“…with his mercy he will cure all the wounds caused by sin. Do not be afraid to ask God’s forgiveness, because he never tires of forgiving us, like a father who loves us. God is pure mercy!” Pope Francis, July 2013.

"So many people, including young people, are returning to the Sacrament of Reconciliation; through this experience they are rediscovering a path back to the Lord, living a moment of intense prayer and finding meaning in their lives. Let us place the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the centre once more in such a way that it will enable people to touch the grandeur of God’s mercy with their own hands. For every penitent, it will be a source of true interior peace.”
(Pope Francis, Misericordiae Vultus, #17)

A good Confession involves  

  • Contrition: being sorry for what you have done wrong together with a true intention not to commit the sin again

  • Confession of those sins to a priest

  • Penance

  • Absolution by the priest

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To Begin think about what sins you wish to confess. 
 
Jesus said:- “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul....... You must love your neighbour as yourself” (Matthew 22: 36-39) 
 
One way to consider how you may have sinned is to think about how you may have acted against these instructions. Think about:

  • What happened?

  • What were you motives?

  • What emotions were involved - pride, anger?

  • How might your actions affect others?

  • How does it relate to the teachings of the Church?

  • How else could you have acted?

  • Are you sorry for what happened?

  • Are you resolved not to undertake the action again?

 You may wish to think about the teachings in the 10  Commandments and the Beatitudes.

Please see the weekly newsletter for details of The Sacrament of Reconciliation times at St Bernadette's Church and Holy Souls’ Church.