The following comes from July 23 posting by Father Ed Broom appeared the Catholic Exchange website.
In the context of an Ignatian retreat it is always beneficial to prepare oneself to make an excellent Confession. To make a good confession demands prior preparation! The better the prior preparation, the more abundant the graces and the more overflowing the river of peace in your soul! Following are ten short helps to make the best confession in your life!
1. IMPROVEMENT/UPGRADING THE RECEPTION. As Catholics two of the most important actions we can accomplish are to go to Confession and to receive Holy Communion. In these Sacraments we have a direct contact with Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This being the case, we should make a concerted effort to improve our encounters with Jesus in these Sacraments. In other words we should never take these Sacraments for granted. Also be keenly aware of the concept of dispositive grace. The abundance of graces are received in direct proportion to the disposition of the recipient. On the walls in the sacristies of the Missionaries of Charity is written: “Say this Mass as if it were your first Mass, last Mass and only Mass.” We can apply the same principle: “Confess as if it were your first, last and only time.”
2. PRAYERS BEFORE. All is grace! A source of abundant grace is the Communion of saints. Why not pray to the holy Confessors to help you to make a good confession. The following are a few: The Cure of Ars (Saint John Marie Vianney), St. John Bosco, St. Leonard of Port Maurice, Saint Leopold Mandic, Saint Padre Pio, Saint Francis Regis, Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Saint Anthony Claret, and Saint Ignatius of Loyola. “Get a little help from your friends (the saints)….”Pray to them to help you to confess well—that each concession you make is better than your prior confession!
3. PREPARE THE NIGHT BEFORE. Have a good examination of conscience booklet. Find a quiet and contemplative place to examine your conscience. Utilize the crucifix and Divine Mercy image to elicit sorrow and trust. Written! Write down the sins so that you will not forget them once in the confessional! Also, pray for your confessor— to his guardian angel—before you enter the confessional!
4. SELF-KNOWLEDGE. One of the classical steps to make a good confession is contrition but also firm purpose of amendment. This entails rewinding the film of your life and seeing the various falls into sin. But also to capture what were the preceding causes that led to the sin. Maybe it is a person that jeopardizes your spiritual life. Who knows maybe it is a recurring situation at work or family? Maybe it is your physical state of weariness? Still more, maybe it is some improper use of the electronics media and lack of prudence? You will notice often a pattern that is established that leads to the slippery path and collapse. For this reason the faithful observance of one’s daily examination can prove a valuable tool to know oneself and even supply for the necessary knowledge to avoid the near occasion of sin.
5. BIBLICAL PASSAGES TO PREPARE. The Church highly recommends the use of Sacred Scripture as a means to prepare us for a better reception of the Sacraments. Two excellent passages I would recommend: Lk. 15 and Psalm 51. Lk. 15 presents the parables of God’s mercy, and the greatest is the Parable of the Prodigal Son. By praying Psalm 51 you have one of the best “Act of Contritions” ever composed, by none other than King David after having committed adultery with Bathsheba and killing an innocent man. Praying with the Word of God adds extra power to one’s prayer!
6. FREQUENT CONFESSION. The saints highly recommend frequent confession as a most efficacious means of growing in sanctifying grace. Confession either restores sanctifying grace or it augments it. Of course this presupposes a thorough preparation!
7. SACRAMENTAL GRACE. Each sacrament communicates grace. However every sacrament communicates a specific grace pertinent to that specific sacrament. For example, the specific sacramental grace communicated in the Eucharist or Holy Communion is that of nousihment. It is the Bread of life for the journey on the way to eternal life. The Sacramental grace of Confession is different. It is healing! Jesus came to feed us with His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Furthermore, He came as Divine Physician. Time and time again in the Gospels we see Jesus healing. The blind, deaf, deaf-mute, lepers, paralytics, even the dead, were healed and brought back to life by Jesus. Even now within the context of the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, Jesus heals us. The sacraments of healing are the sacraments of Confession and the Anointing of the Sick.
