Confession

It is a commandment of the Church that all Catholics having the use of reason, confess their sins at least once in the year.

Hence, when children get to be about seven years of age, they must be instructed and prepared to make a confession.

It is the duty of parents to arrange with the Priest concerning this matter, unless they know positively that he has already attended to it.

In sending a child to confession, see that it knows the principal prayers of our p. 28holy religion, the Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Apostles’ Creed, together with the Confiteor and the Act of Contrition, to be found in the catechism and in most prayer-books.

To receive the sacrament of penance validly every Christian must know also the principal truths of our holy religion, the existence of God, of the Most Blessed Trinity, of Redemption by Christ, and of the reward and punishment of sin.

Use a prayer-book in preparing yourself as well as others for confession. In this way we gradually learn which sins are committed against the different commandments of God and of the Church, as well as other kinds of sins, and how to confess them. If you can read, therefore, never approach the sacrament of penance without a prayer-book, unless long use of the same and frequent reception of the sacraments have made you very familiar with the prayers and forms connected with the sacraments.

Never permit your children to go to confession without a prayer-book.

Spend some time in church before going into the confessional in prayer and in examining your conscience. Use a prayer-book for the same.

In examining your conscience according to the printed table of sins to be found in the prayer-book, or according to some other method, be sure to find out also by sufficient reflection the number of times you may have committed any mortal sin.

If you cannot find out the exact number of times, make as close a guess as you can. Say about how often you may have committed the sin since your last worthy confession, either altogether, or in a year, in a month, in a week, or even in a day.

Never tell the confessor that you cannot give the number of times, for everyone can make a rough guess at least.

Never indulge in conversation before the confessional, but keep on examining your conscience if you must wait for your p. 29turn, or saying prayers, especially repeating the act of contrition.

Never forget to make an act of contrition before entering the confessional.

When there is a number of penitents of both sexes, and there are at the same time two apartments in the confessional, one for men and the other for women, enter the confessional only on the side assigned to your sex. As soon as it is your turn, enter promptly whilst the Priest is hearing on the other side, so as not to make him lose any time in waiting for you.

Never enter a confessional, however, when a Priest is hearing a confession on the one side, and there is no one else or only a few people in the church. The voices can easily be heard in such a case and much embarrassment may arise for all parties. Both sides of the confessional are to be occupied at the same time, only, when there is a number of penitents and the Priest is pressed for time.

Deaf people and persons hard of hearing generally, must not attempt to make their confession in the ordinary confessional. They must notify the Priest at once that they cannot hear well, that he may take them to the vestry or to some other place appointed for the hearing of deaf people. If there is no particular time or place appointed for the confessions of deaf persons, the latter do well to make special arrangements with the Priest.

The moment the Priest appears, begin your confession. Do not hesitate or wait for the Priest to address you. This is very annoying especially when there is a large crowd of penitents to be heard. Begin your confession at once by asking the Priest’s blessing.

Make the Priest ask you as few questions as possible.

When there is a large number of penitents, and you are accustomed to say the long confession-prayer or Confiteor, cut it short; ask the Priest’s blessing in a few words, state the time of your last confession and begin to tell your sins. Some say the confession-prayer whilst they are waiting their turn in the confessional.

If you have not received absolution at your previous confession, tell this to the Priest at once, and tell him the reason also why it was refused you. It is necessary also to mention that you did not go to Communion after your last confession, if that should have been your Easter Communion.

Listen attentively to the advice or questions of the confessor and do not interrupt him while he is speaking. If you have not understood the penance, ask him to repeat it after he has finished his admonition.

Unless the Priest has told you expressly to perform the penance every day, it is meant only for the one time.

Repeat the act of contrition whilst the Priest is pronouncing the prayers of absolution.

If you do not know the act of contrition by heart, ask the confessor to say it with you, as it is required to express one’s contrition or sorrow in the sacrament of penance.

If absolution has been refused you, be sure to know the reason for it before you leave the confessional. Know exactly what the confessor demands of you before you can receive absolution and be admitted to Holy Communion, and when you are to return to him. Comply at once with his advice, and return to him at the time he had appointed.

Do not go to another confessor, when you know the one who refused you absolution, has requested or expects your return to him.

If you could not comply with the confessor’s advice, or did not succeed in doing what he enjoined, return to him, nevertheless, at the time he had appointed, unless he should be absent.

Do not put off your confession indefinitely because absolution was refused you. Many mistake the confessor’s motive in denying them absolution, and imagine that it was because they had not been to confession for a long time. This is a great mistake. The confessor is always glad when sinners come to confession. There are always other reasons for putting off penitents to another time. The confessor must make sure of the sinner’s disposition and firm purpose to do better, before he can, in many cases, accord him absolution. Inquire as to his motive, therefore, for refusing you absolution, be sure that you understand his instructions, return to him, and even if you should be put off again, try, try again. In view of the great evil of sin, and the eternity of its punishment, no number of attempts to do penance and become reconciled to God, ought to be too great.

Among the more common reasons for the refusal of absolution and for the prohibition to receive Holy Communion, are, for instance, habitual sinning; no improvement after repeated promises; living in the proximate occasion of sin, such as frequenting bad company, or saloons after repeated drunkenness; sinful company-keeping; unjust methods of business; secret societies; deadly enmity; neglect to make restitution after theft or injustice; neglect to repair calumny; the habitual missing of Holy Mass, and similar transgressions.

How often “must” I go to Confession? First: If I have had the misfortune to fall into a mortal sin, I must go to confession as soon after it as possible, and return as often as I had the misfortune to fall again. Secondly: I must go at least once in the year. This is the strict command of the Church.

How often “should” I go to Confession? As often as it is customary in my state of life. For children before their first Holy Communion, about every three months. For those who have received their first Holy Communion, and for young men p. 31and young women, every month where it is practical, or at least every three months. For parents and elderly persons settled in life, at least every three months.