“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

"If we say, 'We are without sin,' we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." -1 John 1:8

"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”      -Luke 19:10

1. examination of conscience (scan inner voice and recent behavior)

2. state behavioral sin(s) out loud (acts of evil/wickedness)

3. sorrow/remorse from behavioral sin(s)

4. meaningful act of contrition (prayer)

5. fulfill assigned penance

A Catholic examination of conscience traditionally follows the outline of the Ten Commandments and the Precepts of the Catholic Church. 

The Sacrament of Reconciliation might also be called Confession or Penance.  It is a healing way to restore our baptismal purity after sinning.

There are two types of sin: 

• venial sin (lesser sin) is like building a brick wall between us and God, brick by brick.  Over time venial sins can turn into mortal sins easily.

• mortal sin (grave sin) is like a prefabricated wall between us and God.  The word “mortal” means “subject to death.”  Just as a mortal wound inflicted on our body could kill us, a mortal sin (deliberately not confessed) can lead to spiritual death or hell (eternal separation between us and God).  Three conditions must be met for sin to be considered mortal:

  • The act is a grave or serious matter as defined by the Church

  • The individual has full knowledge of its gravity

  • The act must be freely chosen

Why do I have to confess my sins to a priest?  Why can't I confess them directly to God?

The short answer is that we should do both.  

When our conscience stings us with guilt or shame it’s time to clean our spiritual house.  We should start with an honest and open dialogue with God, not hide like Adam and Eve.  We should also make an immediate act of contrition. Then as soon as possible we should go to confession to a priest.  

Why?  

It is human to confess our sins, people do it on television, the internet, and at bars, but these venues don’t offer God’s healing grace (absolution) nor the seal of confession.  

God gave the power to forgive sins to the Apostles.  “[Jesus] 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’” (Jn 20:22-23).  

These Apostles raised bishops to replace themselves and carry Christ’s forgiveness into the world.  The bishops have delegated priests to reconcile sinners back to relationships with God and the community. 

There is no such thing as a ”private sin,” so when we sin we distance ourselves from the believing community (Body of Christ).  

The priest, as a representative of the faithful, welcomes us back.  God wants us to have this personal encounter of forgiveness and we need it.  Remember, we are dealing with God’s grace and it must be brought to our human level to interpret it.  Thus we hear those words of absolution from the priest say, “…through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”  Amen!