"Those who have been far away from the Sacrament of Reconciliation and forgiving love I make this appeal: come back to this source of grace; Do not be afraid! Christ himself is waiting for you. He will heal youand you will beat peace with God."

                                             -John Paul II: September 13, 1987: San Antonio, Texas

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Sin separates us not only from God, but from His family, the Church. In this beautiful sacrament, the person experiences a healing encounter with Jesus Christ. We receive the Lord’s abundant mercy, healing and grace, which are infinite, and are given the strength to resist future temptation. Nothing we have done, or could do, can ever separate us from experiencing God’s forgiveness through this sacrament. Christ commissioned the Apostles to forgive sins when he said: "Whose sins you shall forgive they are forgiven. Whose sins you shall retain, they are retained"  (John 20:23). At Ordination, our priests receive this same capacity to free us from our sins. The priest, In Persona Christi, represents the whole community of the faithful with whom we are also being reconciled. Catholics are required to receive this sacrament once a year. Especially appropriate times are Advent and Lent, which are penitential seasons; however, this sacrament may be received as often as necessary. Any Catholic who is aware of serious sin should receive this sacrament before receiving Holy Communion.

The Essential Rite of Reconciliation

There are four parts to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

1. Confessing sins -  The person desiring the sacrament confesses his/her sins to a priest or bishop. Part of their ministry is to be an agent of divine mercy. They hear our confession, perhaps offer some words of counsel.
2. Penance - The priest will suggest some external expression of our gratitude for God's mercy and intent to avoid sin. Penance may take the form of a prayer or work of charity.
3. Act of Contrition - Having confessed sins, the penitent must freely express regret for the sin. The Act of Contrition may be a memorized formula or may be spoken freely from the heart.
4. Absolution - After expressing sorrow, the priest prays with the penitent and in the name of Christ absolves him/her of all sin. (The priest does not confer absolution unless the first three parts are present.)

Examination of Conscience

Before the Sacrament of Penance, each individual should examine his/her conscience by asking him/herself these questions.

• Have I ever failed to confess a serious sin or disguised it?
• Have I been guilty of irreverence for this sacrament by failing to examine my conscience carefully?
• Have I failed to perform the penance given me by the confessor or disobeyed any of his directions?
• Have I neglected the Easter duty of receiving Holy Communion or failed to confess my sins within a year?
• Have I any habits of serious sin to confess first (impurity, drunkenness, etc.)?  

Prayer Before Confession

O Lord, grant me light to see myself as you see me and the grace to be truly sorry for my sins. O Mary, help me to make a good confession.

Making Your Confession

• The penitent and the priest begin with the sign of the Cross, saying:In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
• The priest urges the penitent to have confidence in God. The priest may say: May the Lord be in your heart and help you to confess your sins with true sorrow.
• The penitent then states: Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been (however many days, weeks, months or years) since my last confession.
• The penitent then confesses his or her sins:
• For the confession to be valid, the penitent must confess all of the mortal sins he or she is aware of having committed since the last confession, be sorry for them, and have a firm purpose of amendment to try not to commit the same sins in the future.
• After this, the priest will generally give some advice to the penitent and impose a penance. Then he will ask the penitent to make an Act of Contrition. The penitent may do so in his or her own words, or may say one of the following:

   

• After this the priest will absolve the penitent in the following words: "God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins;   through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
• The penitent makes the sign of the Cross and answers: Amen
• The priest will then dismiss the penitent with a short prayer and encouragement. 
• The penitent should then try to fulfill the penance imposed if it is something that can be done quickly.
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