Sacrament of Penance

The Lamb of God with the banner of the Resurrection

Guidance on the Sacrament of Penance
From Father Erdman

🙦Remember that you will never make a “perfect” or even “sufficient” confession to obtain forgiveness. Like all sacraments, this is a gift of God to us. At the best, you will make a confession that is the equivalent of 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed 5000 people. It is in placing this in Jesus’ hands that it is enough. You will not be able to remember everything. You will still be forgiven. Anxiety to remember is never needed. Intention to remember and return to Christ is all that is necessary. The only thing that cannot be done is to intentionally withhold a sin. When a sin is withheld, we make it more powerful than it actually is. Neither God nor the priest will think differently of you. Sin is not interesting. The people he has made are. Nothing can stand before the saving power of the Cross of Christ and not be forgiven and healed. The void of sin is conquered by the pouring out of Christ himself. Ask God to guide you, and trust in his help. Your confession will be enough, because he is more than enough.

Prayer before Self-Examination

🙦Holy Spirit, Source of all light, Spirit of wisdom, of understanding and of knowledge, come to my assistance and enable me to make a good confession. Enlighten me, and help me now to know my sins as one day I shall be forced to recognize them before thy judgement seat. Bring to mind the evil which I have done and the good which I have neglected. Permit me not to be blinded by self-love. Grant me, moreover, heartfelt sorrow for my transgressions, knowing how deeply they have wounded the loving heart of my Heavenly Father; and help me to make a good confession that all stain of guilt may be washed away in the Precious Blood of my Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Your State of Life

These selections tailor the examination of conscience to your situation.

Gender

Vocation

State

Choose Your Examinations

Select the examinations you wish to use. You need not use all of them — choose whichever suit your state and need.

1 of 1

Review & Act of Contrition

Choose an Act of Contrition

i.

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against thee whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with thy help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Saviour Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.

ii.

Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

iii.

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended thee, and I detest all my sins, because of thy just punishments; but most of all because they offend thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of thy grace, to amend my life, to sin no more, and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.

iv.

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 art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of thy grace, to amend my life, to sin no more, and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.

Print / Save PDF produces only the order of service — an aid for making your confession, not a record of your examination. Your marked sins appear on screen only and are never printed. To keep a private, encrypted copy of everything, use Save via Download (Encrypted).