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Prepare for Confession

If it has been many years, tell the priest. He can guide you through the sacrament. Christ’s mercy calls you to return.

Do not delay your return to God. If you are conscious of mortal sin, make an act of contrition now, resolve to leave the sin, and seek sacramental Confession as soon as possible. Christ gave His Church this sacrament for the forgiveness of sins committed after Baptism. A good deed or a period of reflection does not replace repentance and sacramental reconciliation.

Begin a private examinationWhat happens in the confessional

Before you go

  1. Ask for light and examine honestly

    Ask God to show you your sins and give you sorrow for them. Review your thoughts, words, deeds and omissions since your last good Confession, together with any earlier mortal sins not yet confessed. Consider the Commandments of God and the Church, your habits, and the duties of your state of life.

    Catechism of St. Pius X, The Sacrament of Penance, questions 23–35, 36–44, 60–69, 70–85, 120

  2. Understand mortal sin

    A sin is mortal when grave matter, full knowledge and deliberate consent are present together. An unwanted thought, temptation or feeling is not itself a chosen sin. The questions below concern both grave and lesser faults; they do not declare every failure equally serious or determine your personal culpability. Bring real uncertainty plainly to the priest.

    Catechism of St. Pius X, The Sacrament of Penance, questions 23–35, 36–44, 60–69, 70–85, 120 · Catechism of the Catholic Church 1857–1861

  3. Be contrite and resolve to amend

    Contrition means sorrow for sin and rejection of it, with a sincere resolve to sin no more. Ask to love God above all things; do not despair of His forgiveness or presume upon pardon while intending to continue in sin. Your resolution must be real now, with reliance on grace; it is not a prediction that you will never be tempted or fall again.

    Council of Trent · Penance and Anointing · Catechism · Contrition and Confession · Catechism of the Catholic Church 2084–2094

  4. Leave the occasions of sin

    Take concrete means to break with sin. Remove avoidable near occasions that ordinarily lead you into serious sin, such as a sinful relationship, recurring situation or access to pornography. If an occasion cannot be avoided, explain it to your confessor and follow his guidance. Repentance includes the will to make restitution and repair harm as justice requires.

    Catechism of St. Pius X, The Sacrament of Penance, questions 23–35, 36–44, 60–69, 70–85, 120 · Baltimore Catechism No. 4, lessons 18–19, questions 202–214

  5. Confess fully and plainly

    Tell the priest how long it has been since your last good Confession. Confess every unconfessed mortal sin you remember after diligent examination, stating its kind and number and circumstances that change its kind. If you cannot remember the exact number, give an honest approximation or frequency and time period, making clear that it is an estimate. Do not invent certainty or unnecessary graphic detail. Confession of venial sins is also recommended.

    Council of Trent · Penance and Anointing · Catechism of St. Pius X, The Sacrament of Penance, questions 23–35, 36–44, 60–69, 70–85, 120 · Catechism · Contrition and Confession

  6. Do not conceal; distinguish forgetfulness

    Deliberately concealing a remembered mortal sin makes the Confession invalid and adds the sin of sacrilege. If this has happened, tell the priest and let him help you make a good Confession. A mortal sin genuinely forgotten after diligent examination is forgiven with the others in a good Confession; when it is remembered, confess it at your next Confession.

    Council of Trent · Penance and Anointing · Catechism of St. Pius X, The Sacrament of Penance, questions 23–35, 36–44, 60–69, 70–85, 120

  7. Receive absolution and make satisfaction

    Listen to the priest, express your contrition, and receive absolution with faith. Complete the penance he gives you. Return what you have stolen, correct lies and unjust injury to a good name, and repair scandal and other harm as far as you can. Ask for counsel when the right way to make restitution is uncertain.

    Council of Trent · Penance and Anointing · Catechism of St. Pius X, The Sacrament of Penance, questions 23–35, 36–44, 60–69, 70–85, 120 · Catechism · Contrition and Confession

Stand in the light
of His mercy.

Read the questions that concern your actual duties and choices. Examine sins of omission as well as acts. The headings and questions are an editorial aid drawn from traditional Catholic teaching, not words attributed to a saint.

Examine your conscience privately before God. Do not enter or record your sins on this site.

Before you begin

Understand mortal sin and personal responsibility.

Being harmed or coerced by another is not itself a sin you have committed. Consider your own free choices.

Distinguish forgetfulness from deliberate concealment.

