CONFESSION & THE EUCHARIST – FATHER MARK BERNHARD

Father Mark reflects on why it is so many Catholics don’t go to the sacrament of reconciliation. He shows the relationship between confession and the Eucharist. To help alleviate fear around going to confession he offers tips on how to make a good confession.

CONFESSIONS HELD IN RECONCILIATION ROOMS ON

Tuesdays 7PM – 8PM

Saturdays 9AM – 10AM* | 1:30PM – 2:30PM

First Friday of the month 8:30AM

DURING MAGNIFY (THE LAST WEDS OF THE MONTH) 7PM – 8:30PM

Or please do make an appointment

EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE

For Children
For Teens
For Singles
For Married
In Spanish (Preguntas complementarias para examinar la conciencia a la luz de la enseñanza social católica)

CHASTITY RESOURCES

7 GREAT REASONS TO GO TO CONFESSION TOMORROW AND OFTEN

Don’t forget the myParish App ‘CONFESSION’ button which has a “How To Guide”,  Examination of Conscience, and Act of Contrition.  View it while waiting in line for your turn.

HOW TO MAKE A GOOD CONFESSION

1. Prepare first.  Examine your conscience; use the ones posted here or the myParish App; look for the “Confession” button.  The myParish App “Confession” button has a list that you can place a checkmark which will isolate the sins that you need to confess to the priest
2. Number and kind.  Be specific about your transgression so as to completely surrender it to the Lord with a contrite heart so that He can wipe away the0 1sin.
3. Don’t confess the sin of others, just yours.  The priest only needs to know your sins because the Lord can only forgive the sins you confess.
4. Confession is not a place of petition; for example, “Bless me Father, I need to be more charitable with my co-worker.”  Instead it should be, “Bless me Father, I have sinned, I committed the sin of not being charitable to my co-worker.”
5. Confession is not a spiritual direction session or a counseling session especially when there are long lines.
6. Know an Act of Contrition.  It can be as simple as, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner.”
7. Don’t fear confessing repeated sins.  God’s mercy is abounding; ask Him for the grace to free you from the repeated sin.
8. Feel the freedom of finding another priest if you feel you are being scolded by the priest after contritely confessing your sins rather than encountering Jesus’ mercy.  You can let the priest know that you came to Confession with a contrite heart, to encounter God’s mercy.

HOW TO MAKE AN ACT OF PERFECT CONTRITION

How to make an act of perfect contrition (which should be done before each sacrament of reconciliation).

1. Ask the Holy Spirit for grace to see your sins with your enlightened mind (agreeing with God’s justice) and to feel sorrow for your sins in your heart (surrendering to the Father’s Love) and to have will to intensely detest your sins that separate you from the Trinitarian Life. Meditate on the passion (suffering and death of Jesus) to stir your heart into submission to the supernatural sorrow.
2. Confess your sins to God and ask for forgiveness in the name of Jesus.
3. Express it in your own words or by reciting an Act of Contrition: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/prayers/act-of-contrition.html
4. Make a definite resolution of turning away from sin.
5. Make a resolution of repairing the damage (amendment) that was made by committing your sin.
6. Thank God the Father immediately for forgiveness and start living believing that the Blood of Jesus has accomplished the work of salvation and redemption.
7. Avoid occasion to sin. Make conscious decisions and stick to them.

OVERCOMING THE FEAR OF GOING TO CONFESSION

WHY DO CATHOLICS CONFESS THEIR SINS TO A PRIEST?