Sacrament of Reconciliation

One should always prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation with prayer & silent reflection.

Greet the priest.
Hello, Good morning, Good evening, etc.
Make the Sign of the Cross.
In the name of the Father….
Begin by saying…
Bless me Father, for I have sinned. It has been (state how long) since my last confession. These are my sins.
Tell your sins simply and honestly. You might even want to discuss the circumstances and the root causes of your sins, and ask the priest for advice or direction. Conclude by saying…
Father, I am sorry for these sins and all the sins of my past life.
Listen as the priest speaks and gives you a penance. (This is a prayer or action to show your gratefulness for God’s forgiveness.)
Recite the Act of Contrition:
Oh, my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you and I detest all of my sins because of your just punishment, but most of all because they have offended thee my God who are all good and deserving of all of my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.
The priest will then absolve you of your sins (bow your head at this time) and pray over you. He will end by blessing you, at which time you will know your confession is complete.
Before leaving, thank the priest.
After the confession, spend some time with Our Lord, thanking and praising Him for the gift of His mercy. Perform your penance as soon as possible.

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