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 The minister to whom confession is made is the delegate of Christ, Who is the Judge of the living and the dead.
Saint Thomas
Aquinas |
This page, dedicated to the Sacrament of Penance, is written at the start of Lent.
The Sacrament of Penance isn't only for the Lenten Season or for those times when we have fallen into grave mortal sin. It is a sacrament that can be approached with frequency to help us as we humbly persevere on the path towards personal sanctity.
We hope you will find this page helpful, whether you are a Catholic who avoids confession, fears it or has forgotten it, and even if you suffer from scrupulosity. |
When a Catholic comes from confession, he does truly, by definition, step out into that dawn of his own beginning... in that brief ritual God has really remade him in His own image. He may be grey and gouty; but he is only five minutes old.
- G.K. Chesterton
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| The Sacrament of Penance can be a dismaying and even frightening proposition for some Catholics. If you have been away from the Church for many years, and consequently believe that the roof will fall in or that Father will faint of horror once you get started, rest assured. It won't happen. As one elderly confessor said to me, not long ago, "This room is full of sins." You can be fairly certain that Father has heard it all many times before you entered the confessional.
Perhaps you are uncertain of how to go about the process of confession. You've forgotten the prayers. Don't let that stop you. Tell Father. He will help you. And just to add a little confidence, we've also provided some resources on How to Confess and even a "sample" confession.
You may be among the Catholics who think that Confession is an old fashioned institution, that it's not necessary. Nothing could be further from the truth. As the saying goes, Confession is good for the soul. If you have fallen into mortal sin, it is necessary to work out your salvation here on earth. If you have only venial sins, while they can be forgiven by other means, only the Sacrament of Confession, administered by Christ Himself, can bring grace and new life to the soul.
The message of Sacramental Confession is so important that Pope Benedict XVI in his pre-Lenten audience with Confessors, urged them to preach the necessity for all Catholics - and to seek the sacrament themselves.
From our Diocese - + Bishop Murphy's Letter on Penance and Reconciliation
The Sacrament of Penance at Fisheaters is an excellent starting point for the reluctant and presents in the most accessible terms some compelling reasons to seek Reconciliation. The site also provides a practical guide to the examination of conscience and a sample confession, so you can see how it goes. |
"Three conditions are necessary for Penance: contrition, which is sorrow for sin, together with a purpose of amendment; confession of sins without any omission; and satisfaction by means of good works."
~ Saint Thomas Aquinas
"The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works."
~ Saint Augustine
"We cannot preach forgiveness and reconciliation to others if we are not personally penetrated by it."
~ Pope Benedict XVI
Lenten Message to Priests
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 ScrupulosityThe flip side of those who avoid confession completely or who don't think it's necessary are those who suffer from scrupulosity. Sometimes older people may be troubled about past sins, others agonize about problems of obedience and purity, and many worry about sin where there is no sin. The Redemptorist Fathers offer an excellent section on their website to minister to those afflicted with scrupulosity. While the Fathers refer to this spiritual condition as a religious form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, many confessors advise that it is a torment of the devil who seeks to create unrest in the soul and doubt in God's Mercy and the efficacy of the Sacrament of Penance.
The Ten Commandments for the Scrupulous is a very helpful overview of this spiritual disorder and will help to bring focus to the Sacrament.
You can view the current issue of the newsletter or peruse back issues for additional help on the page dealing with this issue.
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 One of our favorite (cyber) Priests is Father John Zhulsdorf (aka Father Z), who lives in Rome and is the moderator of the Catholic Online Forum and Ask Father Question Box which is, unfortunately closed at the moment.
