FAQ-Preparing for Confession

- Resources & FAQ

What Is the Best Way to Prepare for Confession?

   The first step in preparing to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation (what Catholics commonly call "Confession") is called the "Examination of Conscience." The Examination of Conscience is an honest and thoughtful review of our lives, a way of examining our attitudes and behavior according to the moral, ethical and social principles and ideals of the Judeo-Christian tradition and Catholic moral or social teaching.
   In a general sense, the purpose of this review is to a) evaluate how well we are growing in our awareness, acceptance and imitation of God's love and b) to identify specific ways in which we need to improve. In this process it is natural to focus on our failures -- the ways in which we have violated God's laws or fallen short of what God, the church, or the human community expect of us -- and desire forgiveness and reconciliation for these failures, but in the broader sense the emphasis should be on growth, not failure -- on how merciful God is, not on how bad we are.
   When committed knowingly, intentionally and freely, moral and ethical failures are what Christians call "sin". In the Catholic tradition sin is distinguished as mortal (deadly), serious and venial sins, based on how harmful a particular behavior or attitude is to our interconnected relationship to God-others-and-self. Catholics are obligated to confess mortal sins and encouraged to confess other sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
   An honest and thoughtful individual is usually conscious of the significant sins or failures in their lives -- the things they are sorry for, regardless of moral culpability. However, the Christian tradition also provides various guides like the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, the Great Commandment, the Works of Mercy, and the Ignatian Examen which can help us remember the failures we are reluctant to admit.

• A selection of various Examination guides is available here. A pastor, parish formation staff member, confessor or trusted spiritual guide can also help you prepare to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
More FAQ
> How do I learn to appreciate the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
> How do I form a moral conscience?

Related Links
> Information About the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
> Sample Examinations of Conscience

[Last Update: 09.06.20]