What is confession?

The Sacrament of Confession (also known as the Sacrament of Reconciliation) is the sacrament through which Christ forgives our sins.

It does not seem like a modern thing to go to confession; it can be difficult and may cost a great deal of effort at first. But it is one of the greatest graces that we can receive again and again in our life - it truly renews the soul, completely unburdens it, leaving it without the debts of the past, accepted in love, and equipped with new strength. God is merciful, and he desires nothing more earnestly than for us, too, to lay claim to his mercy. Someone who has gone to confession turns a clean, new page in the book of his life.

- YOUCAT (Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church)

The Church asks us as Catholics to go to Confession at least once a year (during Lent). We are also called to bring to Christ in Confession any serious sins at any time throughout the year, especially if we want to receive him in the Eucharist. However, we are encouraged to go to Confession regularly even if we have no serious sins to confess.

What happens during confession?

1. Before confessing, make an Examination of Conscience by mentally reviewing your sins to determine what needs to be confessed. There are many ways to do this, but click here for a good example.
2. Cultivate contrition in your heart by having conviction of the evil of sin and the resolution to sin no more, regretting for having offended God.
3. Enter the confessional, and make the Sign of the Cross before saying the following: 'Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [X days, weeks, months, years] since my last Confession. Here is the list of my sins.'
4. Name all of your sins, specifying their gravity and number of times. When one has finished, one concludes by saying 'For these and all the sins of my past life, I ask pardon of God, penance, and absolution from you, Father.'
5. Listen to the counsel given by the priest, as well as the penance that you have been given to complete as soon as you leave the confessional.
6. Make the Act of Contrition. An example of this would be 'O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen'.
7. The priest will begin the absolution, and once this is done, he will dismiss you. Make the Sign of the Cross, thank him, and leave.
8. Perform your penance, and make an act of thanksgiving to God for the forgiveness He has granted through His minister in the confessional