Jesus Christ came to "save his people from their sins" (Mt 1:21), and we can give him no greater pleasure than to let him be our Savior.  

Why Confession? 

Humbly and confidently approaching him in the Sacrament of Confession unleashes his saving power in our lives:  

-   Frequent confession, if made from the heart, reminds us of our helplessness and our deep need for God: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven" (Mt 5:3).  

-   Sorrow for our sins and failings allows him to tend our wounds and strengthen our weakness: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted" (Mt 2:4).  

-   A firm determination to repent and, with the help of God's grace, to be more faithful to Christ in the future gives a green light to the Holy Spirit's sanctifying action in our lives: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied" (Mt 2:6). 

Confession was Christ's idea; he gave it to the Church to be a channel of grace, an opening through which would flow the salvation he won for us on the cross. He didn't have to do it this way; he chose to:  

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. (Jesus) said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." 

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." (John 20:19-23) 

Christ wants us to come to him in Confession; he knows we need it:  

"Jesus heard this and said to them, 'Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.'" (Mark 2:17) 

"What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance." (Luke 15:4-7) 

Overcoming Obstacles 

Going in front of God's chosen representative (a priest) and admitting our weakness, our failures, our sins - especially those that we fall into again and again - is never a comfortable thing to do, but in the embrace of our heavenly father, the humiliation is transformed into new enthusiasm, new strength, and new confidence. This faithful gesture of humility becomes a new beginning, a renewal of the joy of true friendship with Christ: "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit." (John 12:24) 

A Spiritual Check-up 

Examining your attitude towards Confession, and the regularity with which you take advantage of it, can help you take your "spiritual temperature": if you are determined to follow Christ more closely, to declare war on sin, to seek actively the life that God wants you to have, Confession will be one of your familiar companions; if not, it won't. 

How Often? 

Mother Theresa of Calcutta went to Confession weekly. Any Christian who is determined to seek holiness and apostolic effectiveness in spite of the aggressively anti-Christian environment of modern society, should frequent the sacrament (preferably with a regular confessor) as often as needed or helpful. Every two weeks or at least once a month is a healthy commitment. 

Preparing for Confession 

Many guides to Confession are available from various sources.  

Some people find it helpful to prepare for confession by reviewing the 10 Commandments, others by examining the godliness of the three major sectors of their lives: relationship with God (time given to prayer, obedience to conscience, attendance at Mass, positive witness to Christ by word and deed); relationship with others (Do I think of others as Christ does, or am I judgmental? Do I speak of them with charity or do I criticize? Do I treat them with gentleness and kindness knowing that they are loved by God, or am I harsh, brusque, selfish? Do I play favorites, or is my concern universal, like God's?); and one's own self-discipline (Do I use my time responsibly? Do I fulfill my duties conscientiously? Do I avoid those temptations to which I am most vulnerable, or do I invite them?)  

We are only required to confess mortal sins, but the confession of venial sins and even of unwilled faults and failings opens our hearts to the strengthening grace of the sacrament, and attunes our consciences to the delicate voice of the Holy Spirit. 

As the Sacrament of Reconciliation becomes a more frequent part of your spiritual life, you will get to know yourself better, and examining your conscience will become easier.  

Most importantly, make your preparation for confession a heartfelt encounter with the God who loves you, who gave his life for you, who longs for your love. It can help a great deal to pray your act of contrition after you have examined your conscience and before you make your confession; this stirs up the proper attitudes for a fruitful reception of the sacrament. 

Click here for prayers related to your living of Confession.