This free handout has been prepared by the NCCB Secretariat for the Liturgy and the NCCB Secretariat for the Third Millennium and the Jubilee Year 2000. It is intended as a brief review of the church's teaching on the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance. While it is copyrighted by the United States Catholic Conference, permission is given for free distribution to parishes and other Catholic institutions. More thorough study of the question may be accomplished by reading the introduction to the Right of Penance and other documents of the Holy See and NCCB on this important topic.

Many people have avoided celebrating the Sacrament of Penance, sometimes for years at a time, because they "don't know what to do". The following brief explanation is intended for a person who has not been to confession in some time and explains how the first form of the Sacraments of Penance may be celebrated. The person who is going to confession is called a "penitent" because he or she wished to do penance and turn away from their sin. The sorrow a penitent feels for his or her sins is no as contrition and must include a resolve to sin no more and to avoid all future occasions of sin [See Catechism of the Catholic Church 1451].

Preparation

Before going to confession, the penitent compares his or her life with the example and commandments of Christ and then prays to God for forgiveness.

Going to Confession

The priest welcomes the penitent and then both make the sign of the cross, saying: In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen. Next the priest briefly urges the penitent to have confidence in God.

If the penitent is unknown to the priest, it is proper for the penitent to indicate their state in life, the time of the last confession, difficulties in leading the Christian life, and anything else which may help the confessor in exercising his ministry.

Reading the Word of God

Then the priest, or the penitent himself, may read a passage from the Bible. The priest or penitent may read from Ezekiel 11:19-20, Matthew 6:14-15, Mark 1:14-15, Romans 5:8-9, Ephesians 5:1-2, 1 John 1:6-7, 9, or another text from Sacred Scripture.

Confession of Sins and the Act of Penance

The penitent then confesses his sins. If necessary, the priest should help the penitent to make a complete confession and to have sincere sorrow for his sins against God. The priest then offers suitable advice to help the penitent begin a new life and, when appropriate, leads him to resolve that he will make appropriate restitution for the harm he has caused others.

Then the priest imposes an act of penance or satisfaction on the penitent. Such a "penance" serves not only to make up for the past but also to help him to begin a new life and provides the penitent with an antidote to weakness. Through confession of his or her sins, the penitent "looks squarely at the sins he is guilty of, takes responsibility for them, and thereby opens himself again to God and to the communion of the Church in order to make a new future possible." [Catechism of the Catholic Church 1455]

The Prayer of the Penitent

After this the penitent prays a prayer showing he is sorry for his sins and he resolves not to sin again. A card with several examples of the prayer may be provided in the confessional. The penitent may recite the prayer by heart or read it.

The penance corresponds to the seriousness and nature of the sins and may suitably take the form of prayer, self-denial, and especially service to one's neighbor and works of mercy.

Here is one example of the Prayer of the Penitent: Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Lamb of God; you take away the sins of the world. Through the grace of the Holy Spirit restore me to friendship with your Father, cleanse me from every stain of sin in the blood you shed for them, and raise me to new life for the glory of your name. [RP 91]

Absolution by the Priest

Following this prayer, the priest extends his hands, or at least his right hand, over the head of the penitent and pronounces the formula of absolution. As he says the final words he makes the sign of the cross over the head of the penitent.

Priests Prayer of Absolution: 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, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The penitent answers: Amen.

Proclamation of Praise

After receiving pardon for his sins, the penitent praises the mercy of God and gives Him thanks in a short invocation taken from Scripture.

Dismissal of the Penitent

Then the priest tells him to go in peace. The penitent continues his conversion and expresses it by a life renewed according to the Gospel and more and more steeped in the love of God. For "love covers over a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8)

Notes

See Rite of Penance, numbers 15-20 and 41-47 and Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1422-1470.