RECONCILIATION
Reconciliation is for everyone, and a child's First Confession is typically prepared for during the first half of their second/third grade year. The preparation takes place in their religious education classes or during instruction at St. John Fisher. For more information, please email us by clicking below.
► Resources for Examination of Conscience
CONFESSION TIMES
See the Worship Schedule page
WHY DO WE NEED RECONCILIATION?
We have Baptism, which reconciles us with God. Why, then, do we need a special Sacrament of Reconciliation?
Baptism snatches us from the power of sin and death and brings us into the new life of the children of God, but it does not free us from human weakness and the inclination to sin. This reason is why we need a place where we can be reconciled with God again and again. This place is Confession.
It does not seem like a modern thing to go to Confession; it can be difficult and may cost a great deal of effort at first. The beauty is it is one of the greatest graces that we can receive again and again in our life. It truly renews the soul and completely unburdens it, leaving it without the debts of the past, accepted in love and equipped with new strength. God is merciful, and He desires nothing more earnestly than for us, too, to lay claim to His mercy. Someone who has gone to Confession turns a clean, new page in the book of his life. (YOUCAT question 226)
WHO CAN FORGIVE SINS?
God alone can forgive sins. Jesus could say, "Your sins are forgiven" (Mk 2:5) only because He is the Son of God. Priests can forgive sins in Jesus' place only because Jesus has given them that authority.
Many people say, "I can go directly to God; why do I need a priest?" God, though, wants it otherwise. We rationalize our sins away and like to sweep things under the rug. God wants us to share our sins and acknowledge them in a personal encounter. Therefore, the following words from the Gospel are true of priests: "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." (YOUCAT question 228)
Watch the video below for more on this...
WHY DO WE CONFESS OUR SINS TO A PRIEST?
HOW DO I MAKE A GOOD CONFESSION?
You can watch this video...
Or read the following (from Catholic.org)...
The basic requirement for a good confession is to have the intention of returning to God like the "prodigal son" and to acknowledge our sins with true sorrow before the priest.
Sin in my Life
Modern society has lost a sense of sin. As a Catholic follower of Christ, I must make an effort to recognize sin in my daily actions, words and omissions. The Gospels show how important the forgiveness of our sins is. Lives of saints prove that the person who grows in holiness has a stronger sense of sin and sorrow for sins and a need for the Sacrament of Penance or Confession.
The Differences in Sins
As a result of Original Sin, human nature is weakened. Baptism, by imparting the life of Christ's grace, takes away Original Sin and turns us back toward God. The consequences of this weakness and the inclination to evil persist, and we often commit personal or actual sin. Actual sin is sin which people commit. There are two kinds of actual sin: mortal and venial.
Mortal sin is a deadly offense against God. It is so horrible that it destroys the life of grace in the soul. Three simultaneous conditions must be fulfilled for a mortal sin: 1) the act must be something very serious; 2) the person must have sufficient understanding of what is being done; and 3) the person must have sufficient freedom of the will.
Reminder
If you need help -- especially if you have been away for some time -- simply ask the priest, and he will help you by "walking" you through the steps to make a good confession.
Before Confession
Be truly sorry for your sins. The essential act of Penance, on the part of the penitent, is contrition. Contrition is a clear and decisive rejection of the sin committed, with a resolution to not commit the sin again because of the love one has for God and which is reborn with repentance. The resolution to avoid committing these sins in the future (amendment) is a sure sign that your sorrow is genuine and authentic. A promise never to fall again into sin is not necessary. A resolution to try to avoid the near occasions of sin suffices for true repentance. God's grace in cooperation with the intention to rectify your life will give you the strength to resist and overcome temptation in the future.
Examination of Conscience
Before going to Confession, you should make a review of mortal and venial sins since your last sacramental confession, and you should express sorrow for sins, hatred for sins and a firm resolution not to sin again. A helpful pattern for examination of conscience is to review the Commandments of God and the Precepts of the Church:
Have God and the pursuit of sanctity in Christ been the goal of my life? Have I denied my faith? Have I placed my trust in false teachings or substitutes for God? Did I despair of God's mercy?
Have I avoided the profane use of God's name in my speech? Have I broken a solemn vow or promise?
Have I honored every Sunday by avoiding unnecessary work and celebrating the Mass (also holy days)? Was I inattentive at Mass, unnecessarily late for Mass or did I leave early? Have I neglected prayer for a long time?
Have I shown Christ-like respect to parents, spouse and family members? Have I been attentive to the religious education and formation of my children?
Have I cared for the bodily health and safety of myself and all others? Did I abuse drugs or alcohol? Have I supported in any way abortion, "mercy killing" or suicide?
Was I impatient, angry, envious, proud, jealous, revengeful or lazy? Have I forgiven others?
Have I been just in my responsibilities to employer and employees? Have I discriminated against others because of race or other reasons?
Have I been chaste in thought and word? Have I used sex only within marriage and while open to procreating life? Did I deliberately look at impure TV, pictures or reading?
Have I stolen anything from another -- from my employer or from government? If so, am I ready to repay it? Did I fulfill my contracts? Did I rashly gamble, depriving my family of necessities?
Have I spoken ill of any other person? Have I always told the truth? Have I kept secrets and confidences?
Have I desired what belongs to other people? Have I wished ill on another?
Have I been faithful to sacramental living (Holy Communion and Penance)?
Have I helped make my parish community stronger and holier? Have I contributed to the support of the Church?
Have I done penance by abstaining and fasting on obligatory days? Have I fasted before receiving Communion?
Have I been mindful of the poor? Do I accept God's will for me?