over-indulgence; Giving drink to others, knowing that they will abuse it. SIXTH AND NINTH COMMANDMENTS Two things must be remembered here especially: 1. the difference between to be tempted and to consent; 2. the three elements required for a sin to become mortal: grievous matter, sufficient reflection and full consent of the will. One must also tell the number or frequency (for ex. "twice a month for six months") of the sins committed. Sins in thought
or desire; in looks: bad magazines, movies ...; in words: jokes,
songs; in actions, alone or with another (man or woman): immodest
dress, self-abuse, impure touches, fornication, adultery, contraception,
abortion, sodomy. Any other type of impurity must be mentioned,
as well as any circumstance that would aggravate the sins.
SEVENTH
AND TENTH COMMANDMENTS
Stealing
(What value? What damage done to property or interests?); Possession
of ill-gotten goods; Exorbitant prices; False weights and measures;
Cheating; Adulteration of wares; Careless or malicious injury
to the property of others; Cheating at play; Appropriation of
what is lent or found, without reasonable pains to return it,
or to find its owner; Concealment of fraud, theft, or damage,
when in duty bound to give information; Petty thefts; Culpable
delay in paying lawful debts, of restitution, when able to make
it; Neglect to make reasonable efforts and sacrifices in this
matter, e.g. by gradually laying up the amount required.
EIGHTH
COMMANDMENT
Lying; Perjury;
Frauds, public and private, such as at elections, etc.; Malicious
falsehoods; Lies for unjust or bad ends; Lies against character,
especially if told publicly; Revealing secrets; Publishing discreditable
secrets about others, even if true; Refusing or delaying to restore
the good name we have blackened; Slander or detraction, and encouraging
these in others; Baseless accusations, groundless suspicions,
rash judgements of others, in our own mind.
C)
THE PRECEPTS OF THE CHURCH
1.
Have I neglected, without good cause, to hear Mass on Sundays
and Holydays of Obligation, and to keep those days holy by avoiding
all servile work?
D)
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS
Pride
I have been proud, vain, puffed up with my own importance...
I have boasted to win praise... I have worked for applause
and to gain notice... Note:
If you have any sins not mentioned here, tell your confessor.
Also, don't hesitate to ask if you have a doubt or a question.
Part 5 - How to make one's Confession Bless
me, Father, for I have sinned.
An act of Contrition O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art so good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen. Before
leaving, say: Thank you, Father.
Part
6 - Prayers After Confession A
prayer for the Priest
Thanksgiving
after Confession |