Catechism of St. Pius X, The Sacrament of Penance, questions 23–35, 36–44, 60–69, 70–85, 120 · Council of Trent · Penance and Anointing · Catechism of the Catholic Church 1857–1861

1. Worship God alone
  • Have I deliberately denied the Catholic faith, neglected prayer, or chosen something else in place of obedience and love owed to God?
  • Have I practiced divination, magic or attempts to contact the dead, or treated sacred persons, places or things with contempt?
  • Have I deliberately despaired of God’s mercy, or presumed on forgiveness while intending to continue in sin or put off conversion?
  • Have I concealed a mortal sin in Confession or knowingly received Holy Communion unworthily?

Exodus 20:1–17, Douay-Rheims · Catechism of St. Pius X, On the Commandments of God and of the Church, respective commandment sections · Catechism of the Catholic Church 2084–2094 · 1 Corinthians 11:27–29, Douay-Rheims

2. Revere God’s holy name
  • Have I blasphemed God, mocked what is holy, or used the names of God, Jesus, Mary or the saints irreverently?
  • Have I sworn falsely, used an oath rashly, or failed to keep a lawful vow or solemn promise made to God?

Exodus 20:1–17, Douay-Rheims · Catechism of St. Pius X, On the Commandments of God and of the Church, respective commandment sections · Matthew 5:21–37, Douay-Rheims

3. Keep the Lord’s Day holy
  • Have I deliberately missed Mass on a Sunday or holy day of obligation without a serious reason or dispensation?
  • Have I needlessly allowed work, shopping or entertainment to prevent worship, the rest owed to myself and others, or works of mercy?

Catechism of St. Pius X, On the Commandments of God and of the Church, respective commandment sections · Catechism of the Catholic Church 2180–2185

4. Honor father and mother
  • Have I neglected the respect, help or care I owe my parents, especially in age or need; or, while under their authority, disobeyed their lawful commands?
  • As a parent or guardian, have I neglected my children’s support, religious education, correction, protection or good example?
  • Have I abused authority entrusted to me or refused obedience to lawful authority in matters where obedience is due?

Exodus 20:1–17, Douay-Rheims · Catechism of St. Pius X, On the Commandments of God and of the Church, respective commandment sections · Ephesians 6:1–9, Douay-Rheims

5. Respect life and love your neighbor
  • Have I deliberately harmed innocent life, procured or knowingly assisted an abortion, or chosen or assisted euthanasia?
  • Have I used violence, cruelty or threats, nursed hatred, wished serious evil upon someone, or refused to forgive?
  • Have I recklessly endangered myself or others through drunkenness, drug abuse, dangerous driving or another irresponsible act?
  • Have I led another into sin by my example or encouragement, or refused help that charity required and I could reasonably give?

Catechism of St. Pius X, On the Commandments of God and of the Church, respective commandment sections · Matthew 5:21–37, Douay-Rheims · Catechism of the Catholic Church 2258–2283 · Catechism of the Catholic Church 2443–2449

6. Keep chastity and marital fidelity
  • Have I used pornography, masturbated, or deliberately sought sexual pleasure in impure acts?
  • Have I committed adultery, fornication or other sexual acts outside a valid marriage, including sexual acts with a person of the same sex?
  • Have I used contraception to make the marital act infertile, or chosen direct sterilization?
  • Have I exploited or coerced someone sexually, betrayed my spouse, or led another into sexual sin?

Catechism of St. Pius X, On the Commandments of God and of the Church, respective commandment sections · Catechism of the Catholic Church 2351–2359 · Catechism of the Catholic Church 2366–2370 · Paul VI, Humanae vitae, 13–16

7. Do not steal; act justly
  • Have I stolen, defrauded, cheated, damaged property, or kept something that I know belongs to another?
  • Have I withheld just wages or debts I can pay, exploited a worker or customer, or deliberately failed to do work for which I was paid?
  • Have I refused restitution for theft, fraud or other financial harm? What must I restore or repair?

Exodus 20:1–17, Douay-Rheims · Catechism of St. Pius X, On the Commandments of God and of the Church, respective commandment sections · Ephesians 6:1–9, Douay-Rheims

8. Speak truth and guard your neighbor’s good name
  • Have I lied, deceived, given false testimony or harmed another’s reputation by a false accusation?
  • Have I disclosed another’s faults without a just reason, spread malicious gossip, or judged someone guilty without sufficient grounds?
  • Have I betrayed a confidence unjustly or refused to correct lies and damage to another’s good name?

Catechism of St. Pius X, On the Commandments of God and of the Church, respective commandment sections · Catechism of the Catholic Church 2475–2487 · Matthew 5:21–37, Douay-Rheims

9. Reject lustful desires
  • Have I deliberately entertained lustful thoughts or desires, including desire for another person’s spouse?
  • Have I willingly cultivated fantasies, looks, conversations or relationships that draw me toward adultery or other sexual sin?

