Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church at 4865 11 Mile Rd NE, Rockford, MI 49341 US - Confession
| Confession |
A good confession begins with an honest examination of conscience, done before entering the reconciliation room, or confessional. An examination involves a review of one’s thoughts, words, and actions, and the intentions behind them. A simple examination might be asking if one has failed in any way to follow any of the Ten Commandments, or even the Golden Rule. Remember, all sins for which you are truly sorry and intend not to re-commit can be forgiven in Confession. There are seven types of sin often called the “seven deadly sins.” This is a little misleading since they are not necessarily ‘mortal’ sins, which we’ll learn about in a minute. Here are the seven deadly sins: pride, envy, lust, sloth, gluttony, greed, wrath. These are said to be the root of all other sins. Now as for the severity of sin: sins classified as mortal essentially kill our souls. There are three criteria that must be fulfilled for a sin to be mortal: grave matter, full consent of the will, and full knowledge of the fact that it is a sin. If all of these criteria are not present, then the sin is venial, it jeopardizes our relationship with God—hurts our souls. When you enter the Reconciliation Room (“Confessional”), you have the choice of kneeling behind the screen so as to remain anonymous, or of sitting face to face with the priest. Either is fine, the choice is entirely yours. Remember that whatever is said in the Sacrament of Reconciliation is under the seal of confession. This means that the priest will never reveal anything to anyone for any reason whatever. So whatever you say there stays there. Step-by-Step Guide to Confession Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (make the sign of the cross now) You: Amen. You: Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. It has been (insert length of time)* since my last confession. (Sometimes people won’t go to confession because they haven’t been for “too long” a time. Do not worry about this. What matters is that you do go. The priest will not judge you.) Tell your sins to the priest now, as well and as concisely as you can. You: These are all the sins I can remember. Listen to what the priest has to say. He may offer some words of encouragement or advice, he will give you a penance (prayers to say or activity to perform), and then invite you to say an Act of Contrition, a prayer of sorrow which you have either memorized or one that you pray spontaneously. You: (Act of Contrition … see below) The priest will absolve you of your sins now. He will end by saying, “I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” (make the sign of the cross now) Priest: Go in peace. You: Thanks be to God! Or Priest: Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. You: For His mercy endures forever. Act of Contrition O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I 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 are 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. Or make your own act of contrition, including the following: How often and why should I go to confession? First of all, anyone in the state of mortal sin should receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation as soon as possible. That said, the forgiveness of mortal sin is not the only reason to receive this Sacrament. As Confession is a Sacrament, it is a means of receiving God’s grace. This alone should be reason enough to receive the Sacrament often. For some of the greatest saints, Confession was a means of spiritual growth and direction. Specifically, Catholics are asked to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least twice a year, but might go as often as once a week (as is the case with JPII!). What if I forget to confess something? If you legitimately forget to confess a sin to the priest, it is still forgiven, provided you are sorry for it and do your penance. Don’t let your conscience be tricked into “forgetting” on purpose though, so you can avoid confessing something. But you said all sins are forgiven in confession. How about the “unforgivable sin”? The unforgivable sin, referred to as blaspheming against the Holy Spirit in Matthew’s Gospel (see chapter 12), is not accepting God’s forgiveness. In order for God to forgive our sins, we must accept His power to do so. What’s this about the Eucharist wiping away my venial sins? The Church teaches that our venial sins are forgiven when we receive the Eucharist. Hence, St. Ambrose said that he received communion “as a remedy against daily infirmity.” Go to Mass and receive the Eucharist often to strengthen your resolve in your daily walk with Christ. Where and when can I get to Confession? Most churches hold the Rite of Reconciliation of Individual Penitents on a weekly basis. This means that you approach the confessional on your own. At OLC, Reconciliation is scheduled each Saturday from 3:30-4:00. The Reconciliation Room is accessed from inside the Chapel (enter from south side of building). Other times during the year, often during Advent and Lent, parishes may host a Rite of Reconciliation of Several Penitents with individual confession and absolution. Often referred to as a “Reconciliation Service,” this is where the community gathers to reflect on Scripture, hear a sermon, and listen to questions that might aid in an examination of conscience. This is followed by individual confession and absolution. Coming to a Reconciliation Service is especially helpful in making a good examination of conscience. General Absolution is not offered in the Diocese of Grand Rapids. “Because it goes against human nature, forgiveness must be taught and practiced as one would practice any difficult craft." --Philip Yancey, What's So Amazing About Grace