A GUIDE FOR THE
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

What is a
SIN
anyhow?

...any thought, word or deed against God's Will!

Five Easy Steps for a Good Confession!

STEP 1:    Prayerfully examine your conscience by reading the rest of this guide. If you are unsure or afraid to confess your sins, ask the priest to help you.

STEP 2:    When it is your turn, begin by making the sign of the cross and say, "Bless me Father for I  have sinned.  It has been  (TELL HOW LONG: a month, a year, five years, etc.) since my last confession."
 
STEP 3:   The priest may give you a blessing and read a part of the Bible.  When he stops, you say, "These are my  sins...(TELL WHAT KIND OF SIN and TELL HOW MANY TIMES YOU COMMITTED EACH SIN).  You may conclude by saying: ...For these and all my sins, I am sorry."

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STEP 4:   Listen prayerfully to the priest's advice and be ready to pray your Act  of Contrition (at the bottom of this page and usually displayed somewhere in the Confessional)

YOU:         O, my God,  I  am... 
PRIEST:    (Prayer of Absolution)
YOU:          Amen!

PRIEST:     Give thanks to the Lord, 
                   for He is good.
YOU:          His mercy endures forever!
PRIEST:    Go in Peace.

STEP 5:     Pray or perform your penance as soon as possible.  It is a good practice to pray an extra prayer for your priest-confessor.

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But how do I know
that it is a sin?

1.  It must be wrong.
2. You know it is wrong.
3. You do it anyway!

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I.  I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD YOU SHALL NOT
HAVE STRANGE GODS BEFORE ME.

Have I...
...failed to make God the #1 Person in my life?
...worshiped false gods like the Golden Calf, money, power, popularity?
...denied the existence of God
...become a cafeteria Catholic picking and choosing the things I want to believe, and rejecting the rest?
...presumed that I will go to heaven or given into despair?
...Other?

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II.  YOU SHALL NOT
TAKE THE NAME
OF THE LORD GOD
IN VAIN.

Have I...
...used God's name in cursing?
...failed to praise the name of Jesus?
...used God's name without respect?
...Other?

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III.  KEEP HOLY THE LORD'S DAY.

Have I... 
...without a serious reason: come late to Mass, left Mass early, missed Mass on Sunday or Holy Days of Obligation?
 ...stopped studying my Catholic faith?
...failed to fast for one hour before receiving Holy Communion or received Communion in the state of moral sin, or failed to believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist? 
...Other?

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IV.  HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER

Have I...
...abandoned, ignored  or failed to pray for my parents?
...failed to pray to Our Blessed Mother, my guardian angel and the Saints?
...failed to obey the reasonable requests of teachers and lawful authorities?
...Other?

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V.  YOU SHALL NOT KILL

Have I...
...had or promoted abortion?
...raped, abused or promoted the killing of the sick or elderly?
...used illegal drugs, abused alcohol, seriously considered or attempted 
suicide?
...been unjustly angry, mean, resentful, or unforgiving toward another?   
Other?

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VI.  YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY

Have I...
...had sex with someone other than my spouse (adultery)?
...used condoms, the pill, or other contraceptive devices?
...used pornographic materials or been sterilized?
...masturbated, had impure thoughts, desires or actions (lust)?
...engaged in pre-marital sex or foreplay (fornication)?
...participated in homosexual acts (sodomy)?
...Other?

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VII.  YOU SHALL NOT STEAL

Have I...
...taken what did not belong to me or failed to return what I have borrowed?
...cheated: on tests, on my taxes, my employer, or my
employees? 
...wasted natural resources, neglected to pay my debts or to act in charity?
...failed to give generously of my time, talent, and treasure to the Church?
...Other?

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VIII. YOU SHALL NOT LIE

Have I...
...failed to tell the truth, gossiped or revealed what should have
been kept secret?
...been prejudiced,
overly critical,
insincere, moody or gloomy?
...failed to be verbally supportive
of the good in others?
...Other?

IX.  YOU SHALL NOT COVET YOU
NEIGHBOR'S
SPOUSE

Have I...
...been jealous of my neighbors family, relatives, or friends?
...failed to pray with my spouse each day?
...wished that I was not married? 
...seriously wanted a different spouse?
...Other?

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X. YOU SHALL NOT COVENT YOUR NEIGHBOR'S
GOODS

Have I...
...been greedy, jealous or envious of someone else's
possessions?
...failed to care for widows, widowers, the poor, the
imprisoned, and the homeless?
...gambled excessively or failed to love my
neighbor or to pray for him/her?
 ...Other?

ACT OF CONTRITION

I am  sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against You whom I should love above all things.  I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more and to avoid what ever leads me to sin.  Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us.  In His Name, my God have mercy.

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