What is the Sacrament of Confession?

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The Sacrament of Confession—also called the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Penance—can be understood in three essential movements.

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First: Confession. The penitent humbly and honestly confesses his or her sins aloud to a priest, who acts in persona Christi (in the person of Christ). This requires a sincere examination of conscience and a complete confession of all mortal sins.

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Second: Penance. After the confession, the priest assigns a penance—often a prayer, sacrifice, or concrete act. This is not what forgives the sin, but serves as an act of reparation, helping the penitent turn away from sin and begin to repair the harm it has caused. Unless instructed otherwise, the penance should be completed as soon as possible.

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Third: Absolution (Reconciliation). The priest then pronounces absolution, and through the authority given by Christ to His Church, the penitent’s sins are forgiven. In this moment, the person is reconciled with God and restored to full communion with the Church.

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In this sacrament, Christ Himself heals, forgives, and restores the soul to grace.

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What is an Examination of Conscience, and how do you go to Confession?

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An Examination of Conscience is a prayerful review of your life in light of God’s truth. It is an essential part of preparing for Confession. By reflecting honestly on your thoughts, words, and actions—since your last Confession (or for the first time)—you become aware of your sins and your need for God’s mercy. This examination is typically guided by the teachings of the Church, such as the Ten Commandments, the Greatest Commandment, the Beatitudes, the Seven Deadly Sins, the Works of Mercy, and the Precepts of the Church. Good guides (in English and Spanish) can help you do this well.

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How to Go to Confession

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1. Be properly disposed – You must be baptized (and for full participation, received into the Catholic Church).

2. Examine your conscience – Take time to seriously and honestly reflect on your sins.

3. Have contrition – Be truly sorry for your sins and firmly resolved to avoid them and the near occasions of sin.

4. Go to Confession – Attend scheduled Confession times or make an appointment with a priest.

5. Begin the Sacrament – Enter the confessional, make the Sign of the Cross, and say:
   “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [length of time] since my last Confession.”

6. Confess your sins – Clearly state your sins in kind (what they are) and number (how often).

7. Receive guidance – Listen to the priest’s counsel and accept the penance he gives you.

8. Pray the Act of Contrition – Express your sorrow to God (a guide can help you with this prayer).

9. Receive absolution – The priest forgives your sins in the name of Christ and the Church.

10. Complete your penance – As soon as possible, fulfill your penance and spend time in thanksgiving, also praying for the priest.

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Through this sacrament, Christ restores you to grace, heals your soul, and reconciles you to God and His Church. Below are links to guides for you to utilize in English and Spanish.

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Link to English Guide: https://fathersofmercy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2020Examination.pdf

Link to Spanish Guide: https://fathersofmercy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Spanish-Exam.2015.pdf

 

Shouldn’t you only confess your sins to God?

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Yes—and in the Sacrament of Confession, you are confessing your sins directly to God. It is God who forgives, heals, and reconciles you. The priest is not a substitute for God, but an instrument of Christ, acting in persona Christi (in the person of Christ), as Christ Himself established.

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Jesus instituted this sacrament and entrusted it to His Church (cf. John 20:22–23), giving the apostles—and their successors—the authority to forgive sins in His name. This is why we confess aloud to a priest: not because God cannot hear us otherwise, but because He chose to give us a concrete, sacramental encounter with His mercy.

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Sin is never purely private. Because we are united in the Body of Christ, our sins affect not only our relationship with God but also our communion with the Church. Mortal sin, in particular, wounds or severs that communion. The Sacrament of Confession is therefore not only about forgiveness, but also reconciliation—being restored to the life of God and to full communion with His Church.

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In this sacrament, the priest represents both Christ and the Church: Christ, who forgives and heals, and the Church, which welcomes the sinner back into the family of God.

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Where is this in the Bible?

 

Jesus institutes this sacrament in the Gospel of John 20:19–23. After His Resurrection, He appears to the apostles, breathes on them, and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

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In this moment, Christ gives His apostles the authority to forgive sins in His name. This authority allows them to act as instruments of His mercy, so that those who have fallen into sin may be reconciled back to God and restored to full communion with the Church.

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Is mortal sin biblical?

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Yes. Sacred Scripture clearly distinguishes between two kinds of sin. In 1 John 5:16–17, we read that there is “sin which is not deadly” and “sin which is deadly.” The word “deadly” points to what the Church calls mortal sin—sin that destroys the life of grace in the soul.

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The passage also indicates that not all sins are treated the same. Lesser sins (what the Church calls venial sins) can be forgiven through prayer and repentance. However, for deadly (mortal) sin, Scripture points us to a more direct means of reconciliation.

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This is fulfilled in Christ’s institution of the Sacrament of Confession in John 20:19–23, where He gives the apostles the authority to forgive sins in His name. Through this sacrament, those who have fallen into serious sin are restored to the life of grace and reconciled to God and His Church.