8. QUALITIES OF A GOOD CONFESSION. In the Diary of Saint Faustina the most important qualities of a good confession are highlighted in # 113: 1) complete sincerity and openness; 2) humility; 3) obedience. Adhering to these qualities one cannot go wrong! Reminder! We want to strive to make better Communions and Confessions until the end of our lives!
9. AVOID DISCOURAGEMENT. Even though one might fall frequently, never give in to discouragement. Some bad habits have possibly clung to us for decades. Many have a “micro-wave” spirituality—namely instant holiness! It does not work that way! Change is often tedious, laborious and painful. The key is to keep praying, working, fighting as a true soldier of Christ to be liberated from the shackles of sin. Of course a key message from the Diary is that the worse thing possible is to fail to trust in God’s infinite mercy! As St. Paul reminds us, “Where sin abounds God’s mercy abounds all the more.”
10. MARY AND MERCY. Never forget to invite Mary to be present in your remote preparation for Confession, your immediate preparation for Confession. Even ask Mary to enter with you into the confessional so that you make the best confession in your life. Blessed Pope John Paul II called the Marian sanctuaries—Lourdes, Fatima, Guadalupe—“Spiritual clinics”. How true! Lines of penitents await to meet the merciful Jesus in the confessional in these Marian Sanctuaries. Among the many beautiful titles of Mary are the following: “Mother of Mercy, Mother of Good Counsel, Health of the sick.” Behind many powerful conversions is of course the grace of God but also the maternal intercession of Mary!
By Fr. Ed Broom Father Ed Broom is an Oblate of the Virgin Mary. He blogs regularly at Fr. Broom’s Blog.
To read the original posting, click here.
Beautiful. Thanks CCD….this is true charity of you to print this article. There is also a pamphlet that tan books has made as well that gives great instruction on giving a good confession and is good to have with you, in your wallet or purse.
Thank you and God bless California Catholic Daily for printing these loving tips. That is true charity! May God also bless Father Ed Broom for his faithfulness and for having these tips printed on his blog. Father Ed Broom is an excellent priest and confessor. A psychiatrist will charge an expensive fee to lay down on a couch to speak with him as an equal so you can tell him or her your troubles. In confession I humbly kneel as a child of God and as a contrite sinner seeking forgiveness and absolution. The Divine Physician in the confessional listens and absolves my sins for free because Jesus already paid the heavy cost for my redemption when he suffered and died on the Cross for my sins.
Here are 10 more tips from the Redemptorists in preparing for the Sacrament of Penance. These examination of conscience tips are based on the 10 Commandments. You’ll be surprised of the actions that we commit that offend our good, one and only Almighty God.
An Examination for General Confession Redemptorist Mission Book circa pre 1960.
Preliminary Questions:
1. When did you make your last good (valid) confession?
2. In past confessions did you hide any sin of which you were ashamed? Did you confess without true sorrow for them? Did you confess having no sincere intention to amend your life? Did you confess without honestly intending to do the penance?
If you have one “yes” to any of the above the confession was a bad one.
3. When did this happen? You are bound to repeat all the confessions after that bad confession. How often have you been to confession since that time? How often to Holy Communion? Did you receive any other sacraments during this time? Which ones? Confirmation, Marriage, Extreme Unction?
1st Commandment I am the Lord thy God and thou shalt not put strange gods before me. (to serve God by faith, hope, love, and proper acts of outward religious worship)
Have you ever:
1. Denied the Catholic faith? Prayed in non-Catholic gatherings, listened to their preachers? Believed or affirmed that all religions were good for salvation? Read kept or propagated non-Catholic books?
2. Lost confidence in the mercy of God? Positively despaired of your salvation? Rashly presumed on the mercy of God thinking you might go on safely in your sins without abandoning them and without punishment?
3. Lived in entire forgetfulness of God for a month without any prayer, act of love or gratitude to Him? Sort of hated God? Wished there were no God? Complained against God? How many times?
4. Neglected to pray in danger of death?
5. Committed sacrilege by profaning a church, holy relic, crucifix, holy picture or other blessed thing? By profaning or striking a consecrated person? By irreverence, immodest actions, indecent dress or gross misconduct in church?
