1) to confess correctly it is necessary to prepare with a prayer. Then, an attentive examination of conscience from the last confession. This means with the word of God to distinguish one’s own inconsistencies, the flaws and weaknesses in thoughts, words, acts and omissions against the demands of the Gospel;
2) pain and aversion to sins committed with the purpose of not commiting the same mistakes;
3) Confess to the priest, “Ambassador of God”, all serious or mortal sins, according to the species and the number;It is very helpful to confess frequently, even venial sins, because you receive a gift of grace that gives strength in the path of imitation of Christ;
4) Do everything possible to repair the harm. Absolution erases the sin, but does not fix all the disorders that it caused. So, forgiven the sin, the sinner must still recover his full spiritual health. The penitential exercise that the confessor suggests is not given only for atonement of sins and to repair any damage caused, but also as a way of helping to start a new life and promote the full repair of the disease of sin.
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This repair is the expression of an authentic review of life, in which the penitent seeks support and to repair the ill effects of his/her actions or omissions, in the following of Christ and in solidarity with his/her brothers and sisters, especially those directly affected by their sins. It can consist of prayers, mortifications and in works of charity.
How to make during the confession?
After preparing for confession with prayer and soul-searching, wait patiently for your turn, invoking for yourself and the next one the light of the Holy Spirit and the grace of a radical conversion. Approaching the priest, make the sign of the cross.
So, you can start the confession saying, “bless me, father! I have sinned. ” Then, says as accurately as possible the elapsed time since the last confession, your way of life (celibate, married, widowed, student, consecrated, fiancé or boyfriend) and did penance received in the last confession. You Can also lead to the knowledge of the confessor the events in which you felt particularly close to God, and the progress in the spiritual life.
It follows, from then on, confession of sins, with simplicity and humility, stating the facts that are transgressions of the law of God and that intensely, they weigh on your conscience. Confess, first, serious or mortal sins; Second, the kind and number without getting lost in detail and without diminishing its own responsibility.
To obtain an increase of grace and strength in the path of imitation of Christ, confess the venial sins. Then prepare to welcome the advice and warnings of the confessor accepting his penance. The penitent prays an act of contrition and the priest pronounces the formula of absolution.
With my blessing,
Monsignor Jonas Abib
Founder of the Catholic community New Song