If you would prefer to confess to a priest who has experience ministering to women who have abortions, please contact Project Rachel and they will put you in touch with such a priest.
The same principal applies to all of us. If one has not committed any serious sins since his or her last good confession, then it is not necessary to confess before receiving the Holy Eucharist. If you are civilly divorced but have not remarried or were validly married in the Church after receiving a declaration of nullity for your first marriage, then, yes, you may receive the Sacrament. If you have remarried outside of the Church or have entered into a cohabitating relationship, then those predicaments must be addressed before you can receive absolution.
They are unable to be admitted thereto from the fact that their state and condition of life objectively contradict that union of love between Christ and the Church that is signified and effected by the Eucharist. Reconciliation in the sacrament of penance, which would open the way to the Eucharist, can only be granted to those who, repenting of having broken the sign of the covenant and of fidelity to Christ, are sincerely ready to undertake a way of life that is no longer in contradiction to the indissolubility of marriage.
A priest will normally try to do everything he can never to have to deny someone absolution. But on some rare occasions he will find himself in a situation where he has no choice. This occurs when the penitent lacks one of the three elements that make for a good confession:. Grave necessity of this sort can arise when there is imminent danger of death without sufficient time for the priest or priests to hear each penitent's confession.
Grave necessity can also exist when, given the number of penitents, there are not enough confessors to hear individual confessions properly in a reasonable time, so that the penitents through no fault of their own would be deprived of sacramental grace or Holy Communion for a long time.
In this case, for the absolution to be valid the faithful must have the intention of individually confessing their sins in the time required. The diocesan bishop is the judge of whether or not the conditions required for general absolution exist. For practical purposes, outside of an imminent danger of death situation, these conditions would never obtain in our Archdiocese. Moreover, if a penitent sought to have recourse to a general absolution as a means of avoiding individual confession and absolution, the confession would be invalid.
God, who created the sacraments for our salvation, is Himself not bound by them. Our sins are first forgiven, of course, through the sacrament of baptism. For post-baptismal sins, the Church has always taught that, for example in a danger of death situation without the possibility of recourse to the sacrament of confession, God could forgive our sins if we pray to him with perfect contrition.
The great gift of this sacrament is that, if we confess all our serious sins with sorrow and a firm purpose of amendment, we do not need to doubt whether our sins have been forgiven.
God created this sacrament so that we might know he has forgiven us through the ministry of priests. Most priests are very understanding and good confessors. Some are extraordinarily compassionate and very wise and can really help you grow in your spiritual life. The Holy Spirit will reveal to you the most important ones for you to confess. Start with the most serious ones first and then go on to all the ones you can remember. A general rule of thumb is that the ones that are hardest to talk about are the ones, once confessed, that will help you grow the most.
Making a good examination of conscience is an excellent way to help you prepare for confession. Every confession reveals something of the human condition, which the priest is very familiar with. He understands. Rather than feeling shock or disappointment, most priests feel great compassion and mercy. If you do feel uncomfortable, use the confessional screen. Used an artificial means of birth control? Refused to be open to conception, without just cause? Used in-vitro fertilization or artificial insemination?
Sterilized my sex organs for contraceptive purposes? Deprived my spouse of sexual intimacy without just cause? Engaged in sexual intimacy without concern for my spouse? Committed adultery sexual relations with someone who is married, or with someone other than my spouse?
Committed fornication sexual relations with someone of the opposite sex when neither of us is married? Engaged in sexual activity with someone of the same sex? Been living in a valid and licit marriage according to the laws of the Catholic Church?
Willfully abandoned my spouse and family after separation or divorce? Given scandal by living with someone of the opposite sex before getting married?
Committed incest sexual relations with a relative? Preyed upon children or youth for my sexual pleasure? Envied others on account of their possessions? Tried to live in a spirit of Gospel poverty and simplicity? Cheated on a test, taxes, sports, games, or in business? Make a false claim to an insurance company? Lied or knowingly and willfully deceived another? Committed slander or calumny telling lies about another person in order to destroy his reputation?
Committed libel writing lies about another person in order to destroy his reputation? Been guilty of rash judgment assuming the worst of another person based on circumstantial evidence?
Failed to speak out in defense of the Catholic Faith, the Church, or of another person? Made a good Confession of my mortal sins least once a year? Purposely omitted telling my mortal sins in my last Confession?
Made reparation for any harm I have done to others? Done penance every Friday if not abstaining from meat, then some other form of penance? Spent time in prayer, doing spiritual and corporal works of mercy, and practicing self-denial?
Contributed a just amount of my time and talents to support my parish and the work of the Church? Back Social Outreach Liturgical Ministries. Back Donate Online Giving. Examination of Conscience for adults. I am the Lord your God. You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.
Have I. Denied the existence of God? Failed to nourish and protect my faith? Formally left the Catholic Church? You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Belittled others in my speech? Behaved disrespectfully in Church? Blamed God for my failings? Failed to take my children to Mass? Honor your father and your mother. Have I broken the law? Prayed with and for my children? You shall not kill. Unjustly threatened another person?
Confession presumes the penitent is truly sorry with a firm resolve not to sin again. My last confession was …. The penitent 3 confesses sins to the priest, who stands in the name of Christ and the Church. The priest will help you make a good confession. If you are unsure or uneasy, ask the priest to help.
Place your trust in God, a merciful Father who wants to forgive you. I am sorry for these and all my sins. The priest will assign you a 5 penance. The penance takes into account your personal situation and supports your spiritual good.
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