6. Consulted fortune tellers, dream interpreters, astrology? Played with wedgie-boards, invoked spirits, been involved with spiritualism? Encouraged others in these things?
2nd Commandment Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. (broken by blasphemy, wicked oaths, cursing and the violation of vows?)
1. Been guilty of blasphemy by words spoken against God Himself, His power, justice, goodness or perfections? Pronounced the sacred name of God or of the Saints in an irreverent manner? Spoken in a blasphemous manner of sacred things e.g. Sacraments, Crucifix, and Relics? Abused the Holy Scripture by irreverent application?
2. Sworn to a lie upon the Bible or other sacred thing, by the name of God, His Saints, or your own soul? Wronged your neighbor by this action? Made foolish, thoughtless or sinful oaths? Have you ever violated any oath by not fulfilling it? Urged others to make unnecessary oaths?
3. Cursed yourself or your neighbor from your heart?
4. Made any rash vow, broken any lawful vow, put off fulfilling a lawful vow? Broken a marriage promise without good cause?
3rd Commandment Thou shalt keep holy the Lord’s Day.
(broken this and any precepts of the Church?)
1. Sundays and Holy days: Worked on Sunday without necessity or lawful permission? Caused other to do the same? Spent Sundays in drinking houses or elsewhere among ungodly companions? In dances, gambling, sinful company keeping, pleasure parties? Mass: Omitted to hear Mass on these days through your own fault? Came too late, left too early, and inattentive during Mass? Been absent from sermons and remained in ignorance of the faith?
2. Disregard for fast days and days of abstinence Caused other to do the same?
Been more than a year without a good Confession? Not made a good Easter Communion?
3. Been more than a year without a good Confession? Not made a good Easter Communion?
4. Been civilly married without priest and witnesses; before a heretic preacher?
5. Been divorced, entered a second pretended marriage?
6. Joined a secret society?
4th Commandment Honor thy father and thy mother.
1. Been a very ungrateful child? Despise, hate, and wish misfortune or the death of your parents? Provoked your parents to anger or swearing? Lifted your hand to strike them? Made them unhappy by your misconduct? Disobeyed them in any serious matter? Contracted marriage without their knowledge? Neglected them, refused to aid them, and been ashamed of them? Accomplished their last will? Been careful to pray for them?
2. Been disrespectful or disobedient to your spiritual superiors the Bishops and Priests? Treated them in an insulting manner? Been rebellious? Taken part with the rebellious, disaffected or seditious? Neglected to contribute to the support of your pastors and the maintenance of religion?
3. Put yourself in opposition to the lawful authorities of the country?
5th Commandment Thou shalt not kill.
1. Been guilty of, attempted, intended or desired the death of anyone by act, participation, instigation counsel or consent (homicide or abortion)? Engaged in serious fights or injured others by blows, wounds or other ill treatment? Intended to injure or ill treat others if you could? Endeavored or intended to take your own life? Injured your health by excessive eating or drinking? Been Drunk? Used drugs? Tried to hinder the generation of children by your act, advice or consent? Been at enmity with your neighbors or refused to speak or salute them? Given way to passion so as to be ready to commit violence or take revenge? Indulged in a spirit of envy, or jealousy? Are you now reconciled with all? Engaged through passion or revenge in lawsuits or maliciously defended yourself against the just claims of others?
2. Outraged the feelings of your neighbor by violent language or gross abuse? Been habitually quarrelsome and abusive? Excited others to anger or revenge?
3. Done harm to the soul of anyone by giving scandal? Do you remember some whose innocence has suffered by your wicked words or bad example? Enticed others to sin: by advice, direction or consent? By hiding their sins? By flattery, threats or promises? Drawn the young or innocent into sin? Taught them vice? Told them what they should not know? Tempted the weak? Discouraged those who wanted to repent?
4. Neglected to give alms in proportion to your ability? Remained insensitive to the poor? Refused to contribute to Christian Charity? Refused your aid to the sick and dying?
