During Lent, the Roman Catholic Church invites us to practice the Lenten observances: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving. These practices help us to have a better understanding of the real meaning of this wonderful liturgical season called Lent. In addition to the Lenten observances, the Church also is insisting, not only during these 40 days of conversion, but through the whole year that we go to the wonderful Sacrament of Penance.
Penance is the sacrament in which we experience the mercy of God. This is a wonderful sacrament. Unfortunately, not everyone goes to receive forgiveness, and they are denying themselves the gift of many graces and blessings from God.
I would like to remind you about the steps to have a good confession:
Before Confession
How to Make a Good Confession
Confession is not difficult, but it does require preparation. We should begin with prayer, placing ourselves in the presence of God, our loving Father. We seek healing and forgiveness through repentance and a resolve to sin no more. Then we review our lives since our last confession, searching our thoughts, words, and actions for that which did not conform to God’s command to love Him and one another through His laws and the laws of His Church. This is called an examination of conscience.
To make an examination of conscience:
Begin with a prayer asking for God’s help.
Review your life with the help of some questions, which are based on the 10 Commandments.
Tell God how truly sorry you are for your sins.
Make a firm resolution not to sin again.
During Confession
The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) involves four steps:
Contrition: A sincere sorrow for having offended God, and the most important act of the person confessing. There can be no forgiveness of sin if we do not have sorrow and a firm resolve not to repeat our sin.
Confession: Naming our sins2aloud2to the priest, who represents Christ and the Church.
Penance: The prayers2or sometimes, the good deeds2the priest gives, for our healing and the healing of those we have hurt by our sins.
Absolution: The words the priest speaks by which “God, the Father of mercies” reconciles us to himself through his death and resurrection, called the Prayer of Absolution.
(Taken from https://www.archindy.org/thelightison/guide.html.)
Let us go to the wonderful Sacrament of Reconciliation and let us allow the Spirit of God to come to us.
God bless you and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always!
Fr. Jorge Ramirez
