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

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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.

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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..

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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.