Apologia: The Fullness of Christian Truth

``Where the Bishop is, there let the multitude of believers be;
even as where Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church'' Ignatius of Antioch, 1st c. A.D

A Sample Confession



 You've examined your conscience and are truly contrite.
You enter the confessional and kneel.
You can barely see the priest through the grille:


 

You:

 (after kneeling down, you cross yourself and say softly) Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It's been two weeks since my last confession, and I accuse myself of the following sins:

I took the larger piece of cake when I knew my sister was hungry and there were only two pieces left. Once I watched a movie that was causing me to have lustful thoughts, and did nothing to stop it. I missed Mass last week.

Priest:

Why did you miss Mass?

You:

 I'd been up all night before and was just extremely tired.

Priest:

I see...

You:

 Oh, and I lied to a cop when he asked if I knew how fast I was driving.

For these and all the sins of my past life, I ask pardon of God, penance, and absolution from you, Father (or your own words to this effect, such as "That's all, Father. I ask for absolution.")

Priest:

Alright. Say five Our Fathers for your penance.

You:

 Thank you, Father.

You:
O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I fear the loss of Heaven and dread the pains of Hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen. (or your own words to this effect, even something as simple as "I'm really sorry for all my sins and, because I love God, I will try not to sin anymore.")

Priest:
Dominus noster Jesus Christus te absolvat; et ego auctoritate ipsius te absolvo ab omni vinculo excommunicationis (suspensionis) et interdicti in quantum possum et tu indiges. [making the Sign of the Cross:] Deinde, ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

Passio Domini nostri Jesu Christi, merita Beatae Mariae Virginis et omnium sanctorum, quidquid boni feceris vel mail sustinueris sint tibi in remissionem peccatorum, augmentum gratiae et praemium vitae aeternae.

Priest:

 Go in peace.

You:

 Thank you so much, Father (cross yourself)

You leave the confessional, carry out your penance as soon as possible,
and do all you can to sin no more and stay away from near occasions of sin.

 
Back to the Sacrament of Penance 
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