6th Commandment Thou shalt not commit adultery, and
9th Commandment Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.
1. Impurity of thought: Dwelt willfully and taken pleasure in impure thoughts and imaginations? Consented to them in your mind?
2. Impurity of word: Made use of and taken pleasure in impure language, songs? Boasted of former impure sins? Before the young and innocent?
3. Impurity of looks: To excite evil desires looking impurely at self, persons of the opposite sex, and persons of the same sex? At images in books, magazines, TV, films, videos, Internet and etc? Have you by immodest dress been a cause of temptation to others?
4. Impurity of incomplete acts of touch: Alone? With the opposite sex? Unnatural?
5. Impurity of complete acts of touch: Alone? With another of the opposite sex? (Married or unmarried) Unnatural?
6. Occasions of sin: Lived in the occasions of sin? Living in the occasion of sin now?
7. Other sins: Led others astray by presents, promises, flattery, caresses, threats, violence? Accomplish evil through promise of marriage, promise kept? Taught sin to the ignorant or innocent? Corrupted the young? Taken part in the sins of others? Incest? Debauchery?
7th Commandment Thou shalt not steal and
10th Commandment Thou shalt not covet they neighbor’s goods.
1. Stolen money or other property? What was it? Still in possession of it? What value? How much stolen at a time? Stolen anything consecrated to God? Charged exorbitant prices? Made out false bills? Cheated in the weight, measure and quality of goods? Defrauded your creditors? Received exorbitant interest for your money? Been guilty of forgery?
2. Having found an object of value have you kept it without trying to find its owner? Failed to return borrowed things? Kept some of the money you have been entrusted with? Bought or received what you knew to be stolen, or kept them in your house? Neglected to pay your debts? Contracted debts without reasonable hope of repayment?
3. Have you been the cause of ruin or damage to the property of another? Received payment for badly done work? Carried on an unjust lawsuit? Employed corrupt means to gain your end? Taken advantage of the simple, young or ignorant? Made hard bargains with the poor or those in distress? Delayed their payment? Kept back just wages? Guilty of fraud or embezzlement?
4. Taken part in theft, fraud or injustice to others? Have you concealed it when it was your duty to inform?
5. Attempted, intended or desired to rob, steal, defraud or commit any kind of injustice? Have you committed little thefts with the intention of stealing a great deal?
8th Commandment Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
1. Given false testimony before any tribunal or superior? Procured false testimony by persuasion or advice and etc? Signed false papers? Falsified writings? What injury has this done?
2. Guilty of lying through malice for some bad purpose? Repeated reports you which you knew to be false or did not believe to be true? Blackened the character or injured the interests of your neighbor?
3. Guilty of detraction in any serious matter by making known the secret faults or defects of your neighbor?
4. Guilty of backbiting, speaking of the known faults or defects of others in their absence? Through malice? How often? Have you listened willingly and with pleasure to such conversation? Caused mischief or ill-feeling between others by tale-bearing? Formed rash judgments or entertained suspicions against your neighbor without any just cause? Ill treated him in consequence? Injured his feelings by your unjust accusations? Wronged him by revealing these suspicions to others? Been careful to repair the mischief you have done, by contradicting your false reports and by doing what else you could to restore the wounded credit, honor or reputation of your neighbor?
Final question:
Is there anything else which disturbs your conscience?
