CONFESSION – Manner of Confession
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Practical Way to Confess
The penitent, kneeling, says: Bless me, Father; I have sinned. He makes the sign of the Cross and then:
I, a sinner, confess myself to Almighty God, to the Blessed Virgin Mary, to all the Saints and to you, Father, because I have sinned.
I went to confession at such a time, by the grace of God I received absolution, I did penance and I received the communion; and he accuses himself of his sins.
When the accusation of the sins committed since the last confession is finished, or before, if any have been forgotten, the penitent says: I accuse myself, moreover, of all the sins of the past life, especially against such a commandment or virtue; for example; against the fourth commandment or against purity, etc.
For all these sins and for the others that I do not remember, I ask forgiveness from God, with all my heart, and from You, my spiritual Father, penance and absolution.
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Another, shorter, practical way of going to confession
The penitent, kneeling, prays the “I sinner” before the confessor answers, so as not to waste his time.
When the confessor answers, the penitent begins confession, making the sign of the holy cross, and says:
Hail Mary, most pure.—Conceived without sin
It's been so long since I went to confession.
He manifests the sins committed, and ends by saying:
And I accuse myself of the sins committed throughout my life, especially against the.... Commandment of the law of God, or against virtue of...
I regret having offended God, infinitely good, and I propose never to sin again.
If one does not remember the fixed time at which the last confession was made, one says, more or less, the one that seems most approximate.
It is usually advisable for adults to state their condition and age.
To better remember sins in confession, it helps a lot to follow the order of the commandments in the mind.
Let the penitent try to tell everything, without the need for the confessor to ask him; If you do not know how to confess, ask your confessor to ask you the questions.
Any doubts you have about the morality of any act should be expressed to the confessor, and the necessary advice should be requested.
The confessor gives his advice, which must be listened to with great attention, and imposes penance.
While the priest gives the absolution, the Act of Contrition is prayed**
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Absolution
Confessors should give absolution only to those whom they judge to be well disposed to receive it.
Confessors not only can, but must defer or deny absolution in certain cases, so as not to profane the sacrament.
Absolution should be denied to those who do not want to comply with some serious obligations.
Sometimes it is convenient to defer absolution to those who, although they seem to be repentant, do not amend themselves and immediately commit the same sins again.
The sinner to whom absolution is deferred or denied, should not despair, nor withdraw from confession; but he must humble himself, recognize his deplorable state, and take advantage of the good advice given to him by the confessor, in order to put himself, as soon as possible, in a state of meriting absolution.
It is a very good thing to say some special prayer for the confessor.
The office of confessor is very difficult and requires a lot of responsibility.
St. Francis of Sales said: "Martyrs are not only those who confess God before men, but also martyrs are those who confess men before God."
Ask God for the grace to find a pious, learned and prudent confessor, and to know how to follow his advice always.
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5. Satisfaction or penance
Satisfaction or penance is the prayer or other good works that the confessor imposes on the penitent, in expiation of his sins.
Sacramental penance must be performed within the time fixed by the confessor.
If the confessor has not set a time, it is advisable to comply with it as soon as possible, to avoid the danger of forgetting.
It is not necessary to fulfill it before communion, nor on the day of confession itself.
The one who confesses must have the will to fulfill the penance imposed on him.
If the penitent does not know or cannot perform the penance imposed on him, he must tell the confessor, so that he may give him another.
With a well-made confession, serious sins and eternal punishment are always forgiven; but not all temporal punishment is always forgiven.
This temporary penalty must be paid in this life or in purgatory.
In this life it is paid for by doing good works, especially by fulfilling the penance imposed by the confessor.
Penance must be proportionate to sins.
To great sins, great penance corresponds; to small sins, small penance.
Sometimes, however, the confessor, for just reasons, imposes a small penance on great sins.
The penance given by the confessor is not ordinarily sufficient to pay the remaining debt due for sins, and therefore he must procure to supply it with other voluntary penances.
Even if we have confessed well and did the penance, we must not forget to do many good works, in satisfaction of the sins we have committed.
If we forgot, we would expose ourselves to being in purgatory for a long time.
The more perfect the contrition, the more temporal punishment is forgiven.
Penance, if proportionate to sins, forgives all temporal punishment; if it is not proportionate, no.
For this reason well-instructed Christians desire that the confessor should impose much penance on them, provided they can do it.
A great means of making satisfaction for one's sins and delivering the blessed souls from purgatory is to be very diligent in gaining indulgences.
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[Translated from Spanish, they are not the usual modern prayers]
* I sinner
I, a sinner, confess myself to Almighty God, to the Blessed Virgin Mary, to Blessed Michael the Archangel, to Blessed John the Baptist, to the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the Saints, and to you, Father, that I sinned grievously, in thought, word, and deed, through my own fault, through my own fault, through my very great fault.
I therefore pray the Blessed Ever-Virgin Mary, the Blessed Michael the Archangel, Blessed John the Baptist, the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, all the Saints, and you, Father, to pray for me to God our Lord. Amen.
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** Act of Contrition
Jesus, my Lord and Redeemer! I repent of all the sins I have committed to this day, and I am sorry with all my heart because with them I offended such a good God. I firmly resolve not to sin again, and I trust that by Your infinite mercy You will grant me forgiveness of my sins and lead me to eternal life. Amen.