Reconciliation-How-To

The Ritual of Confession
The Sacrament of Penance is a liturgical action instituted by the Church for the reconciliation of sinners to communion with God and with the Church.

The normal practice for administration of the Sacrament of Penance is in private -- with only the penitent and the priest present.

You may either go face to face with the priest, or kneel behind the screen if you wish to go anonymously. There is a green and red light on the wall above the door to the reconciliation room. If the light is red, there is another pentitent in the room. When the light is green, the priest is available for confession.

1) The penitent should have already performed an examination of conscience before entering the confessional

2) To begin, the penitent kneels and, by custom, says: "Forgive me, Father, (or Bless me Father) for I have sinned", and may add, "It has been [time] since my last confession."

3)The priest greets the penitent. Then crossing himself, the penitent says "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" and begins his confession.

4) The penitent confesses his sins to the priest. The priest may help the penitent with an examination of conscience, perhaps by asking questions. During the confession, the priest may read Scripture passages and offer spiritual counsel.

5) After hearing the confession, the priest assigns a penance, and the penitent accepts the penance by reciting an act of contrition

6) The priest grants absolution with the following prayer:
"God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of His Son has reconciled the world to Himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins;
Through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

7) The penitent leaves the reconciliation room and performs the penance, as soon as possible.