HOW OFTEN MUST I GO FOR CONFESSION?
should a priest break it, he is automatically
The Church has precepts (or laws) to ensure the
bare minimum requirements for your spiritual
survival. The second precept makes it obligatory for
you to confess your sins at least once a year
(Catechism of the Catholic Church #2041-2043, Canon
Law #989). But if you want your faith to fully alive,
consider the example of Pope John Paul II who
received this Sacrament weekly.
WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE ANY SINS TO CONFESS?
Unless you are the Christ or the Immaculate
Conception, Scripture warns us not to deceive
ourselves and make God a liar (1 John 1:8-10). Such
a claim is nonsensical and does not square with
experience. It's likely you have been self-justifying
and excused your sinful actions and attitudes as
“small“ or “only human“. Of such people, the Bible
says, “He flatters himself in his mind, that he knows
not his guilt“(Psalm 36:3).
Have a look at the Examination of Conscience
behind. Ask your family or friends if there is
anything you do or say that bothers them. Consider
what the Lord of Truth may accuse you of on
Judgement Day. Jesus said to the self-righteous
Pharisees that because they refuse to acknowledge
their sins and ask for forgiveness, they remain
condemned (John 9:40-41).
WHAT IF I DON'T FEEL SORRY FOR MY SINS?
Contrition, or sorrow for your sins is an essential
part of Confession. It includes hatred of the sin and
a firm commitment not to sin again. There are two
kinds of contrition. Imperfect contrition "detests
sins because of God's just punishment“ (Act of
Contrition). It results from seeing the ugliness of sin
or fear of hell and other punishments. Perfect
contrition, on the other hand sees that sin “offends
and hurts“ a person, that is, God himself. The
sacrament of Confession is effective as long you
have some sense of contrition, perfect or imperfect.
WHY CAN'T I CONFESS DIRECTLY TO GOD?
God's plan is that you should go through His
Church. That is why Jesus gave to His authority to
Her leaders, “Whose sins you forgive, they are
forgiven. Whose sins you retain, they are retained“
(John 20:23). Apostles, bishops and priests are given
this special Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Corinthians
5:18). On our part, we are told to confess our sins to
one another (James 5:16, italics mine).
Confessing to a priest helps you to counter that
often-unnoticed yet dangerous sin of pride. It
reminds you that you are ultimately in a
relationship with God not because of how good you
are or what good you've done, but rather because of
His undeserved mercy and grace. “For by grace you
have been saved through faith, and this is not from
you; it is a gift of God. It is not from works so no
one may boast“ (Ephesians 2:8-9). Through this
sacrament, you rely on and receive God's help to
fight against future sin and temptation.
Confessing to a priest also removes the need of a
subjective “feeling“ of forgiveness. You can be
confident that you are forgiven because you are
following His method of receiving forgiveness as
revealed in the Word of God.
From a psychological perspective, acknowledging
your fault enables you to take responsibility over
your actions and is the first step to healing. The
Psalmist says, “As long as I kept silent, my bones
wasted away; I groaned all the day (Psalm 32:3-4).
Oftentimes, the priest will also provide sound
advice on avoiding sin in the future.
DO I HAVE TO TELL THE PRIEST EVERYTHING?
The priest does not want to pry but it's important
for him to know enough details, like frequency of
your sin, to be able to diagnose your spiritual
health. Your confession is guarded with a seal and
excommunicated.
WHY CAN'T I RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION IF I
HAVEN'T CONFESSED MY MORTAL SINS?
God punishes every sin. But some sins are more
serious than others. We call these mortal or grave
sins because they completely destroy our
relationship with God (in contrast to venial sins
where the relationship is merely wounded). For a
sin to be mortal, three conditions must be present:
1. grave matter
2. full knowledge of the evil act
3. deliberate consent of the will
Among the more obvious of such sins are: abortion,
sexual immorality, neglecting Sunday worship and
help of the oppressed.
The author of the letter to the Hebrews lays out the
consequences of such sin, “If we sin willingly after
receiving knowledge of the truth, there no longer
remains sacrifice for sins but a fearful prospect of
judgement and a flaming fire“ (Hebrews 10:26). God
himself will deny you (2 Timothy 2:12) and even the
prayers of your Christian brothers cannot help you
(1 John 5:16).
If you find yourself in such a spiritual state, you
should refrain from receiving Holy Communion,
otherwise further judgement will come upon you (1
Corinthians 11:29) For such persons it is even more
urgent that you approach the sacrament of
Reconciliation as soon as you can.
THE EXAMINATION OF YOUR CONSCIENCE
Have I disregarded, refused or hesitated to hold as true what God has
revealed and the Church proposes for belief? Have I harboured
doubt, objections or anxieties about the faith? Have I held and spread
opinions that are opposite of what the Church teaches? Have I been
reading materials that have caused me to doubt?
Have I by despair ceased to hope for my salvation, for grace and for the
forgiveness of my sins? Have I been presumptuous on my own
goodness to save me or thought to obtain forgiveness without
conversion?
