Pius X Catechism – How to Make a Good Confession

Location: The Sacraments > The Sacrament of Penance > How to Make a Good Confession

Q1: How do you present yourself to the confessor?

A1: I kneel at the feet of the confessor and I say: ‘Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.’

Q2: What do you do while the confessor blesses you?

A2: I humbly bow my head to receive the blessing and I make the Sign of the Cross.

Q3: Having made the sign of the Cross what should you say?

A3: Having made the sign of the Cross, I say: ‘I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to all the Saints, and to you, my spiritual Father, that I have sinned.’

Q4: And then what must you say?

A4: Then I must say: ‘I was at confession such a time; by the grace of God I received absolution, performed my penance, and went to Holy Communion.’ Then I accuse myself of my sins.

Q5: When you have finished the accusation of your sins what do you do?

A5: When I have finished the accusation of my sins I say: ‘I accuse myself also of all the sins of my past life, especially of those against such or such a virtue’ – for example, against purity or against the Fourth Commandment, etc.

Q6: After this accusation what should you say?

A6: I should say: ‘For all these sins and for those I do not remember, I ask pardon of God with my whole heart, and penance and absolution of you, my spiritual Father.’

Q7: Having thus finished the accusation of your sins what remains to be done?

A7: Having finished the accusation of my sins I should listen respectfully to what the confessor says, accept the penance with a sincere intention of performing it; and, from my heart, renew my act of contrition while he gives me absolution.

Q8: Having received absolution what remains to be done?

A8: Having received absolution I should thank the Lord, perform my penance as soon as possible, and put in practice the advice of the confessor.