CATHEDRAL PARISH OF SAINT JUSTUS AND PASTOR

THE CONFESSION
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
Of the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
Why is there a sacrament of Reconciliation after the
Baptism?
Since the new life of grace, received in Baptism, did not eliminate
the weakness of human nature nor the inclination to sin (that is, the
concupiscence), Christ instituted this sacrament for the conversion of the
baptized ones who have strayed from Him due to sin.
When was this sacrament instituted?
The risen Lord instituted this sacrament when on Easter evening he
He showed them His Apostles and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone...
sins, are forgiven; those whom you retain are retained" (Jn 20,
22-23).
 What are the essential elements of the sacrament of the
Reconciliation?
The essential elements of the sacrament of Reconciliation are two: the
acts carried out by man, which become under the action of the Spirit
Saint, and the priest's absolution, which grants forgiveness in the name of
Christ and establishes the way of satisfaction or penance.
What are the acts typical of the person who confesses,
penitent?
The acts proper to the penitent are as follows: a diligent examination of
conscience; contrition (or repentance), which is perfect when it is motivated
for the love of God, imperfect when based on other motives, and includes the
purpose of not sinning again; confession, which consists of the accusation of the
sins committed before the priest; satisfaction, that is, the fulfillment
of certain acts of penance that the confessor himself imposes on the penitent
to repair the damage caused by sin.
What sins should be confessed?
All serious sins that have not yet been confessed must be confessed.
they remember after a diligent examination of conscience. The confession of the
mortal sins are the only ordinary way to obtain forgiveness.
When is one required to confess serious sins?
Every faithful person, who has reached the age of reason, is obliged to confess their
mortal sins at least once a year, and anyway before receiving the
Holy Communion.
Why even venial sins can be the object of the
sacramental confession?
The Church strongly recommends the confession of venial sins.
Although it is not strictly necessary, it helps to form a line.
awareness and to fight against bad inclinations, to let oneself be healed by Christ
and to progress in the life of the Spirit.
Who is the minister of the sacrament of Reconciliation?
Christ entrusted the ministry of reconciliation to his Apostles, to the
bishops, successors of the Apostles, and to the presbyters, collaborators of the
bishops, who thus become instruments of the
mercy and justice of God. They exercise the power to forgive the
sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
 Is the confessor obliged to secrecy?
Given the delicacy and greatness of this ministry and the respect due to the
persons, every confessor is obliged, without any exception and under penalties
very severe, to maintain the sacramental seal, that is, absolute secrecy
about the sins known in confession.
What are the effects of this sacrament?
The effects of the sacrament of Penitence are: reconciliation with God
and therefore, the forgiveness of sins; reconciliation with the Church; the
recovery of the state of grace, if it had been lost; the remission of the penalty
eternal deserved due to mortal sins and, at least in part, of the
temporary penalties that are a consequence of sin; the peace and serenity of
awareness and the comfort of the spirit; the increase of spiritual strength for the
Christian combat.
EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE
When was my last Confession? Have I approached unworthily?
receive any sacrament? Have I remained silent out of shame about some mortal sin in
my previous confessions?
Have I doubted or denied any truth/truths of the Catholic faith? Have I placed
in danger my faith reading books or magazines contrary to the Catholic faith or I have
attended meetings of sects that are not Catholic? Have I been superstitious or
Have you practiced spiritism?
Have I taken the name of God in vain? Have I blasphemed? Have I sworn?
without need or without truth?
Have I missed Mass on Sundays or days of obligation due to my fault and without
A serious reason? Have I fulfilled the days of fasting and abstinence?
Have I disobeyed my parents or superiors on important matters?
I strive to conscientiously fulfill the duties of my state.
of life (study, work, family)?
Do I have enmity, hatred, or resentment against someone? Am I refusing to
Forgive him? Have I caused someone's death? Have I gotten drunk, drank with
excess or taken drugs? Have I practiced, advised or facilitated the serious
crime of abortion?
Have I accepted impure thoughts or gazes? Have I watched movies?
immoral website? Have I had vulgar or impure conversations?
Have I committed impure acts? Alone or with other people? Of the same or
different sex? Have I misused marriage? Have I taken pills
Have you used contraceptives or any other artificial method to avoid having children?
Do I live in concubinage?
Have I taken money or things that are not mine? How much? Have I restituted or
Am I repaired for the damage caused? Have I been honorable in my business?
Have I told lies? Have I slandered or revealed, without just cause,
serious defects of another person, even if they are true, but not known?
made reckless and/or hasty judgments against others? Have I repaired the
damage that may have occurred?
(If other sins are remembered, they must be mentioned in the confession).
HOW TO CONFESS
It begins with the sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The priest greets the person who is confessing (the penitent), saying,
for example: Hail Mary Most Pure!
The penitent replies: Without sin conceived!
The penitent tells the confessor when was the last time he confessed.
Next, he/she accuses those sins that he/she remembers after a
good examination of conscience.
If necessary, never hesitate to ask the priest to help you
I confess you well.
Then the confessor gives the appropriate advice to the penitent, imposes on him the
penitence and invites to manifest their contrition, saying, for example:
I am sorry, my God, and I repent with all my heart for having you
Offended. My condolences for the hell I deserved and for the heaven I lost;
but it weighs much more on me because by sinning I offended such a good God and
as big as you; I would rather have died than have offended him,
and I firmly propose, aided by your divine grace, not to sin anymore and
avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.
The priest absolves the penitent and then dismisses him saying, for
The Lord has forgiven your sins, you can go in peace.
The penitent replies: Let's give thanks to God!