The Duties of Your State
Parent. Have you:
Taken proper care of the life and health of your children? Exposed them to great danger before or after birth? Done your best to provide for their needs (food and clothing)? To procure a good education for them? Manifested an unjust preference for one more than another? Been neglectful or unkind even cruel to your stepchildren or others under your protection? Have you unreasonably forced your children into some profession or state of life, for which they felt no vocation? Hindered them from pursuing their vocation, when called to a religious life? Have you , without sufficient cause, opposed their inclinations with regard to marriage? Have you neglected the care of their salvation? Neglected during their childhood to inspire them with love for God and fear of sin? To teach them to pray? Have you exposed their salvation to danger by delaying their Baptism, Confession, Holy Communion or Confirmation? Neglected to have them instructed in their religion, to see that they came to Holy Mass on Sundays and Holydays? Exposed their innocence to danger by letting them sleep together without distinction? Have you watched carefully where they spent their time, in what company, or have you let them roam where they would? Have you left them in the care of persons of loose or irreligious persons whose morals were doubtful? Allowed them free relationships with the opposite sex; to receive visits alone and at improper hours; or to be out late at night? Have you permitted them to see indecent television, books, and etc. Have you neglected to punish them for their own good? To curse and swear in your presence without chastisement? Have you by indifference or foolish fondness, left them without restraint? Have you treated them with violence? Cursed them? How often? Exasperated or scandalized them by violent language, abusive names and etc.? Was it habitual?
Husband. Have you:
Treated your wife in a tyrannical or cruel manner? Beat her in your anger or drunkenness? Injured her by any other outrage? How many times? Made her unhappy by your neglect, unfeeling conduct or by spending your leisure time away from home? Have you treated her with attention and forbearance during her pregnancy? Corrupted her mind by your immodesty and wicked conversation? Tempted her or forced her to offend God? Neglected to provide for her maintenance and that of your children? Squandered her earnings and your own on your sinful pleasures?
Wife. Have you:
Without knowledge of your husband, made useless and extravagant expenses? Caused disagreement in his family by your conduct? Have you been respectful and obedient to him in everything reasonable? Made his home disagreeable? His life unhappy by your scolding tongue? Have you refused him his marriage rights? How often? Have you persuaded him to offend against the dictates of nature and of conscience? How often? Have you done your part for the support of the family? Have you been idle or neglectful of your household duties?
I’m doomed
bel, are you saying that you have been idle or neglectful of your household duties, and that because of it you’re doomed? Maybe it’s the twelfth and most astonishing commandment, “take out the papers and the trash, or you don’t get no spendin’ cash” (Gospel according to the Coasters). This reminds me of what St Paul was saying about those church leaders who made up all sorts of laws, rules and regulations, so much that it burdened people unnecessarily. Jesus said not to look at women and lust … but now we’re saddled with every last little detail of clothing at Mass, which if not impeccable will doom a soul to Hell in a handbasket, the very same one used to pave the streets of Hell with bishops’ skulls.
bel only if you have given up on your soul…
In Romans 5:3–5
3 Not only so, but wec also glory in our sufferings,n because we know that suffering produces perseverance;o 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hopep does not put us to shame, because God’s loveq has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,r who has been given to us.
Matthew 24: 13 Douay-Rheims Bible
But he that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved.
Persevere in love bel and don’t give up, use the sacraments to help you be in good graces.
Believe me Bel, it gets easier to confess and the serious sins get fewer as one takes advantage of confession to a good priest. I try to go once a month to get the grace it gives to keep me from straying too far.
When I have a good priest to go to confession, I leave in peace and joy filled. It refreshes my soul and it encourages me to keep on that good path. I also feel close to our Lord.
“Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.”
― Augustine of Hippo, The Confessions of Saint Augustine
also I am a romantic and this spoke to me:
“Belatedly I loved thee, O Beauty so ancient and so new, belatedly I loved thee. For see, thou wast within and I was without, and I sought thee out there. Unlovely, I rushed heedlessly among the lovely things thou hast made. Thou wast with me, but I was not with thee. These things kept me far from thee; even though they were not at all unless they were in thee. Thou didst call and cry aloud, and didst force open my deafness. Thou didst gleam and shine, and didst chase away my blindness. Thou didst breathe fragrant odors and I drew in my breath; and now I pant for thee. I tasted, and now I hunger and thirst. Thou didst touch me, and I burned for thy peace.”
― Augustine of Hippo, Confessions
I wonder what percentage of people who consider themselves catholic go to confession at least once a year these days?
About 61 percent for weekly Mass attenders, 8 percent among Christmas and Easter attenders.
Francis, are you trying to be hysterical, or you actually believe in such numbers?