Fr. Z’s 20 Tips For
Making A Good Confession
We should…
1. examine our consciences regularly and thoroughly;
2. wait our turn in line patiently;
3. come at the time confessions are scheduled, not a few minutes before they are to end;
4. speak distinctly but never so loudly that we might be overheard;
5. state our sins clearly and briefly without rambling;
6. confess all mortal sins in number and kind;
7. listen carefully to the advice the priest gives;
8. confess our own sins and not someone else’s;
9. carefully listen to and remember the penance and be sure to understand it;
10. use a regular formula for confession so that it is familiar and comfortable;
11. never be afraid to say something "embarrassing"... just say it;
12. never worry that the priest thinks we are jerks…. he is usually impressed by our courage;
13. never fear that the priest will not keep our confession secret… he is bound by the Seal;
14. never confess "tendencies" or "struggles"... just sins;
15. never leave the confessional before the priest has finished giving absolution;
16. memorize an Act of Contrition;
17. answer the priest’s questions briefly if he asks for a clarification;
18. ask questions if we can’t understand what he means when he tells us something;
19. keep in mind that sometimes priests can have bad days just like we do;
20. remember that priests must go to confession too … they know what we are going through.
Padre Pio Hearing Confession |
Finding a Good Confessor Next to assisting at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, there is nothing more sublime than the graces granted through the ministrations of a good confessor.
For those who are just returning to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, finding the "right" confessor should not be a concern. Any Priest who has been granted the faculty to hear confessions may do so. You might consider asking other Catholics for advice, but every soul is different and the favorite confessor of one might not at all be right for you. Don't let that stop you. If you must "shop around" your best bet is to visit several Churches and look for one with a long line at the Confessional booth. Here you will likely find an excellent confessor.
Among Catholics who have found that frequent confession is a powerful spiritual aid there sometimes arises a crisis when finding the right confessor seems nearly impossible. You're in good company.
St. Teresa of Avila prayed for years that the Lord might send her a wise and prudent confessor and suffered terribly until Our Lord sent one.
Saint Faustina also suffered for want of a confessor and found solace only when Our Lord spoke to her:
"When you go to Confession, know this, that I Myself am waiting for you in the confessional; I am only hidden by the priest, but I Myself act in the soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of Mercy."
Most of us are not spiritual giants like these Saints and do not have the sublime experience of speaking directly with Our Lord. Our pain in this regard, is nonetheless very real, and often more acute when we have suffered the loss of a confessor. While the best course of action is to pray incessantly while abandoning ourselves to the Divine Will, we will of course have to take some action on our own. A new confessor is not likely to come knocking on our front door to introduce himself.
Father John A. Hardon, S.J. offers advice and guidance on selecting a confessor. His column is well worth reading.
One final piece of advice we have found useful. While it is unlikely that we will come across a Confessor like St. John Marie Vianney or Saint Pio, Opus Dei priests are generally exceptional confessors. Making the effort to find one is likely to bear great fruit. |
The Value of Frequent Confession Although frequent confession, except among the scrupulous, has fallen out of fashion, there are many reasons why we should make it a habit.
To begin, our self-knowledge is increased and with that weapon, we can begin to correct bad habits. Our conscience is strengthened. We begin to gain healthy self-control and more closely align our wills to God's.
An excellent article to explore is The Spiritual and Psychological Value of Frequent Confession by Father John A. Hardon, S.J. In language that is straight forward and not overly pedantic, he presents a compelling case for seeking the sacrament on a regular basis.
Two books that we have found to be invaluable are Frequent Confession - Its Place in the Spiritual Life by Benedict Baur and How to Profit from Your Faults by Joseph Tissot. Together the counsel in these volumes provide the shield and the battle axe to get at the root of our sinful natures and to begin to make real progress.
Although our intention in presenting this page is not to sell books to you, we also recommend several other little books that will help you along your way.
Lukewarmness: The Devil in Disguise
Why We Need Confession
Confession - Its Fruitful Practice with an Examination of Conscience
Confession - A Little Book for the Reluctant
The Secret of Confession Including the Wonders of Confession
And for children - My Confession Book
To parents: Please encourage your child to seek confession regularly. Calm his or her fears by letting him know that it's not Father who is in the Confessional, but Our Lord Himself. Children often worry that "Father will tell." Assure them that Father is bound to secrecy. No one will ever know but God. And once our sins are confessed, God forgets them, too.
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