Dear Parishioners,

Everyone needs the mercy of God. That is why the sacrament of reconciliation is such a wonderful gift from God!

However, as I hear more and more confessions, I am noticing that some people do not know what they ought to confess. People will bring up all sorts of things that are not sins and avoid subjects that actually are sin. That is why it is really beneficial to examine your conscience before confession. You can make sure you are making a good and honest confession.

Why is it hard to know what to confess? It could be because we are so used to sin that we are dulled to its presence. If we think everyone is committing the same sins we are, we can think that sin is normal. If sin is normal, then God can’t possibly judge us for it. This is bad reasoning because popular opinion does not determine what is right. God does.

When we examine our conscience, it can be like a splash of cold water that wakes us up. In order to examine your conscience, you need to find a list of questions based on the Church’s moral teachings and see if you have done anything contrary to those teachings. You can easily find an examination online by searching “Catholic Examination of Conscience.” While reading over this list, pray the Holy Spirit to open your heart to your faults that you may see what God wants you to repent from.

It is important that we know what our sins are so that we can repent of them. So, then when you go to confession, state your sins clearly (preferably number and kind, but do your best). A sin is a willing offense against God. To be clear, the following things are not sins:

• Regrets are not sins.
• Things that make you angry are not sins.
• Other people’s sins are not your sins.
• Explaining how you are really a good person despite your sins is not a matter for confession.
• Accidental bad consequences are not sins. (Though any neglect that led to those consequences could be a sin.)
• Complaints are not sins.
• Stories are not sins.

If you want a fruitful confession, it’s good to know your sins, state them frankly and humbly, accept the mercy of God. We do not need to make a defense of ourselves because we have already judged ourselves guilty. We do not need to attack others because only God can judge them. If we are able to do this then God who is good and merciful will forgive us and that is all that matters. Everything else is a distraction.

God Bless!

Fr. Carter