Although we are only REQUIRED to go to Confession once a year, we should all strive to go to Confession at least monthly.
CCC: ” 2041 The precepts of the Church are set in the context of a moral life bound to and nourished by liturgical life.
The obligatory character of these positive laws decreed by the pastoral authorities is meant to guarantee to the faithful the very necessary minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort, in the growth in love of God and neighbor.”
CCC: ” 2042 ….. The second precept (“You shall confess your sins at least once a year”) ensures preparation for the Eucharist by the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation, which continues Baptism’s work of conversion and forgiveness. “
Jesus is love…I know that is over used but I mean it when I say it. The precious sacrament of Reconciliation is a love path, one that my soul craves and with love, I feel that it is best nurtured when I give myself to Christ. I’m imperfect but I find that I can be more in love, as I am growing daily in His love, when I romantically repent.
Because I enjoy His love, the little that this sinner in me is permitted in faith and understand to my human ability, I just can’t imagine not turning to him. As I grow older I have found myself to be more prideful and shamed by my flaws, but with God I don’t have to hide anything because He knows me well inside and out. I must risk what I feel because of my pride and flaws, so I can be closer to our Abba God.
If we don’t confess our sins then we are living in our own enslavement and punishment…it can only get worst or it can destroy us sooner or later. It is not worth losing our relationship with our Lord…not worth it.
“The punishment of every disordered mind is its own disorder.”
― Augustine of Hippo, Confessions
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“The Bible was composed in such a way that as beginners mature, its meaning grows with them.”
― Augustine of Hippo, Confessions
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and this is one of my favorites because I love Jesus, I want Jesus:
“Give me yourself, O my God, give yourself back to me. Lo, I love you, but if my love is too mean, let me love more passionately. I cannot gauge my love, nor know how far it fails, how much more love I need for my life to set its course straight into your arms, never swerving until hidden in the covert of your face. This alone I know, that without you all to me is misery, woe outside myself and woe within, and all wealth but penury, if it is not my God.”
― Augustine of Hippo, Confessions
“A soul does not benefit from the sacrament of confession if it is not humble. Pride keeps it in darkness. The soul neither knows how, nor is it willing, to probe with precision the depths of its own misery. It puts on a mask and avoids everything that might bring it recovery.”
–Saint Faustina
“Now let me tell you something about the sacrament of Penance. To draw fruit from this sacrament, it is not enough to go to confession frequently. One must also honestly strive to not sin. In general, go to confession once a month, and not oftener than once a week, unless your confessor advises it, lest you make it hard for others to find time for confession. As for Holy Communion, receive as often as you can, according to your confessor’s advice, whenever your conscience is free from sin.” ST. JOHN BOSCO
“Not all confessors have the skill, experience, and means to search consciences and flush out the foxes that gnaw at the heart. A priest may be an excellent confessor for adults, but not for boys. For the fruitful confession of young people, a priest would find it helpful to go to them, to mingle with them, to come to know their inclinations, and even, on occasion, make an examination of conscience for them. A confessor for boys should be able to see the relationship between their misdeeds and their character flaws. He must, because the boys do keep things back in confession; indeed they do. Their two great enemies are shame and fear of losing their confessor’s esteem.”
– Don Bosco
“Don’t be afraid, my sons, to reveal your shortcomings and faults to your confessor. Being good does not mean never committing faults. Indeed no, because all of us are liable to do just that. Being good consists in having the sincere good will to correct ourselves. When we confess a fault – even a grave one – seeing our good will, the confessor will not be shocked. Rather, he will rejoice at the penitent’s sincerity and determination to overcome the devil, to regain God’s grace and to become better.
My dear children, let nothing undermine your confidence in him, not even shame for your sins. We all know [that] we are weak. After all, you don’t go to confession to tell your miracles! And the confessor certainly doesn’t think that you are impeccable [or perfect]. You’d laugh if he did!
Courage then, my children! With one word you can escape hell and win Heaven. It takes so little. The confessor will help you.”
