How To Go To Confession
- March 9, 2008
- 19,170 Views
Writer
GodIsIntheDetails
Voice Over Artist
Marci Fine
Music
Edison Music Corp
Reconciliation, or penance, is one of Catholicism’s seven sacraments, and followers are expected to go to confession at least once a year. Rest assured that the priest, bound by the seal of confession, will not divulge your sins.
You Will Need
- A conscience
- A priest
- A confessional or other private place
- The desire to seek forgiveness
- The will to be better
Step 1: Examine actions since last confession
Examine your actions since your last confession. Reflect on those that have hurt other people or distanced you from God. Perhaps you’ve acted selfishly with a friend, or treated a family member unkindly. It goes without saying that you should already be reflecting on the heavy hitters, like adultery or theft.
Step 2: Find out confession schedule
Call your local church or consult the parish bulletin to find out when confessions are scheduled. If necessary, you can also arrange a different time with a priest.
Step 3: Enter the confessional
Enter the confessional or the designated meeting place.
You do not have to be in a classic confessional to receive the sacrament of reconciliation.
Step 4: Greet the priest
Greet the priest.
Step 5: Tell priest last confession date
Say, “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It’s been X days, months, or years since my last confession.”
Step 6: Tell priest of hurtful actions
Tell the priest about the hurtful actions you thought about earlier.
Rather than giving him a laundry list of sins, take the opportunity to have an open dialogue with your confessor.
Step 7: Receive penance from priest
Receive your penance from the priest, which is usually some form of prayer or reconciliation with another person.
Step 8: Say the Act of Contrition
Say the Act of Contrition.
Step 9: Receive priest's absolution
Receive the priest’s absolution, which frees you of your sins.
Step 10: Do your penance
Do your penance and resolve, as best you can, to avoid the same sins in the future.
Step 11: Celebrate your forgiveness
Celebrate your forgiveness—just try not to commit any sins while doing so.
A priest cannot break the confessional seal under penalty of automatic excommunication—even to report a crime.
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Comments (11)
Catholicism is true christianity. The only true family of God. All other religion is man-made.
over 3 years ago by nilofc
Actually, all religions are man made.If you can prove otherwise be my guest :-)
over 3 years ago by Raoul_Duke
right on!
over 3 years ago by Chris_Davis
Ah, but why should such an a priori assumption be more credible than faith? Remember, faith is not blind - it resolves eventually to sight. What I mean is, if I told you that I had crumbed fish for dinner tonight, and you believe me, you now have a new piece of knowledge based on hearing (because I really did have crumbed fish last night). Whether or not it is true depends on the credibility of the witness. That aspect, for Christianity, can be historically examined and tested, since it is a religion of eye witnesses and public revelations (unlike, um... I can't think of any other, actually!).
Since you ask for proof, I'll give you a challenge. Why not examine the historical evidence for Christ's resurrection, starting with the websites of Peter Kreeft (www.peterkreeft.com) and William Lane Craig (www.reasonablefaith.org)? This is a good, central topic, because one can say to all Christians with St. Paul, ";...if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins."; (I Corinthians 15:17).
Go on, I dare you - take the challenge from this agnostic-turned-Catholic. ;-)
Here's the link to the first article:
www.peterkreeft.com/topics-more/resurrection-evidence.htm
And God bless ye' - all, who seek, shall find. :-)
over 2 years ago by fimwat
A Christian is anyone who professes beliefe in the teachings of Jesus Christ. The word 'catholic' means 'universal.' So, a Catholic is a person belonging to the universal christian church, or the whole body of christians. The Catholic Church has existed since the foundation of Christianity through Apostolic Succession and it is the largest single christian body, with more than one billion baptized members belonging to the universal christian church.
over 3 years ago by PhoenixGirl32
Common Act of Contrition:
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins, because I fear 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.
over 3 years ago by randydollins
I think that Catholicism is a mixture of idolatry and Christianity.
over 3 years ago by asker101
Well shucks, you're misinformed and missing some good stuff! To help you, I suggest browsing http://catholic.com for answers to questions. Or walk up to any priest and give them the opportunity to clarify.
over 2 years ago by Shannon_Swenson
pretty vid...nice visuals
over 3 years ago by buffilms
amzing stuff....lovely....
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about 7 hours ago by bheki
I'm sorry, I meant to say: Why is CATHOLISISM a subdivision in Christianity. A Christian is not a Catholic, nor vice versa.
over 3 years ago by the_sorcerer
May I ask why Christianity is a subdivision under Christianism? Christianity is not Catholisism and just because they ";claim"; to believe in God, it does not prove their being Christians. Got talk to an American (theyre everywhere, blonde, blue eyes, you know.) ask them what a real Christian is, they can tell you.
over 3 years ago by the_sorcerer
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