Reconciliation

How to Go to Confession

Examination of Conscience

Why Confession?

 “Whose sins you forgive, are forgiven; whose sins you retain are retained” - John 20:23
(The risen Christ to the apostles)
 
“If we say we have never sinned, we make God a liar and there is no truth in us” - 1 John 2:4
 
“I have come to call not the self-righteous, but sinners” - Mark 2:17  (Jesus to the Pharisees)
 
“The Son of Man (Jesus) has come to search out and save what was lost” - Luke 19:10  (Jesus to the Pharisees)
 
“There will likewise be more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety nine righteous people who have no need to repent” - Luke 15:7  (Jesus, the Good Shepherd).
 
“Let us eat and drink for this son of mine was dead and has come back to life.  He was lost and is found” - Luke 15:24, 32  (The Merciful Father – God to the Prodigal Son)
 
“Woman, is there no one here to accuse you?  Neither will I accuse you.  Go and from now on, avoid this sin” - John 8:11  (Jesus to the woman who committed adultery)
 
“Father, forgive them.  For they do not know what they are doing” - Luke 23:34
 
“The sins of my youth and my frailties remember not, O Lord” - Psalm 25:7
 
“Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; In the greatness of your compassion, wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt; and of my sins, cleanse me. For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always.” - Psalm 51:3-5
 
“For I do not the good I should do, but the evil I should avoid.  What  a wretched man I am”  - Romans 7:19
 
 “Whoever brings a sinner back from the error of his way will save his own soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." - James 5:20  
 
“If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God, who will give him life.  There is such a thing as deadly sin” - 1 John 5:17
 
“If your brother sins against you seven times a day and seven times a day turns back to you saying ‘I am sorry’, forgive him” - Luke 7:4  (Jesus to Peter)