The tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear him, at which the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." Then he addressed this parable to them: " Which among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wasteland and follow the one until he finds it? And when he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders in jubilation. Once arrived home, he invites friends and neighbors in and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you, there will likewise be more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent." ~ Luke 15:1-7

Sins: Venial vs. Mortal, The Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Virtues

For generations of Catholics the opening words for the sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance), "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned," represented the very essence of Catholic sorrow for sin. Today children are encouraged to understand that sin is a matter of making choices for which they are responsible, and to reconcile with those whom they may have offended.

SINS

• Venial Sins: A venial sin is an act that is not fully consistent with an orientation toward God and Christian morality.
• Mortal Sins: A sin is considered mortal if (1) the act was seriously sinful, (2) the sinner knew it was seriously sinful, but (3) did it willingly with full awareness that it was a rupture with God, the world, and the self.

From: Inside Catholicism: Rituals and Symbols Revealed, by Richard P. McBrien, 1995

Examination of Conscience

From: " Brother, save yourself "by very Rev. James Alberione, S.S.P, S.T.D.

Prior to confession, as well as each day in our life, we should compare our lives with the ten commandments. Only through sincere examination can we identify our faults and know what we must confess and where we must strive to live more as Christ would have us live. Consider the following:

[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 a 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?

[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 another 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 anyone to have an abortion?
• Have I physically harmed anyone?
• Have I abused alcohol or drugs?
• Did I give scandal to anyone, thereby leading them 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?

[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?
• Have I sought to control my thoughts?
• Have I respected all members of the opposite sex, or have I thought of other people as objects?
• Have I been guilty of any homosexual activity?
• Do I seek to be chaste in my thoughts, words and 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 or at 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?

[8] You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

• Have I lied?
• Have I gossiped?
• Have I spoken behind someone else's 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?

[9] You shall not desire your neighbor's wife.

• Have I consented to impure thoughts?
• Have I caused them by impure reading, movies, conversations or curiosity?
• Do I seek to control my imagination?
• Do I pray at once to banish impure thoughts and temptations?

[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?
• Do I trust that God will care for all of my material and spiritual needs?
  

The Precepts of the Church:

• You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on Holy Days of Obligation and rest from servile labor.
• You shall confess your sins at least once a year.
• You shall receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter Season.
• You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church.
• You shall help provide for the needs of the Church.

The Two Greatest Commandments:

• You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul and with all your mind.
• You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

How to Go To Confession

There is the opportunity for private celebrations of the sacrament every Saturday at 3:00 PM. Communal celebrations are scheduled during Advent and Lent. The Sacrament of Penance may also be made by appointment.

1. PREPARATION: Before going to confession, the penitent compares his or her life with the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, and the example of Christ and then prays to God for forgiveness.

2. GOING TO CONFESSION: When you enter the Reconciliation Room, you may kneel before a screen or walk around it to sit face-to-face with the priest. (Since face-to-face confession is new for some, the rest of this will deal with that option. Keep in mind that you don't have to know any spoken formulas or actions, The priest will guide you through it). Normal greetings ("Good afternoon") are fine.

3. THE WORD OF GOD: After the priest welcomes you, both of you make the sign of the cross. Then you may wish to indicate facts about your life, the time of the last confession, difficulties in leading the Christian life, and anything else that may help the priest. After the Sign of the Cross, the priest will say a spontaneous prayer and then read a short passage from Scripture. (If you wish, you can bring along your own choice of a Scripture passage).

4. CONFESSION OF SINS AND THE ACT OF PENANCE: You are then invited to express your sins and place them before God for forgiveness and healing. This is best done in a conversational way, and the priest is part of the conversation. The priest then gives a "penance" which may be a prayer or a good work that will help bring healing.

5. PRAYER OF THE PENITENT: You are invited to express sorrow for your sins - a traditional "Act of Contrition" or one in your own words. Pray a prayer expressing sorrow for your sins and resolving not to sin again. Two suggested prayers are given here:

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.
(Act of Contrition, Rite of Penance, no. 45)

or

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 me, and raise me to new life
for the glory of your name. (Rite of Penance, no. 91)

6. ABSOLUTION: The priest extends his hands over your head and pronounces the formula of absolution, making the sign of the cross over your head during the final words. You answer, ‘Amen.”(You may remain seated, or kneel.)

7. PROCLAMATION OF PRAISE: Praise the mercy of God and give him thanks in a short invocation taken from Scripture, such as “Rejoice in the Lord and sing for joy, friends of God” (Ps 32:1-7, 10-1 1), “The Lord has remembered his mercy” (Lk 1:46-55), or “Blessed be God who chose us in Christ” (Eph 1:3-10) (Rite of Penance, no. 206).

8. DISMISSAL: The priest dismisses you with the command to go in peace. Continue to express your conversion through a life renewed according to the Gospel and more and more steeped in the love of God. Normal "good-byes" are fine as you leave.

Based on the 2005 Little Black Book for Lent by Diocese of Saginaw www.dioceseofsaginaw.org and How To Go to Confession from http://www.ourcatholicfaith.org/examinationofconscience.html