02/03/2026
1. PREPARE YOUR HEART
Before going, take quiet time to reflect on your life.
Ask yourself:
What have I done wrøng in my thoughts, words, actị́ons, or what I fãiled to do?
Where have I hụ́rt God, others, or myself?
This is called an examination of cønscience.
2. ENTER THE CONFESSIONAL
Go in, knêel or sit, and make the Sign of the Cross ✝️
Say:
“Bless me, Father, for I have siñned.
It has been (say how long) since my last confêssion.”
3. CONFESS YOUR SỊ́NS
Coñfess your sị́ns honestly and simply.
No stories. No excuses. No fêar.
Just say what you did.
Example:
“I have lị́ed.”
“I disøbeyed my parents.”
“I gøssiped.”
“I mị́ssed Mass on Sunday.”
“I had hãtred in my heart.”
Finish with:
“For these and all my sị́ns, I am truly sọ́rry.”
4. LISTEN TO THE PRIEST
The priest may give you advice and will give you a pênance (prayer or actị́on to do).
5. PRAY THE ACT OF CONTRITION
The priest will ask you to pray this or another version:
ACT OF CONTRITION (Simple Version):
O my God,
I am truly sørry for my sị́ns
and I dêtest them with all my heart.
Because I have offênded you,
who are all good and dêserving of all my love.
I firmly resølve, with the help of your grace,
to sị́n no more and to avøid the near occasion of sị́n.
Amen.
6. RECEIVE ABSOLUTION
The priest will pray the prayer of førgiveness.
Make the Sign of the Cross ✝️
Say:
“Amen.”
7. LEAVE IN PEACE
The priest may say:
“Go in pêace.”
You respond: “Thanks be to God.”
Then go and do your pênance.
OTHER PRAYERS YOU CAN PRAY BEFORE AND AFTER CONFESSION
PRAYER FOR LIGHT
Holy Spirit,
come into my heart.
Show me my sị́ns clearly,
not to cøndemn me,
but to hêal me.
Give me true sørrøw,
courage to cønfess honestly,
and grace to change my life.
Amen.
PRAYER FOR COURAGE
Lord Jesus,
remove feãr from my heart.
Give me humìlity to speak the truth
and trust in your mercy.
Let me not hị́de anything from you.
Amen.
PRAYERS AFTER CONFESSION
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Thank you, Jesus,
for your mercy.
Thank you for wãshing my sọ̀ul clean.
Help me walk in nêwness of life,
avoid sị́n,band live as your true child.
Amen.
PRAYER FOR STRENGTH
Lord,
what you have hêaled, prøtect.
What you have førgiven, preserve.
What you have restọ̀red, strengthen.
Keep me fãithful to your grace.
Amen.
Remember, Confession is not a coụ́rtroom, it is a heãling room.
Not a place of shãme, but a place of mercy. Not jụ́dgment, but restoration.
Not punị́shment, but frêedom.
This Lenten season, go for Confession.
Shãrê to rêãch all Catholics.
© Catholic Dailies
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