D . V a s q u e z R e c o n c i l i a t i o n a k a C o n f e s s i o n o r P e n a n c e P a g e | 1
There are Seven Sacraments that were given to us. These sacraments touch all the
important stage and important moments of life. The Seven Sacraments are divided into
three groups.
We will start today with the first sacrament of healing: Reconciliation or Penance or the
most common Confession.
What exactly is the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist are all sacraments of initiation. To recognize and
celebrate the conversion of people deciding to follow and live through God’s word. We
as humans have a tendency to sin breaking our connection and relationship with God. Of
choosing other things that bring us comfort for a short period than of God’s relationship.
The only form for us to start repairing the bond with God and with the church is through
the sacrament of Reconciliation which is better known as Confession.
The Sacrament of Confession is a wonderful gift given to us. This Sacrament is one of
the scariest and embarrassing sacrament however once you receive absolution you will
walk out as a brand new person. People come out feeling clean again but only if one is
serious and does open up.
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What are the symbols for the Sacrament of Confession?
Compared to the other sacraments they are not as unique.
The symbols are
1. Priest
2. Church Building
3. Confessional or Reconciliation Room
4. Bible
What are the rituals during the ceremony of Confession?
This sacrament is much more individually centered.
Rituals
1. Welcome
2. Scripture Reading
3. Confession of Sins
4. Act of Contrition
5. Absolution
6. Penance
7. Proclamation
How do you go to Confession? What are the steps?
Confession
1. Examination of Conscience (more details are on the website
www.slideshare.net/dlrs_vasquez on The Sacrament of Penance document)
2. Contrition
3. The actual confessing of your sins to God through His priests
4. The assigning of penance
5. Act of Contrition
6. Absolution
7. Carrying out your penance
D . V a s q u e z R e c o n c i l i a t i o n a k a C o n f e s s i o n o r P e n a n c e P a g e | 3
Priest Church Building
The priest is a symbol of Jesus.
His presence in the Reconciliation room or in the body of the
Church expresses the closeness of Jesus Christ to his faithful
Although this sacrament may be received in many surroundings, the church
building often brings the person closer to the feeling of the sacred and this
provides an environment suitable for reflection and reconciliation with
God.
D . V a s q u e z R e c o n c i l i a t i o n a k a C o n f e s s i o n o r P e n a n c e P a g e | 4
Confessional or Reconciliation Room
The reconciliation room provides an atmosphere of privacy and confidentiality.
Bible
The Bible, placed in a place of prominence, is used with reverence to express that it contains the
reconciling words of God, not mere human words..
D . V a s q u e z R e c o n c i l i a t i o n a k a C o n f e s s i o n o r P e n a n c e P a g e | 5
Welcome
The priest greets the person in a warm manner.
This helps the individual to feel comfortable.
Remember that God is the one welcoming you as well. For it has been who knows how much times
since you were able to sit down and talk to him.
Scripture Reading
The word of God is read to affirm the connection between sin and God’s forgiveness.
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Confession of Sins Act of Contrition The person admits his or her sins, confessing his or her wrongdoing. The person expresses sorrow for the action
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Absolution Penance The priest blesses the person in the name of Christ and through this
prayer, reconciles the sinner with the Church. This formula expresses
both God’s forgiveness and the return to the bosom of ht people of God
The priest assigns a prayer or activity to the person which will support
the person in the new way of life.
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Proclamation
At the close of the ritual, the person is sent forth with a prayer of joy that recognizes the reconciliation
event.
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What are the steps?
1st Examination of
Conscience Part 1 As Catholics we are required to go to Confession once a year (during lent).
We are encouraged to go weekly and if not at least monthly.
If you want to receive the Eucharist you need to go to confession.
There are two ways to go to confession: behind the window or face to face.
What should you confess?
Go over the 10 Commandments. Remember that we covered many examples in class of what
goes against and follows the commandment. If you are not sure if what you did or said is a sin
ask the priest.
10 Commandments: Some questions to keep in mind
Commandment 1-3: Duties to God and the Church
Do I love God with all my heart, soul, and strength?
Do I pray?
Does something or someone- a material thing, a person, a behavior, an attitude- come
between me and God?
Have I Used God’s name as a curse word or cursed God?
Have I broken promises, oaths, or vows to God?
Have I experimented with magic, the occult, spiritism, willful psychic phenomena,
Ouija boards, etc?
Have I defended God and His Church when it was necessary
Have I kept Sunday holy by attending Mass and refraining from servile work?
Have I lied to a priest during the Sacrament of Penance or intentionally failed to confess
a sin I should have confessed?
etc
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What are the steps?
