1. I am the Lord your God. You shall not have strange gods before me.
-Do I give God time every day in prayer?
-Do I seek to love Him with my whole heart?
-Have I been involved with superstitious practices or have I been involved with the occult?
-Do I seek to surrender myself to God´s word as taught by the Church?
-Have I ever received communion in the state of mortal sin?
-Have I ever deliberately told a lie in Confession or have I withheld a mortal sin from the priest in Confession?
-Are there other “gods” in my life? Money, Security, Power, People, etc.?
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
-Have I used God´s name in vain: lightly or carelessly?
-Have I been angry with God?
-Have I wished evil upon any other person?
-Have I insulted a sacred person or abused a sacred object?
3. Remember to keep holy the Lord´s Day.
-Have I deliberately missed Mass on Sundays or Holy Days of Obligation?
-Have I tried to observe Sunday as a family day and a day of rest?
-Do I do needless work on Sunday?
4. Honor your father and your mother.
-Do I honor and obey my parents?
-Have I neglected my duties to my spouse and children?
-Have I given my family good religious example?
-Do I try to bring peace into my home life?
-Do I care for my aged and infirm relatives?
5. You shall not kill.
-Have I had an abortion or encouraged or helped anyone to have an abortion?
-Have I physically harmed anyone?
-Have I abused alcohol or drugs?
-Did I give scandal to anyone, thereby leading him or her into sin?
-Have I been angry or resentful?
-Have I harbored hatred in my heart?
-Have I mutilated myself through any form of sterilization?
-Have I encouraged or condoned sterilization?
-Have I engaged, in any way, in sins against humanlife such as artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization?
-Have I participated in or approved of euthanasia?
6. You shall not commit adultery.
-Have I been faithful to my marriage vows in thought and action?
-Have I engaged in any sexual activity outside of marriage?
-Have I used any method of contraception or artificial birth control in my marriage?
-Has each sexual act in my marriage been open to the transmission of new life?
-Have I been guilty of masturbation?
-Do I seek to control my thoughts and imaginations?
-Have I respected all members of the opposite sex, or have I thought of other people as mere objects?
-Have I been guilty of any homosexual activity?
-Do I seek to be chaste in my thoughts, words,actions?
-Am I careful to dress modestly?
7. You shall not steal.
-Have I stolen what is not mine?
-Have I returned or made restitution for what I have stolen?
-Do I waste time at work, school, and home?
-Do I gamble excessively, thereby denying my family of their needs?
-Do I pay my debts promptly?
-Do I seek to share what I have with the poor?
-Have I cheated anyone out of what is justly theirs, for example creditors, insurance companies, big corporations?
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
-Have I lied? Have I gossiped?
-Do I speak badly of others behind their back?
-Am I sincere in my dealings with others?
-Am I critical, negative or uncharitable in my thoughts of others?
-Do I keep secret what should be kept confidential?
-Have I injured the reputation of others by slanders?
9. You shall not desire your neighbor´s wife.
-Have I consented to impure thoughts?
-Have I caused them by impure reading, movies, television, conversation or curiosity?
-Do I pray at once to banish impure thoughts and temptations?
-Have I behaved in an inappropriate way with members of the opposite sex: flirting, being superficial, etc.?
10. You shall not desire your neighbor´s goods.
-Am I jealous of what other people have?
-Do I envy the families or possessions of others?
-Am I greedy or selfish?
-Are material possessions the purpose of my life?
A GUIDE TO CONFESSION
How to go to Confession
1. You always have the option to go to confession anonymously, that is, behind a screen or face to face, if you so desire.
2. After the priest greets you in the name of Christ, make the sign of the cross. He may choose to recite a reading from Scripture, after which you say: “Bless me Father for I have sinned. It has been (state how long) since my last confession. These are my sins.”
3. Tell your sins simply and honestly to the priest. You might even want to discuss the circumstances and the root causes of your sins and ask the priest for advice or direction.
