Making a good confession requires prayer, though of what we have done or what we have not done.
1. I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before me.
Do I pray every day?
Do I put my trust in superstitions, good luck charms, rather than God alone?
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Have I used the word "God" or "Jesus" to someone because I was mad?
Have I used bad words?
3. Remember to keep holy the Lord's day.
Have I missed services on Sunday?
Do I pay attention during services?
Do I make it hard for others to hear or pay attention?
Do I avoid unnecessary work on Sunday?
Do I make Sunday a day of prayer and rest?
4. Honor your father and mother.
Do I obey my parents?
Have I mistreated them by what I say or what I do?
Do I try to get along with my brothers and sisters? Am I a tattletale or bully?
Do I give good example, especially to younger brother and sisters?
Do I obey others that I should like teachers, police, old people, baby-sitters?
5. You shall not kill.
Do I beat up others or hurt their bodies?
Do I say mean things about others behind their back?
Have I stopped speaking to anyone?
Do I encourage others to do bad things?
Have I wished bad things to happen to anyone?
6. You shall not commit adultery.
Do I treat my body and other people's body with respect?
Do I look at shows, movies, or pictures that are bad on TV, computor or phone?
Do I speak nicely to others?
7. You shall not steal.
Have I taken things that were not mine from a store or another person?
Have I ruined another person's property for fun?
Do I return things that I borrow? In good condition?
8. You shall not lie.
Am I honest in my school work or at work?
Do I cheat or copy other people's work?
Do I tell lies to make myself look good?
Do I tell lies to protect myself from punishment?
Do I tell lies that make another person look bad or get them in trouble?
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
Do I allow my parents to spend time with one another, or do I get jealous and
want them to pay attention only to me?
Do I get mad when I have to share my friends?
Are there kids I will not play with or be mean to them because they look different?
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.
Am I jealous or envious of the things my friends have?
Am I jealous because my friends can play sports better than I can?
Am I thankful to God and my parants for what they have given me?
Do I share the things I have with my family, friends and poor people?
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In order to make a good confession we must be sorry for our sins. We should take a little time
before we go to confession to examine ourselves that we understand what sins we have committed. Confronting our sins is what Confession is about.
Begin with a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to be with you.
Tell Go you are truly sorry for your sins.
Make commitment to try not to sin again.
The Rite of Reconciliation
Begin by making the Sign of The Cross and saying "Bless me Father, for I have sinned. It has been_________(what ever time; weeks, months, or years) since my last confession".
Then Confess your sins. If it has been a long time or you need help, ask the priest for help and he will guide you. (Do not be afraid).
After you confess your sins the priest will assign you a penance. He may offer you some advice to help you if you have a problem with something.
Following the penance you can say that you are sorry for your sins.
Then he will ask you to say the act of contrition if you know one say what you know or use this one:
Oh my Go I am heartly 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 it offends you my God,
who art all good deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve with help of Thy grace
to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.
Amen.
Make the Sign of The Cross and thank the priest.
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