Come as you are
In confession, Jesus forgives your sins through the priest and gives you the grace to begin again. Take your time here. Read slowly, mark what rings true, and bring it to him.
Examination of conscience
Look back honestly
This is not a test, and you don’t need to find something under every heading. A sin is serious (the Church calls it mortal) when it is about something serious, you know it is wrong, and you choose it freely anyway. If you’re unsure about something, you can simply ask the priest.
Only in this browser
Your marks and notes are saved in this browser, on this device, and nowhere else. They are never sent to Cato, never backed up to your account, and no one else can see them. Everything here is cleared when you log a confession.
Step by step
How to go to confession
- 1
Before you go
Look back over the examination above, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you see clearly. Parishes list their confession times on their website or bulletin, and you can always call to ask for a time.
- 2
Begin
Kneel behind the screen or sit face to face with the priest, whichever you prefer. Make the Sign of the Cross, then say:
You say
Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [how long] since my last confession.
Not sure how long? A rough guess is fine.
- 3
Tell your sins
Say them simply and honestly. For serious sins, name what you did and about how many times. There’s no need for long stories. When you’re finished, you might say:
You say
For these and all my sins, I am truly sorry.
- 4
Listen
The priest may offer a few words of advice. Then he gives you a penance, usually a prayer or a small act of love, to help set things right and to grow.
- 5
Say you are sorry
The priest will ask you to pray an Act of Contrition. You can read it here, or tell God you are sorry in your own words.
- 6
Receive absolution
The priest prays the words of absolution. Through them, Jesus himself forgives your sins. He ends with the Sign of the Cross, and you answer:
You say
Amen.
- 7
Go in peace
The priest may say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.” You can answer:
You say
His mercy endures forever.
Thank him, and do your penance soon.
- The priest can never repeat anything you say in confession, to anyone, for any reason. The Church calls this the seal of confession.
- If you forget a sin, don’t worry. It is forgiven too. If it was serious, mention it next time.
- If you freeze or lose the words, just tell the priest. Helping you is exactly why he is there.