4. Listen to the advice the priest gives you and accept the penance from him. Then make an Act of Contrition for your sins.
5. The priest will then dismiss you with the words of praise: “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. You respond: “For His mercy endures forever.” The priest will then conclude with:”The Lord has freed you from your sins. Go in peace.” And you respond by saying: “Thanks be to God.”
6. Spend some time with Our Lord thanking and praising Him for the gift of His mercy. Try to perform your penance as soon as possible.
PRAYER BEFORE CONFESSION
O most merciful God! Prostrate at your feet, I implore your forgiveness. I sincerely desire to leave all my evil ways and to confess my sins with all sincerity to you and to your priest. I am a sinner, have mercy on me, O Lord. Give me a lively faith and a firm hope in the Passion of my Redeemer. Give me, for your mercy´s sake a sorrow for having offended so good a God. Mary, my mother, refuge of sinners, pray for me that I may make a good confession. Amen.
AN ACT OF CONTRITION
Oh 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 you
whom I should love above all things.
I firmly intend, with your help,
to do penance,
to sin no more,
and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Savior Jesus Christ
suffered and died for us.
In His name, my God, have mercy. Amen.
Make a ‘Good’ Confession This Christmas: A Confession Guide for Adults
Preparing Your Heart for Christ’s Nativity
As Christmas approaches, preparing spiritually for the celebration of Christ’s birth is essential. One of the most profound ways to do this is through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Confession allows us to experience God’s mercy and healing, making our hearts ready to welcome Christ. Let this guide inspire and equip you to make a “good” confession this Christmas.
The Importance of Confession
Saint John Paul II said, “Confession is an act of honesty and courage—an act of entrusting ourselves, beyond sin, to the mercy of a loving and forgiving God.” Confession is not just about admitting faults but about embracing God’s grace to transform our lives.
Biblical Foundations
The call to repentance and reconciliation is deeply rooted in Scripture:
- “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
- “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” (James 5:16)
- “Repent, therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.” (Acts 3:19)
Steps to Make a Good Confession
Examine Your Conscience
Reflect on your thoughts, words, and deeds using an Examination of Conscience. Consider the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, and Christ’s teachings on love.Saint Augustine’s Insight: “The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works.”
Be Sincerely Sorry for Your Sins
True contrition involves regret for offending God’s love and a resolve not to sin again.- “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)
Confess Your Sins Honestly
Be specific but concise. Avoid justifying or blaming others for your actions. Trust in God’s mercy through the priest, who acts in the person of Christ.Pope Francis’ Homily on Confession: “Do not be afraid of confession! When one is in line to go to confession, he feels all these things—even shame—but then, when one finishes confessing, he leaves free, great, beautiful, forgiven, clean, happy.”
Receive Absolution and Do Penance
Absolution is a powerful moment when God forgives your sins through the priest. Fulfill your penance promptly and with gratitude.Saint Padre Pio’s Wisdom: “The greatest act of love is to return to God by confession.”
Why Confess Before Christmas?
The Nativity reminds us of Christ’s humble entry into a world broken by sin. Just as Mary and Joseph prepared the stable for Jesus, we must prepare our hearts for His coming by clearing away spiritual clutter.
Saint Teresa of Ávila’s Advice: “Remember that you have only one soul; that you have only one death to die; that you have only one life… If you do this, there will be many things about which you care nothing.”
Practical Tips for Confession
- Schedule a Time: Check your parish for confession times or make an appointment.
- Pray Beforehand: Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your examination and confession.
- Be Humble: Approach the sacrament with honesty and a desire for healing.
A Prayer Before Confession
“Lord, grant me the courage to face my sins, the humility to confess them, and the grace to amend my life. May Your mercy wash me clean and prepare my heart to welcome You this Christmas. Amen.”
Through the Sacrament of Confession, your soul can become like the stable in Bethlehem—a humble, purified dwelling for the Savior of the world. Let this Christmas be not only a celebration of Christ’s birth but a renewal of His presence in your heart.