Catechism of St. Pius X, On the Commandments of God and of the Church, respective commandment sections · Matthew 5:21–37, Douay-Rheims · Catechism of the Catholic Church 2351–2359

10. Reject covetousness and envy
  • Have I desired to gain another’s possessions by unjust means or wished that someone would lose what is rightfully theirs?
  • Have I willingly nursed envy or rejoiced at another’s misfortune?
  • Has greed made me unjust, ungrateful, or unwilling to share with the poor according to my means and obligations?

Exodus 20:1–17, Douay-Rheims · Catechism of St. Pius X, On the Commandments of God and of the Church, respective commandment sections · Catechism of the Catholic Church 2443–2449

The duties of your state and the Church’s precepts
  • In marriage and family life, have I failed in fidelity, mutual care, the upbringing of children, or the support of those entrusted to me?
  • In work, study or public responsibility, have I been dishonest, negligent in a serious duty, unjust to those under my authority, or unfaithful to a just commitment?
  • Have I neglected the Church’s requirements for sacramental life, support of the Church, and fasting and abstinence when binding on me? Have I neglected prayer, penance, almsgiving or the spiritual and bodily works of mercy?
  • Have I broken obligations belonging to my vocation, vows or office? What concrete amendment, restitution or reconciliation must I now undertake?

For current local days of obligation and rules of fasting or abstinence, follow your diocese and parish; lawful dispensations and exemptions apply.

Catechism of St. Pius X, The Sacrament of Penance, questions 23–35, 36–44, 60–69, 70–85, 120 · Catechism of St. Pius X, On the Commandments of God and of the Church, respective commandment sections · Ephesians 6:1–9, Douay-Rheims · Catechism of the Catholic Church 2443–2449 · Catechism of the Catholic Church 2041–2043

Inside the confessional

If it has been years, or you have forgotten what to do, tell the priest. You can ask him to guide you through the sacrament.

  1. Begin simply

    When the priest welcomes you, make the Sign of the Cross. You may begin, “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned,” then say how long it has been since your last Confession.

  2. Confess your sins

    Confess the unconfessed mortal sins you remember after careful examination, giving their kind and number. If you cannot remember exactly, explain that and give an honest estimate. You may also confess venial sins. Ask for help when you are unsure.

  3. Listen and receive your penance

    Listen to the priest’s counsel and accept the penance he gives. Tell him if you do not understand it or cannot carry it out.

  4. Make an Act of Contrition

    Pray the Act of Contrition with sorrow for your sins and a sincere resolve to amend. The priest can help if you do not know the words.

    Pray the Act of Contrition

  5. Receive absolution

    Listen with faith as the priest pronounces absolution, and respond, “Amen.”

  6. Give thanks and fulfill your penance

    Join the thanksgiving and receive the dismissal. Afterwards, thank God, carry out your penance, and put the means of amendment into practice.

Editorial walkthrough based on the USCCB’s How to Go to Confession and the Code of Canon Law, canons 981 and 988. USCCB guide · Code of Canon Law

Perfect contrition and the sacrament

Perfect contrition arises from love of God above all things and obtains forgiveness of mortal sin when it includes the firm resolve to confess as soon as possible. Sorrow arising from the ugliness of sin or fear of punishment can dispose you to receive forgiveness in the sacrament when joined to hope of pardon and the resolve to leave sin. Reciting the words of a prayer is not a substitute for these dispositions.

Council of Trent · Penance and Anointing · Baltimore Catechism No. 4, lessons 18–19, questions 202–214 · Catechism · Contrition and Confession

Before Holy Communion

If you are conscious of grave sin, do not receive Holy Communion before sacramental Confession. Canon 916 provides an exception only when there is both a grave reason to receive and no opportunity to confess; in that case you must make an act of perfect contrition, including the resolution to confess as soon as possible. Ask a priest for guidance about exceptional circumstances.

Code of Canon Law, canon 916 · 1 Corinthians 11:27–29, Douay-Rheims · Catechism · Contrition and Confession

Act of Contrition

O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell, 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 confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life.

Baltimore Catechism No. 4, Prayers, “An Act of Contrition” · historical English form

Take the next faithful step.

Find your parish’s Confession times or contact a priest.

Bring your sins honestly to Christ through His priest. After Confession, give thanks, fulfill your penance, take the means of amendment, and ask daily for the grace to persevere. If you suffer recurring doubts or scrupulosity, follow the guidance of a regular confessor rather than repeatedly reopening settled confessions.

The Church’s teaching on Confession