Penance is the sacrament instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ when He gave the Apostles the power to forgive and retain sins (cf. Jn. 20:22-23). In the Sacrament of Penance, persons who confess their sins to an authorized priest, are sorry for those sins, and have a firm purpose of amending their lives, receive from God, through the absolution given by the priest, forgiveness of the sins they have committed after Baptism, and at the same time they are truly reconciled with God and the Church.

In practice, there is no redemption from human frailty, no real vocation to follow Jesus Christ, and no spiritual progress that are not derived from the strict and wise reception of the Sacrament of Penance. It is certain that while perfect contrition (detesting sin motivated by a fervent love for God) washes away all sins, it is also true that perfect contrition will always contain the intention to confess one’s sins as soon as possible. Without such intention, there is no real contrition for one’s sins, and no forgiveness of one’s sins.

When one asks, ‘why can’t I just tell my sins directly to God’, what a person is really asking is: ‘why Jesus Christ?’ ‘Why did He establish a Church?’ ‘Why a history of salvation?’ ‘Why did God redeem us by sending His Son?’ The Sacrament of Penance exists because God wills it so. Can one say that one is penitent as a Christian if one fails to make contact with Jesus Christ in the community that He established to continue His saving presence in our midst? Can one presume God’s forgiveness by knowingly ignoring the historic form God chose to effect His saving action? Salvation is never a ‘go it alone’ enterprise. Him Whom sin offends has the right to declare the terms by which sins will be forgiven. The Lord Jesus did that by instituting the Sacrament of Penance. God, therefore, respecting the nature of what He has made, enacts His plan to redeem sinful humanity through a social agency - the Church. Forgiveness of sins is granted through the ministry of the Church that alone possesses the Sacrament by which individuals are reconciled with God after they have fallen into sin after Baptism. The priest functions as the ministerial instrument of Jesus Christ and His Church. Therefore, it is necessary to confess one’s sins to an authorized priest of Christ’s Church.

In the former order of the Mass, before approaching the altar, the priest would say: "I will go to the altar of God…who gives joy to my youth." To stay young is one of life’s great obsessions. It seems many are searching for the proverbial ‘fountain of youth’ to keep young physically. Spiritually, in the Sacrament of Penance, we have such a fountain. Though my soul becomes old and disfigured by the malice of my sins, it can become young again. There is a way I can recapture the same innocence and purity of soul I had on the day that I was baptized. I need but wash in the redeeming Blood of Jesus Christ. By the Sacrament of Penance, the redemption that Jesus won for me on the Cross is applied personally and immediately to my soul through the ministry of the priest. In the Sacrament of Penance, not only does God forgive my sins, He forgets my sins for all eternity. To derive these spiritual benefits, the gifts of a loving and merciful Father, I must be contrite for the sins I have committed. This contrition will always be characterized by a resolution to strive diligently to overcome the very sins by which I have offended God. Next, I must confess my sins to an authorized priest of Christ’s Church to obtain God’s forgiveness. Finally, I must make satisfaction (restitution) to God and to neighbor for the wrong I have done. If these elements are in place, a penitent leaves the confessional knowing that God has forgiven them for any sins they have committed. What more powerful demonstration of the love and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ than His institution of the Sacrament of Penance? Its very existence should make us ever grateful for the privilege of membership in His Catholic Church which offers such a tremendous spiritual treasure to her children.

St. Paul the Apostle, after witnessing scandal among the early Christians in Corinth, issued a warning intended not only for those faithful, but for the Catholic faithful of all times when he wrote: "Whosoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily sins against the Body and Blood of the Lord. A man should examine himself first. Only then should he eat of the bread and drink of the cup. He who eats and drinks without recognizing the Body, eats and drinks judgment on himself" (1 Cor 11:27-29). One who knowingly receives Holy Communion in a state of mortal (grave) sin commits sacrilege.

