ReflectHim:
What happens during confession?
Such as after a person confesses what does the priest generally do?
What is expected of that person after they leave…prayer?
Why do catholics confess to a priest? Any scripture or example on confessing to a priest?
Thanks!
Man! Don’t get me started! Confession is one of the greatest things about being Catholic. There is abundant scriptural reference to it. Start
here for a quick overview of the foundations of the Sacrament in Scripture and in the early Church.
Though the physical particulars may differ slightly, generally speaking, when you come to confession, you enter the confessional (either a “box” or a small room), kneel behind the screen or walk around to the other side, where you will find a place to sit so that you can confess face-to-face. Catholic churches are REQUIRED to offer the option of anonymity.
One of the things you must bring to confession is a
genuine sorrow for your sins. We call this contrition. It can be “perfect” or “imperfect.” Perfect contrition is sorrow for having offended God because he is God and because our love for him is greater than our fear. Imperfect contrition (which will suffice) is sorrow for sins based on a lesser motive, such as fear of Hell or our own disappointment in ourselves.
We begin our confession by making the sign of the cross and praying the words: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. We then state any pertinent fact that helps the priest understand our confession: For example, “I am a married women with children at home and I work part time outside the home.” You might also add something that affects your spiritual state. People who have trouble experiencing forgiveness, for example, may suffer from what we call “scrupulosity” – it’s a kind of spiritual illness that makes it hard for a person to accept God on his own terms. Priests *must *disclose the fact that they are priests. Next we usually tell how long it has been since our last confession: Father, it is two months since my last confession.
So a person might come in and say: In the Name of the Father . . . etc. I am a high school senior struggling particularly with temptations against purity. It has been two weeks since my last confession . . . . Then we confess our sins –
all of our serious sins
must be confessed. We do it cleanly, simply, without theatrics, without holding anything back or making much of little or little of much, and without cagey words of concealment. We may also confess our lesser or “venial” sins, as opening them to the heart of Christ is a very wholesome thing to do.
When you have finished your confession, the priest will then ask you to perform a penance: an act indicating your sincere contrition. Sometimes this takes the form of a prayer, or reading Scripture, or an act of charity towards another person. Some priests have extremely insightful ideas for using penance assignments as a tool for your spiritual growth. I always confess to the same priest, and he can aim a penance right between my eyes to help me grow in the Spirit.
The priest will offer counsel to help you avoid the same sins in the future and to encourage you in any particular struggle you may have.
You then pray a prayer called “an act of contrition.” This can be either spontaneous or a prayer we have memorized. It can even be words of Scripture, such as, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. I will run the way of your commandments when you have set my heart at liberty.”
If your offenses include matter for which restitution
can be made, then restitution** must** be made. If you are contrite, and if it is
possible to make restitution, then chances are you will already have done it, or at least will have begun to make restitution before you even come to confession (say, in the matter of theft or if you have wrongly spread rumors about someone).
The priest then pronounces the most beautiful words you will ever hear in your life:
God, the Father of mercies,
through the death and the 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 give 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.
He then says: “Give thanks to the Lord for he is gracious.”
and you answer: “And his love endures forever.”
You thank him and go out to perform your penance, if it can be done on the spot, otherwise you do it as soon as you are able.
Again: this Sacrament is one of the greatest things about being Catholic!
