Going to Confession
As Catholic Christians, one of the great gifts we have is turning our sins over to God through the ministry of our priests, who carry on the work of mercy and forgiveness founded in Christ Jesus. This sacramental encounter with our loving Lord is vitally important to both growing in holiness and being freed for salvation, so that we come to fully reconciled communion with the Trinity and one another in the undying splendor of the new creation.
Examinations of Conscience
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin.
Only God forgives sins. Since he is the Son of God, Jesus says of himself, "The Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" and exercises this divine power: "Your sins are forgiven." Further, by virtue of his divine authority he gives this power to his representatives to exercise in his name.