Our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, in order to stress this vitally important point, recalls the words of Pope Paul VI: "The person who wishes to receive Holy Communion is to be reminded of the precept: ‘let a man examine himself’ (1 Cor 11:28). The Church’s custom shows that such an examination is necessary. No one who is conscious of being in mortal sin, however contrite he may believe himself to be, is to approach the Holy Eucharist without first having made a sacramental Confession of sins." (John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation, Reconciliatio et Paenitentia, par. 26, December 2, 1984).

• A good confession will always begin by a thorough and sincere examination of conscience. Pray to God the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, for His light and grace to assist you to recall your sins.
  
• Be sorry for your sins. Friends love what their friends love. If I am a friend of God, I will love what God loves (virtue and grace), and avoid what God detests (sin). Make a firm resolution not to sin again and to avoid that which causes you to commit sin.
  
• Enter the confessional and begin with the words, "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned, it has been (state how long it has been since your last confession). These are my sins…" Tell all your sins to the priest according to their kind as well as the number of times you can recall committing each of them (this applies especially to the confession of mortal sins). A good confession will be integral (it must include all grave sins committed since one’s last confession); it must be clear (there must be no disguising of sins but an honest recounting of one’s sins); and it must be truthful (we have a Christian duty to make a just appraisal of our moral situation as it stands objectively before God). When you have finished telling your sins to the priest, indicate this by saying, "For these and all my sins, I am sorry."
  
• Listen to the spiritual advice of the priest. Do not take offense if the priest offers words of counsel. One of the functions of the priest in the confessional is that of spiritual director. The priest may offer words of counsel to help you overcome the sins you have committed. Accept the penance imposed by the confessor. This penance, which usually takes the form of prayers or acts of charity, is a sign of your willingness to make up to God for the sins you have committed, and will assist you to discover the remedy to begin a new life.
  
• The priest will ask that you recite an Act of Contrition. This beautiful prayer expresses what should be in the mind and heart of an authentic penitent: sorrow for one’s sins, a firm purpose of amendment, and the promise to avoid sin in the future. The penitent’s proper disposition now secured, the priest pronounces God’s judgment of mercy: "God the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of His Son, has reconciled the world to Himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church, may God grant you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins: In the Name of the Father + and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." The penitent now leaves the confessional, his sins completely forgiven, with the opportunity to begin anew on his pilgrimage of faith. Through the Sacrament of Penance, Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, has made His appearance, restoring back to His flock, that which was lost.

When the examination of conscience is made as an immediate preparation for the reception of the Sacrament of Penance, it is especially important that the penitent search his own heart regarding the following points:

What is my attitude to the Sacrament of Penance? Do I sincerely want to be set free from sin, to turn again to God, to begin a new life, and to enter a deeper friendship with God? Did I forget to mention or deliberately conceal any grave sins in past confessions? Did a sense of shame or embarrassment motivate me to make a bad confession?

Is my heart set on God, so that I really love Him above all things and am faithful to His commandments? Or am I m ore concerned about the things of this world? Have I a right intention in what I do?

God spoke to us in His Son. Is my faith in God firm and secure? Am I wholehearted in accepting the Church’s teaching? Have I been careful to grow in my understanding of the faith, to hear God’s word, to listen to instructions on the faith, to avoid dangers to faith? Have I practiced any form of superstition in a serious manner?

Have I prayed morning and evening? When I pray, do I really raise my mind and heart to God or is it a matter of words only? Do I offer God my difficulties, my joys, and my sorrows? Do I turn to God in time of temptation? Have I love and reverence for God’s holy Name? Have I offended Him in blasphemy, swearing falsely, or taking His Name in vain? Have I shown disrespect for the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints? Have I acted in a reverent manner in the House of God?

Do I keep Sundays and feast days holy by taking a full part, with attention, reverence, and devotion, in the liturgy, and especially in the Mass? Have I fulfilled the precept of annual confession and of Communion during the Easter season? Have I ever received Holy Communion knowingly in a state of mortal sin? Have I abused the Sacrament of Penance by neglect? Have I been lazy in the fulfillment of my spiritual duties, or by a failure to use the means Jesus Christ instituted for my salvation? Have I neglected my children’s religious instruction? Have I failed to take my children to Mass? Have I a genuine love for my neighbors? Or do I use them for my own ends, or do to them what I would not want done to myself? Have I given grave scandal by words or actions?

