Why Go To Confession? Why Confess To A Priest?

How To Make A Good Confession

How To Confess To A Priest

Why Go To Confession? Why Confess To A Priest?

Q: Why confess our sins to a priest? Why don't we just confess directly to Jesus and ask Him to forgive our sins?

A: Right before Catholics confess their sins to a priest, they do pray directly to Jesus and ask His forgiveness.  They do so in preparation for Confession as they examine their consciences, make an act of contrition and promise to avoid their sins in the future.  After doing these three salutary things, the Catholic penitent then takes advantage of the Sacrament of Forgiveness which Jesus instituted precisely for the forgiveness of our sins.  On Easter Sunday night, Jesus told the Apostles, His first priests: "Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive men’s sins, they are forgiven them; if you hold them bound, they are held bound." (John 20: 22-23)

Since "hold them bound" means not to forgive them, priests could not know what sins to forgive and not to forgive unless they were first told the sins by the penitent.  On the cross, Jesus forgave all sins, then, in the Sacrament of Penance described on Easter Night, Jesus personalized that forgiveness, giving us the assurance that His forgiveness was not just a general absolution.  Sigmund Freud and the 5th Steps of the AA Twelve Step Program advocate some kind of individual confession of our wrongs to another human being.  Freud felt that we are as sick as our secrets and AA’s 12 Step Program asserts that struggling members won’t get well unless they take the 5th step and fess up to God, to themselves and to another human being the exact nature of their wrongs.  ("Peace of Soul", F. J. Sheen) (Alcoholics Anonymous, "How It Works")

Q: Why is Sacramental Confession necessary for Catholics but not for other Christians?

A: Catholics believe that Confession is necessary for the forgiveness of post-baptismal sins because Christ instituted the Sacrament of Penance for this purpose (John 20: 22-23). Church Canon Law states: "All the faithful who have reached the age of discretion are bound faithfully to confess their grave sins at lease once a year." (CIC, 989). Catholics who confess their sins have the assurance of Christ Himself that their sins are forgiven (Matt 18:18; John 20:23). Other Christians who do not believe in this Sacrament of Forgiveness must confess in their own way to God and hope that their sins will be forgiven.  On their own, they do the best they can. God bless them!

Q: How often should one go to Sacramental Confession?

A: "All the faithful who have reached the age of discretion are bound faithfully to confess their grave sins at least once a year." (CIC, 989).  "The faithful are recommended to confess also venial sins." (CIC, 987-2). "Anyone who is conscious of grave sin may not receive the Body of the Lord without previously having been to Sacramental Confession;  unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess." (CIC, 915)

As a matter of devotion, monthly Confession or Seasonal Confession (Christmas, Easter, Pentecost) is recommended.  Children and RCIA Candidates are to go to Confession prior to their receiving First Holy Communion.  (CIC, 914), (RCIA, 482).  Pastoral Counsel:  "If you commit a mortal sin, go to Confession as soon as you can and certainly before your next Holy Communion.  For spiritual growth, go to Confession regularly or seasonally."

Q:  "I understand that it is not necessary to go to Confession before we go to Holy Communion unless we have committed a mortal sin.  If we are not guilty of mortal sins, do we still have to go to Confession during the Easter Season?

A: You are correct in stating that if we have committed a mortal sin it is necessary to go to Confession before receiving Holy Communion.  However, if we have not committed a mortal sin it is not necessary to go the Confession during the Easter Season.  A worthy Holy Communion is the requirement at Easter Time.  If, during the Easter Season, a person is in the state of grace, not in mortal sin, no Confession is necessary.  (CIC, 920-1-2; 989).  The main event of going to confession is the reception of God’s forgiveness.  Don’t let the mechanics of making a confession discourage you.

Q: What is the Easter Duty?

A: The Easter Duty is the obligation to receive a worthy Holy Communion during the Easter Time, i.e., the time between the first Sunday of Lent and Trinity Sunday, a period of about a hundred days.  If we are not in the state of grace, then we must go to Sacramental Confession before receiving our Easter Duty Communion.

Q: Is it a sin if Catholics never go to Confession?

A: "Never say never."  The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:  "Children must go to the Sacrament of Penance before receiving Holy Communion for the first time." (CCC, #1457), (CIC, Can. 914) Also: "Anyone conscious of a grave sin must receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before coming to Communion." (CCC, # 1385 and 1457), (CIC, Can. 989), (1 Cor II: 27-29) And: "…after having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation fatithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year."  (CCC, # 1457), (CIC, Can. 989). 

The Sacrament of Penance is part of the "Catholic Sick Call" that prepares the sick person for death.  Holy Communion (Viaticum), Anointing of the Sick (Extreme Unction) and the Apostolic Blessing (Papal Blessing) are also parts of the sick call (CCC, # 1525).  So, apart from these times of necessary Confession, a person without mortal sin need not go to Confession. "Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is, nevertheless, strongly recommended by the Church." (CCC, #1458), (CIC, Can. 988 #2). Jesus and Sigmund might well say together: "Keep in touch; Confession is good for peace of soul and peace of mind."

How to Make a Good Confession

1. Examine our Conscience.
2. Have Sorrow for our Sins (Act of Contrition).
3. Make a firm resolution not to sin again.
4. Confess our sins to the priest.
5. Accept the penance which the priest gives us.

How to Confess to the Priest

(Prayer cards on how to make a good confession will be available in the Church)

The Priest will often begin with the Sign of the Cross or a greeting and blessing.

Respond by saying “Bless me Father for I have sinned, it has been ____ (number of days, weeks, months, etc.) since my last confession. These are my sins”.

Confess all mortal sins committed since your last confession by kind and number (this is important). Hold NOTHING back. You may also confess any venial sins.

At the end of your confession say these or similar words: “For these and all the sins of my life I am sorry.” By this you tell the priest that you are finished. Otherwise, he might think you are still thinking or even trying to summon the courage to tell him "the big one".

The Priest may ask questions for clarification or give you some counsel on a point from your confession. Answer briefly.

The Priest will give you a penance. Listen to it carefully and remember it. You can refuse a penance if it is too vague or impossible to do in a reasonable time.

Next, say, out loud, the Act of Contrition in these or similar words: O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.(Act of Contrition cards will be available in the Church/Confessional)

The Priest will give you absolution. The words necessary in English for forgiveness are “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”). Do not leave until the priest has given you absolution. He will not refuse you absolution unless it is clear that you are not sorry for your sins or you have no intention of amending your life.