In our final lesson from the Baltimore Catechism No. 2 examining the Sacrament of Penance, we learn how to make a good Confession.
A good Confession is less about following a series of steps than about approaching the sacrament with humility. We need to confess our sins fully and completely, and to be honest with our confessor if he asks us for further details, so that he can provide not only absolution but advice to help us avoid the same sins in the future.
The questions are numbered consecutively with Lesson Nineteenth. For more information and links to other resources, click on each question below.
A. On entering the confessional we should kneel, make the sign of the Cross, and say to the priest, Bless me, Father; then add, I confess to Almighty God and to you, Father, that I have sinned.
A. The first things we should tell the priest in Confession are the time of our last Confession, and whether we said the penance and went to Holy Communion.
A. After telling the time of our last Confession and Communion we should confess all the mortal sins we have since committed, and all the venial sins we may wish to mention.
A. When the confessor asks us questions we must answer them truthfully and clearly.
A. After telling our sins we should listen with attention to the advice which the confessor may think proper to give.
A. We should end our Confession by saying, I also accuse myself of all the sins of my past life, telling, if we choose, one or several of our past sins.
A. While the priest is giving us absolution we should from our heart renew the Act of Contrition.