1st Examination of
Conscience Part 2 10 Commandments: Some questions to keep in mind
Commandment 5-10 & Deadly Sins: Duties to Society
Do I evangelize with prudence and intelligence, and without being annoying and
judgmental?
Do I pray for others, including those in authority and for my enemies?
Have I taken anything I had no right to take?
Have I cheated anyone out of anything that is rightfully theirs?
Have I given to the poor as my means allow?
Do I betray others’ secrets that I had no right to betray?
Do I engage in malicious gossip?
Do I make promises I do not intend to keep?
Have I cheated on a test or homework at school or otherwise plagiarized the work of
others?
Have I curse another (i.e., called down physical or moral evil on a rational creature, not
for the sake of a good, such as justice or punishment, but out of malice or for personal
gain)?
Have I used alcohol or any other drug recreationally to the point wher my judgment and
will were affected?
Do I dress and behave immodestly or without concern for how my appearance and
behavior may lead others to the sin of lust?
Have I intentionally lusted after someone?
Etc.
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What are the steps?
1st Examination of
Conscience Part 3 10 Commandments: Some questions to keep in mind
Commandment 4: Duties to Family
Have I caused any member of my family to get unrighteously angry or to be unjustly
hurt?
Have I forgiven my parents, spouse or children for past faults?
Do I give my family my time and undivided attention when possible?
Have I used contraception and failed to keep my marital acts open to life?
Do I over-praise or under-praise my children?
Do I treat male children and female children with equal dignity, with respect for their
God-given individual talents and vocations, but also with respect for Natural Law and
their God-given differences as male and female?
Etc
Duties to Yourself
Am I too scrupulous and hard on myself, treating myself much more harshly than I
would others I love?
Am I too easy on myself?
Am I honest with myself about my gifts and limitations?
Do I overestimate or underestimate my importance?
Do I treat myself as an icon of God, made I His image?
Do I trust that God is in control or do I worry needlessly?
Etc.
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What are the steps?
2nd
Contrition
Contrition: willful regret for one’s sins
Rooted in the will not emotions
What matter is the conviction: are they willing NOT to offend God no more and make
reparation as far as possible, do penance, and patiently bear the temporal effects of sins.
Without contrition, Confession is not valid
“Imperfect Contrition” or “attrition” is regret out of fear towards God’s punishment for
the sins one has committed
Main key is to desire to be rid of all one’s sins
Do not lie to yourself and decide to skip one or two sins because you are ashamed
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What are the steps?
3rd
Confessing your sins
through His priests The Sacrament of Confession is offered on different day depending on where you feel more
comfortable. Here is a list of a few places and times:
Church Name: Address: Date Time
St. John Neumann Catholic
Church
966 W. Orchard
St, Santa Maria Ca
Thursday
Saturday
6:30pm-7:30pm
4:00pm-6:00pm
St. Mary of the Assumption
Catholic Church
414 E. Church St,
Santa Maria, Ca
Saturday
Thursday before first Friday
3:00pm-4:30pm &
7:30pm-8:30pm
4:00pm-5:00pm
St. Louis de Montfort
Parish
5075 Harp Road,
Santa Maria, Ca
Saturday
Spanish is available
3:30pm-5:00pm &
8:00pm-9:00pm
St. Joseph’s Roman
Catholic Church
298 S. Thompson
Av., Nipomo, Ca
Saturday 3:00pm-4:30pm
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Parish
1164 Obispo St.,
Guadalupe, Ca
Saturday 4:00pm-5:00pm &
7:15pm-8:30pm
When you are ready to begin:
1. You: Make the sign of the cross
2. You: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been
_____(years/months/weeks/days) since the last time I have
sinned.”
3. Priest: (maybe) Read from the Bible
4. Priest: He will ask you to confess your sins.
5. You: “I first want to start off with….”
6. You: Once finished. “I am sorry for these and all my sins”
7. Continue with Penance
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What are the steps?
4th
Penance 7. Priest: Give you penance
The father will give you certain prayers, read part of Scriptures, a good deed, etc. Whatever he
asks you to do complete it as soon as possible once you have exited the Confessional room.
5th
Act of Contrition 8. You: Pray Act of Contrition
6th
Absolution 9. Priest: Will absolve you of all your sins
10. You: Make the sign of the cross
11. Priest: will finish with a prayer
12. You: “His mercy endures forever.”
13. You: Leave quietly.
7th
Carrying out your
Penance Carry out the penance the priest gave you
Remember to do all you can to avoid near occasions of sin
Make restitution to anyone you have harmed
You may add penance of your own if you wish but you cannot replace it with what the
priest gave you.