Reconciliation

Saturday from 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m

Guide for Examination of Conscience for Confession of Sins Steps for a good confession

Remembering the parable of the prodigal son, we can think of the necessary steps to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation:

  • Do an Examination of Conscience
  • Repent of your sins
  • Make a purpose in life to avoid sin
  • Confess your sins as sincerely as possible to the Priest
  • Fulfill the Penance given to you by the Priest as soon as is possible
  • Pray daily for the strength to avoid the occasion of sin, especially for those sins you were just absolved from.

Before you begin your examination of conscience, ask God and our Blessed Mother to give you light to recognize all your sins, and the grace to repent for them. You can pray an Our Father and a Hail Mary.

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, 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 You, my God, Who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

Or
Jesus, Son God, Have Mercy on me a sinner.

Scripture passages to reflect on

"Whoever eats the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily sins against the Body and Blood of the Lord. ... He who eats and drinks without recognizing the Body eats and drinks judgement on himself." (1 Cor 11:27-29)

So, to receive Holy Communion while in the state of mortal sin (having committed a mortal sin which has not been confessed and forgiven in the Sacrament of Confession) is itself a mortal sin - a mortal sin of sacrilege.

"O God, be merciful to me, a sinner." (Lk 18:13)

"Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven..." (Jn 20:23)

"Though your sins be like scarlet, they shall become white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall become white as wool." (Is 1:18)

"If we confess our sins, He who is upright can be depended upon to forgive sins, and to cleanse us from every wrong." (1 Jn 1:9)

"Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing." (Lk 23:24)

"Forgive us our sins, for we too forgive all who do us wrong." (Lk 11:4)