In my family life, have I contributed to the well-being and happiness of the rest of family by patience and genuine love? Have I been obedient to parents, showing them proper respect and giving them help in their spiritual and material needs? Have I been careful to give a Christian upbringing to my children, and to help them by good example and by exercising authority as a parent? Have I been faithful to my spouse in my heart and in my relations with others?

Do I share my possessions with the less fortunate? Or do I look down on my neighbor, especially the poor, the sick, the elderly, and people of other races?

Does my life reflect the mission I received in Confirmation? Do I share in the apostolic and charitable works of the Church and in the life of my parish? Have I done my duty as a citizen? Have I paid my taxes? Do I share to the best of my ability in the work of promoting justice, morality, and harmony in human relations?

In my work or profession, am I just, hard-working, honest, serving society out of love for others? Have I been faithful to my promises and contracts?

Have I obeyed legitimate authority and given it due respect? Have I been truthful and fair, or have I injured others by deceit, calumny, detraction, rash judgment, or violation of a secret? Have I done violence to others by damage to life, reputation, honor or material possessions? Have I been responsible for advising an abortion or procuring one? Have I kept up hatred for others? Am I estranged from others through quarrels, enmity, insults, anger?

Have I stolen the property of others? Have I desired it unjustly? Have I damaged it? Have I made restitution of other people’s property and made good their loss? If I have been injured, have I been ready to make peace for the love of Christ and to forgive, or do I harbor hatred and the desire for revenge?

Where is my life really leading me? Is the hope of eternal life my inspiration? Have I tried to grow in the life of the Holy Spirit through prayer, reading the Word of God and meditating on it? Do I frequent the Sacraments and practice self-denial? Have I been anxious to control my vices, my bad inclinations and passions? Have I been proud and boastful, thinking myself better in the sight of God and despising others as less important than myself? Have I imposed my own will on others without respecting their freedom and right?

What use have I made of time, health, and strength, of the gifts God has given me to be used like the talents in the Gospel? Do I use them to become more perfect every day? Or have I been lazy and too much given to leisure? Have I been patient in accepting the sorrows and disappointments of life? Have I kept the precepts of fasting and abstinence?

Have I kept my senses and my whole body pure and chaste as a temple of the Holy Spirit consecrated for resurrection and glory? Have I dishonored my body by fornication (pre-marital sex), homosexual acts, impurity with self (masturbation), unworthy conversation or thoughts, evil desires, and actions? Have I abused myself through drugs and alcohol? Have I indulged in reading, conversation, and entertainments that offend against Christian and human decency? Have I practiced illicit means of birth control in my marital union? Have I married outside the Catholic Church?

Is my heart firmly set on the true treasures of heaven and the pursuit of authentic holiness? Am I living my life each day as a committed Roman Catholic?

Lord, may I know myself; may I know You! (St. Augustine). May I know my own selfishness, ignorance, and weakness, and know, too, that You are ready to life me up and sustain me as I climb toward the spiritual heights You call me to attain. May I distrust myself and trust in You.

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. I detest all my sins, not only because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all, because they have offended Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all of my love. I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, do penance, amend my life, and avoid whatever leads me to sin. Amen.

   A Prayer After Confession

How good You have been with me, O Lord! I have no words sufficient to thank You. Instead of punishing me for the many faults I have committed, You have forgiven all of them with infinite mercy in this holy confession. Again I am sorry with all my heart, and I promise, with the help of Your Grace, never to offend You again and to make amends with much love and with good deeds for the countless times I have offended You in my life. Most holy Virgin, angels and saints of heaven, I thank you for your assistance; you, too, thank the Lord for me, and obtain for me constancy and progress in doing good. Amen.



Fr. Ronald M. Vierling
Ash Wednesday, 1997