The Sacrament of Reconciliation
Reconciliation (also known as Confession or Penance) is a sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ in his love and mercy to offer sinners forgiveness for offenses committed against God. In Reconciliation, we acknowledge our sins before God and his Church. We express our sorrow in a meaningful way, receive the forgiveness of Christ and his Church, make reparation for what we have done, and resolve to do better in the future.
Every time we go to confession, God embraces us.
- Pope Francis -
EXPERIENCE GOD'S MERCY
The Sacrament of Reconciliation
Reconciliation (also known as Confession or Penance) is a sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ in his love and mercy to offer sinners forgiveness for offenses committed against God. In Reconciliation, we acknowledge our sins before God and his Church. We express our sorrow in a meaningful way, receive the forgiveness of Christ and his Church, make reparation for what we have done, and resolve to do better in the future.
Every time we go to confession, God embraces us.
- Pope Francis -
Step 1: Contrition
Contrition is "sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again."
Step 2: Confession
The confession (or disclosure) of sins, even from a simply human point of view, frees us and facilitates our reconciliation with other
Step 3: Absolution
The priest speaks the words by which “God, the Father of Mercies” reconciles a sinner to himself through the merits of the Cross.
Step 4: Satisfaction
An important part of our healing is the “penance” the priest imposes in reparation for our sins.
STEP 1: CONTRITION
Confession is not difficult, but it does require preparation.
Before we enter the Confessional, we should begin with prayer. We should review our lives since our last confession, searching our thoughts, words and actions for that which did not conform to God’s command to love Him and one another through His laws and the laws of His Church. This is called an examination of conscience.
How to make an examination of conscience
STEP 4: SATISFACTION
Completing the penance given by the priest
When one finishes Confession one leaves free, grand, beautiful, forgiven, candid, happy. This is the beauty of Confession!
- Pope Francis -
This page contains multiple excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Article 4, VII - The Acts of the Penitent and Article V, IX - The Effects of This Sacrament, as well as quotes from the General Audience of Pope Francis, February 19, 2014