– Don Bosco
“In failing to confess, Lord, I would only hide You from myself, not myself from You.”
– Saint Augustine
“‘You told me, Father, that after my past life it is still possible to become another St. Augustine. I don’t doubt it, and today more than yesterday I want to try to prove it.’ But you have to cut out sin courageously from the root, as the holy Bishop of Hippo did.”
– Saint Josemaria Escriva
“We do not request you to go to confess your sins to any of your fellow-men, but only to God. …We do not ask you to go and confess your iniquities to a sinful man for pardon – but only to God.”
-John Chrysostom (Known as Saint John Chrysostom; 350-407) (This quote was taken from his homily on the 50th Psalm.)
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
(Matthew 7:21-23)
Thank you for posting this, abeca.
Your welcome Anony…it helps me too. I am a sinner but not an excuse to keep sinning but to avoid sin.
Thank you for giving such solid advice for preparation before confessing.
Where would being gay be at on this list?…enjoying a man is gravely sinful…this is a fact…gays who enjoy the hot look of another man is gay for play…being gay is just wrong…
So then, stop being gay on this site. Are you, budd, shopping for gay hustles? Sounds like it.
Falls under adultery
A great website and a great examination for confession. Thank you for posting CCD.
I was writing about Fr. Ed Broom’s website. The Examination of Conscience on his site is excellent, and it seems it covers just about everything that needs to be covered. It would make a good print out.
Bud . . . Look under Bruce’s comments of the Redemptorist’s version for an Examination of Conscience before going to Confession you will find the impurity of homosexuality between the lines in:
The 6th Commandment Thou shalt not commit adultery, and
9th Commandment Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.
1. Impurity of thought: Dwelt willfully and taken pleasure in impure thoughts and imaginations? Consented to them in your mind?
3. Impurity of looks: To excite evil desires looking impurely at self, persons of the opposite sex, and persons of the same sex? At images in books, magazines, TV, films, videos, Internet and etc? Have you by immodest dress been a cause of temptation to others?
4. Impurity of incomplete acts of touch: Alone? With the opposite sex? Unnatural?
5. Impurity of complete acts of touch: Alone? With another of the opposite sex? (Married or unmarried) Unnatural?
6. Occasions of sin: Lived in the occasions of sin? Living in the occasion of sin now?
― Fulton J. Sheen, Peace of Soul: Timeless Wisdom on Finding Serenity and Joy by the Century’s Most Acclaimed Catholic Bishop
tags: guilt, personal-responsibility
“When a soul in sin, under the impetus of grace, turns to God, there is penance; but when a soul in sin refuses to change, God sends chastisement. This chastisement need not be external, and certainly it is never arbitrary; it comes as an inevitable result of breaking God’s moral law. But the entrenched forces of the modern world are irrational, men nowadays do not always interpret disasters as the moral events they are. When calamity strikes the flint of human hearts, sparks of sacred fire are kindled and men will normally begin to make an estimate of their true worth. In previous ages this was usual: a disordered individual could find his way back to peace because he lived in an objective world inspired by Christian order. But the frustrated man of today, having lost his faith in God, living as he does, in a disordered chaotic world, has no beacon to guide him. In times of trouble he sometimes turns in upon himself, like a serpent devouring its own tail. Given such a man, who worships the false trinity of (1) his own pride, which acknowledges no law; (2) his own sensuality, which makes earthly comfort it goal; (3) his license, which interprets liberty as the absences of all restraint and law—then a cancer is created which is impossible to cure except through an operation or calamity unmistakable as God’s action in history. It is always through sweat and blood and tears that the soul is purged of its animal egotism and laid open to the Spirit … Catastrophe can be to a world that has forgotten God what a sickness can be to a sinner; in the midst of it millions might be brought not to a voluntary, but to an enforced crisis. Such a calamity would put an end to Godlessness and make vast numbers of men, who might otherwise lose their souls, turn to God.”
