"Bless me Father for I have sinned. . . . "




 Directions for Confession


Approach the Confessional in a humble and. contrite spirit, and kneel down by your Confessor. Then, making the sign of the Cross, say:



Benedicite, or Bless me Father for I have sinned.




After he has given the Blessing, say the Confiteor in English or Latin, as far as the words, mea maxima culpa, through my most grievous fault:


Confiteor

Confiteor Deo omnipotenti, beatae Mariae semper Virgini, beato Michaeli Archangelo, beato Joanni Baptistae, sanctis Apostolis Petro et Paulo, omnibus Sanctis, et tibi Pater: quia peccavi nimis cogitatione verbo, et opere: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.




I Confess

I confess to Almighty God, to Blessed Mary ever Virgin, to Blessed Michael the Archangel, to Blessed John the Baptist, to the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the angels and saints, and to You, Father, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.


Then say, Since my last Confession, which was ---ago, I accuse myself of -----. Here name all the sins which you have recalled to mind since your last confession. After you have confessed all your sins say:



For these and all my other sins which I cannot now remember, I am heartily sorry, and humbly ask pardon of God, and Penance and Absolution of you, Father. Continue then with the Confiteor to the end of the prayer:


Confiteor cont.

Ideo precor beatam Mariam semper Virginem, beatum Michaelem Archangelum, beatum Joannem Baptistam, sanctos Apostolos Petrum et Paulum, omnes Sanctos, et te, Pater, orare pro me ad Dominum Deum nostrum.
I Confess cont.

Therefore I beseech blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, all the Saints, and You, Father, to pray to the Lord our God for me.


Then listen attentively and humbly to the direction and advice of your Confessor, and be fully resolved to do whatever he bids you to do, either in the way of penance, or restitution, or reparation, or for the avoiding of sin in the future. While he is giving you Absolution, devoutly bow your head, and with all possible fervor recite the following ACT OF CONTRITION:



O my God, I am heartily 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 because they offend Thee, my God, who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life.



Then follows the Absolution for Confession by the priest.








The Ritual of the Sacrament of Penance
The Form of Absolution


 When the penitent is ready to be absolved, having first enjoined a salutary penance, the Priest says:


Misereatur tui omnipotens Deus, et dimissis peccatis tuis, perducat te ad vitam aeternam. Amen.



May Almighty God have mercy upon thee, and forgive thee thy sins, and bring thee unto life everlasting. Amen.


He then with his right hand raised towards the penitent, says:


Indulgentiam, absolutionem, et remissionem peccatorum tuorum tribuat tibi omnipotens, et misericors Dominus. Amen.
May the Almighty and merciful Lord grant thee pardon, absolution, and forgiveness of thy sins. Amen.
Dominus noster Jesus Christus te absolvat: et ego auctoritate ipsius, te absolve ab omni vinculo excommunicationis (suspensionis,) et interdicti, in quantum possum, et tu indiges. Deinde ego te absolve a peccatis tuis, in nomine Patris, et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.
 May our Lord Jesus Christ absolve thee; and I, by His authority, absolve thee from every bond of excommunication (suspension) and interdict, inasmuch as in my power lieth, and thou standest in need. Finally, I absolve thee from thy sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Passio Domini nostri Jesu Christi, merita beatae Mariae Virginia, et omnium Sanctorum, quidquid boni feceris, et mali sustinueris, sint tibi in remissionem peccatorum, augmentum gratae, et praemium vitae aeternae. Amen.
May the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the merits of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all the Saints, whatsoever thou shalt have done of good and borne of evil, be unto thee for remission of sins, increase of grace, and reward of life everlasting. Amen.


In danger of death, or any grave necessity, this brief form may be used:

Ego te absolvo ab omnibus censuris, et peccatis, in nomine Patris, et Filli, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen
I absolve thee from all censures and sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.