MARIA ROSA MYSTICA - Confession

I have heard so many people say "Why should I go confess to a Priest when I can go directly to God through prayer or Why should I go confess with a Priest when the Priests are committing sins, etc." We do not have the right to judge anyone as we are sinners ourselves. A priest is a representative of Jesus Christ on earth. Jesus has given him the power through the Sacrament of Reconciliation to absolve us from our sins. We must do our part and obey the Law of God and let God be the judge of any priest that falls into sin. That is between God and the priest. Our conscious is clear because of our obedience to God's Will. For those that may feel ashamed or uncomfortable confessing your sins to a priest because you may know him, etc., did you feel ashamed or uncomfortable when you committed your sin? When it comes to God we must remove any pride and humble ourselves before Him. Only a priest can absolve our sins here on earth so we must try to go at least once a week to confession. If you don't feel dirty/disgusting/ashamed, etc when you have sinned than you have not truly opened your heart and soul to God. You must abandon yourself to Him in order to find liberation from sin. We are weak and have the tendency to sin so not falling is a work in progress for most of us. Pray to the Holy Spirit to help illuminate you while in confession. A good confession is such a liberating experience. When you walk out of the confessional, you feel as light as a feather. Oh how merciful and compassion Our Lord Jesus Christ is for the gift of Reconciliation! Pray to the Holy Spirit to help illuminate you while in confession.

We have already offended God by sinning, please don't add more agonizing pain to Him by receiving His Precious Body and Blood when your soul is not free from sin. Jesus is truly present in the Holy Eucharist. You may not see him but He is always alive upon the consecration of the Eucharist and Wine. There is blood appearing on the Holy Eucharist throughout the world. People have witnessed the Holy Eucharist turning into flesh and pulsating as if it was a heart. How can you not believe He is truly present? Jesus suffered a death that none of us will ever suffer and He did so to give us the gift of His Body and Blood. It is through His Body and Blood that we will have the opportunity to earn eternal salvation for ourselves.

Why should we confess? Confession is a sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ in His love and mercy to offer sinners forgiveness for offenses committed against God. At the same time, sinners reconcile with the Church, because it is also wounded by our sins. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a sacrament of healing and a sacrament of conversion, returning us to the Father after our sin.

We use an examination of conscience to help call to mind our sins and failings during a period of quiet reflection before approaching the priest in Confession. It’s important for an examination of conscience to be thorough. This will help you learn about things that you may not be aware of. It’s also a chance to develop your conscience.

To make an examination of conscience:

* set aside some quiet time for reflection

* start by praying to the Holy Spirit, asking for help in

making a good

examination to prepare for Confession

* read through the terms on this list and honestly reflect on

your behavior for each item

* this examination of conscience is based on the

Ten Commandments

First Commandment

I am the Lord your God. You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.

Have I doubted in matters of faith? Murmured against God because of adversity? Despaired of His mercy? Have I believed in or consulted with fortune-tellers? Neglected my morning or evening prayers? Omitted my religious obligations because of human respect? Presumed upon God’s mercy in committing sin? Loved someone or something more than God (money, power, sex, ambition, etc.)? Been involved in the occult? Formally left the Catholic Church? Hidden a serious sin or told a lie in confession?

Second Commandment

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

Have I used the name of God or the saints with irreverence? Have I sworn (which means calling upon God to witness the truth of what I say) without a good reason, or falsely? Have I cursed (the calling down of some evil on a person, place or thing)? Blasphemed (using insulting language to express contempt for God), the saints, or holy things?

Third Commandment

Remember to keep holy the Lord’s day.

Did I miss Mass on Sunday or a Holy Day of Obligation? Have I done unnecessary servile work or been responsible for others doing it on these days? Set time aside each day for personal prayer to God? Habitually come late to and/or leave early from Mass without a good reason? Not attending to taking my children to Mass? Did I fast and abstain on the prescribed days?

Fourth Commandment

Honor your father and your mother.

Have I been obedient to my parents and lawful superiors? Have I shown disrespect toward them? Have I deceived them? Have I been a good citizen by voting? Have I shown respect toward aged parents or in their time of need? Provided for the religious education and formation of my children for as long as they are under my care? Ensured that my children still under my care regularly frequent the sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion? Been to my children a good example of how to live the Catholic Faith?

Fifth Commandment

You shall not kill.

Have I been the occasion of another’s sin through my bad example in word or deed? Have I been guilty of fighting, anger, hatred, revenge or drunkenness? Did I refuse to speak to others? To forgive them? Did I use provoking language? Been involved in an abortion, directly or indirectly (through advice, etc.)? Seriously considered or attempted suicide? Unjustly inflicted bodily harm on another person? Verbally or emotionally abused another person? Been prejudiced, or unjustly discriminated against others because of their race, color, nationality, sex or religion? Did I take illicit drugs?

Sixth and Ninth Commandments

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.

Did I take pleasure in impure thoughts or desires? Say impure things? Listen to impure conversations? Did I touch others or let others touch me in an impure manner? Commit an impure act alone or with others? Purchased, viewed or made use of pornography? Committed adultery? Committed incest? Committed fornication (sexual relations with someone of the opposite sex when neither of us is married)? Engaged in homosexual activity? Made uninvited or unwelcome sexual advances toward another?

Seventh and Tenth Commandments

You shall not steal.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

Have I stolen anything? If so, of what value, and did I return the stolen goods? Have I been unjust in buying or selling? Have I damaged the property of others? Accepted or kept stolen goods? Paid my just debts as soon as possible? Has my daily work merited its paycheck? Have I desired to steal anything or to damage my neighbor’s property? Practiced works of mercy? Squandered money in compulsive gambling? Make a false claim to an insurance company?

Eighth Commandment

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Did I tell lies? Have I been guilty of rash judgment (believing something harmful to another’s character without sufficient reason)? Detraction (without a good reason, making known the hidden faults of another)? Betrayed another’s confidence through speech? Slander or calumny (by lying, injuring the good name of another)? Perjured myself under oath? Gossiped?

Rite of Confession

+ Bless me Father for I have sinned.

(At this point, if the penitent is unknown to the priest, it is proper to indicate to the priest your state of life, i.e. single, married, and divorced, etc., the time of your last confession, difficulties in leading the Christian life, and anything else which may help the priest to exercise his ministry.)

After your Confession, the priest will impart a Penance and may ask you to pray the Act of Contrition, either before him or privately afterwards in the Church, and then will impart Absolution.

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins because of Your just punishment, but most of all because they offend You, my God, Who art all good, and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more, and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen

The Lord has freed you from sin. May He bring you safely to His Kingdom in Heaven. Glory to Him forever!