Have I been indifferent, ungrateful, lukewarm, lazy and opposed to the
love of God? Have I failed to read the Bible, pray, know Him more
and serve His Church?
Have I doubted God’s existence or failed to acknowledge him in
respect, submission and worship?
Have I believed in or venerated other deities other than the one true
God? Have I let other people and things take the first place in my
life?
Have I believed in horoscopes, astrology, feng-shui, fortune-telling,
palm-reading, mediums, interpretation of omens, clairvoyance,
dreams, charms, tarot cards, ouija boards and other superstitious or
occultic practices?
Have I put God to the test? Have I been disrespectful towards the
sacraments, godly persons, things and places? Have I bought or sold
spiritual things?
Have I lived atheistically, refusing dependence on God and trusted man
as the sole maker of his own progress and material prosperity?
Have I been afraid to confess the Catholic faith? Have I used the name
of God and His saints improperly? Have I blasphemed God, His
Church, sacred people and things, by word or thought, with hatred,
reproach or defiance? Have I used God’s name for magic, to cover up
criminal practices, to enslave, torture or kill people?
Have I lied under oath or failed to keep promises?
Have I used offensive or vulgar words? Have I wished evil on anyone?
Have I failed to participate in Sunday Mass and Holy days of
obligation? Have I come late, left early, been irreverent, inattentive
or a distraction at Mass? Have I received Holy Communion in a state
of mortal sin or without observing the one-hour fast?
Have I gone for confession without real sorrow, without desire to make
amends, avoid sin and near occasions of sin? Have I intentionally
concealed my sins in confession? Have I fulfilled the penance the
priest gave me in my last confession?
Have I observed Church days of penance?
Have I had sufficient rest and leisure to cultivate my family and social
life?
Have I threatened or mistreated my parents? Have I been rude, sulky
and incommunicative to them? Have I been uncooperative and
negligent in doing my house chores and homework? Have I been
rebellious? Have I shown them my appreciation for their effort in
raising me by helping them?
Have I been selfish about my possessions especially with my brothers
and sisters? Have I exercised my responsibility as a brother or a sister
to them?
Have I given respect, gratitude, just obedience and assistance to elders,
ancestors, teachers, employers and public authority? Have I paid PREACHING IN SEASON & OUT OF SEASON
taxes, exercised my right to vote and to defend my country?
#5: SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
Have I had an abortion, consented to it or advised anyone to do so?
Have I attempted suicide?
Have I scandalously led another to do evil?
Have I, by excess, abused food, alcohol and tobacco? Do I drive at
reckless speed? Have I abused drugs or encouraged others to do so?
Have I joined gangs or taken part in street-fights?
Have I been unable to forgive myself and accept my physical
appearance? Have I looked down on others because of their race,
social class, looks or behaviour?
Have I been impatient, angry, quarrelsome, judgmental, critical,
sarcastic, annoying or ridiculing others?
Have I been envious, proud, unwilling to forgive, revengeful and plain
lazy?

Have I entertained lustful desires or indulged in pornography? Have I
committed impure acts or practised masturbation? Have I engaged in
pre-marital sex or cohabitating? Have I taken part in or encouraged
homosexual behaviour?
Have I dressed or spoken suggestively?
Have I taken things without consent? Have I deliberately retained
borrowed, stolen or lost items and money? Have I engaged in
business fraud, paid unjust wages and raised prices to take advantage
TR U E
of the ignorance and hardship of others?
Have I rashly gambled or engaged in price manipulation? Have I taken
or accepted bribes? Have I taken company items for personal use?
Have I done poor work, evaded tax, forged checks and invoices,
CONFESSIONS

spent excessively and wastefully? Have vandalised public property?
Have I thrown rubbish away improperly?
Have I bought and made illegal duplication of copyrighted materials e.g.
pirated VCDs and DVDs?
Have I abused creation, animals and the use of resources?
Have I failed to support the Church generously?
Have I neglected to use my social, economical and political position to
protect rights and make changes that uphold justice and seek the
good of others?
Have I neglected to help the poor and needy?
Have I indulged in gossip, spoken behind someone’s back, or
unnecessarily spread negative remarks about someone even if it were
true? Have I ruined anyone’s reputation?
Have I rashly accused anyone of wrongdoing or false motives?
Have I, by praise, politeness or silence, encouraged sinful behaviour?
Have I been boastful or made fun of someone by mimicking his
behaviour in an exaggerated way? Have I insulted anyone or hurt
their feelings?
Have I lied to hurt anyone, to avoid an awkward situation or to look
good? Have I been insincere?
Have I failed to keep secrets confidential?
“If we acknowledge our sins,
Have I been envious of other’s possessions?
Have I been resentful of my position in life or grumbled against god He is trustworthy and upright,
about a misfortune? So that He will forgive our sins,
Have I maintained friendships or frequented places that are continual And will cleanse us from all evil”
occasions of sin?
1 John 1:9