― Fulton J. Sheen, Peace of Soul: Timeless Wisdom on Finding Serenity and Joy by the Century’s Most Acclaimed Catholic Bishop
tags: catastrophe, suffering
“Illness especially, may be a blessed forerunner of the individual’s conversion. Not only does it prevent him from realizing his desires; it even reduces his capacity for sin, his opportunities for vice. In that enforced detachment from evil, which is a Mercy of God, he has time to search himself, to appraise his life, to interpret it in terms of larger reality. He considers God, and, at that moment, there is a sense of duality, a confronting of personality with Divinity, a comparison of the facts of his life with the ideal from which he fell. The soul is forced to look inside itself, to inquire whether there is more peace in this suffering than in sinning. Once a sick man, in his passivity, begins to ask, “What is the purpose of my life? Why am I here?” the crisis has already begun. Conversion becomes possible the very moment a man ceases to blame God or life and begins to blame himself; by doing so, he becomes able to distinguish between his sinful barnacles and the ship of his soul. A crack has appeared in the armor of his egotism; now the sunlight of God’s grace can pour in. But until that happens, catastrophes can teach us nothing but despair.”
Catherine thank you for posting on what Fulton Sheen said on such subject. I appreciate it…I am grateful that his messages are fallen in the hearts of many more today and you posting them….shows love of Christ.
The most comprehensive guide to confession that I’ve found is this one: https://www.princeofpeacetaylors.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Guide-to-Confession.pdf
Liz its a nice one but now pastors are recommending that you go at least one a month….: )
Yes, once a month is good. Just use the guide for examination, not for determining when you should go. I should have worded it that way. Thanks for bringing that out.
Your welcome and thank you as well. : ) God bless you.
You can’t beat Fr. Ed Broom for practical, concise advice…and he sometimes sprinkles some clean jokes in among his homilies and blogs to make a point. The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius are starting up again in late August at St. Peter Chanel parish, his assignment, and if you live within driving distance, it is worth the sacrifice of a few hours a week-it is truly life changing. You can download Fr. Ed’s talks to your android or i-phone and listen at any time. Go to St. Peter Chanel website-a wealthy of solid orthodox advice, talks, etc. These priests are true lights in these days of confusion and worse in our Church. Thanks for publishing this guide to confession.
Christ says “to test the spirits”. There is also more evidence of the paranormal today plus evidence in the Bible.
So why wouldn’t a priest believe when we have Catholic exorcist?
I wanted to ask a priest about my paranormal experiences but he said “he didn’t believe in any of that” so I guess I have to ask another priest.
Yes, ask another priest. In fact, more and more exorcists are being trained so that quite a few dioceses/archdiocese have them now. If you don’t get satisfaction from a priest, go to your diocese/archdiocese and ask them to refer you to someone.
God bless you, Donna.
Donna, Catholicism is faith and reason, and some priests have neither. So called “paranormal” is normal. I would not recommend fearing it, because you should fear the Lord. Keep the St Michael prayer at the ready. Pray to St Padre Pio. The “devil is like a roaring lion”; ie, all it does is roar, so don’t let it frighten you. But also there are stories that people make up and so you have to discern truth from deception. Look for a priest who is eager and has the talent or charism for it, and seek him out.
I don’t think that it is a good idea to write down ones sins. Suppose you dropped or lost the list. If you have a particularly distinctive handwriting it could be recognized by someone who knows you. That would not be a good thing.
Judy,
So type it or put in a Word doc.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Judy you can also shred them once you are done with Confession, place in your purse, then when you are home near a shredder.
Abeca, for my first confession after more than 25 years of being away from the Church, I did exactly what you recommended.
The day before, I spent several HOURS going over different “examinations of conscience” that I found in books and on the internet, typed out my sins, and shredded the list when I got home.
I read the list in Confession, so that I would not “forget” something of importance.
Welcome Back Paula…God bless you. I Praise Jesus for your return. : )
We have a beautiful faith….Let us not take for granted it’s pearls. We give praise and Glory to our Lord for the conversion of all sinners and for those who lost their way…returning to make His Will bloom more and be magnified…stay in good will and follow Jesus.