Reconciliation

Confession at St. Ignatius, and how to make a good confession.

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 20:21-23

"Why can't I just confess my sins to God?" One of the most surprising truths about God is that He shares what is properly His with human beings. He worked through Moses to free Israel from slavery, through the prophets to proclaim His word, and in confession He works through priests to forgive our sins. St. Paul calls himself a steward of the mysteries of God (1 Corinthians 4:1) and says God gave him the "ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18). Jesus gave the apostles authority to forgive sins, and that gift has been alive in the Church ever since.

Confessing our sins aloud to another person is good for us. Pride is mankind's chief sin, and confession is humbling, which is a good thing. And there is great grace and joy in hearing a priest pray the words of mercy: "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."

Confession at St. Ignatius

Monday to Friday: 11:15 to 11:45 a.m.before the noon Mass
Thursday: 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.during the Holy Hour
Saturday: 4:15 to 4:45 p.m.before the 5:00 p.m. Mass

Or make an appointment with a priest by calling the parish office.

Preparing children

Under the Archdiocese of Denver's restored order, children make their First Confession at about seven, the traditional "age of reason," and prepare during second grade. Older children who missed it prepare in a class designed to bring them into the sequence. A child must be baptized to receive this sacrament. Families prepare through Family Catechesis; contact Br. Michael Paul at family@loyoladenver.org.

How to go to confession

Examination of conscience

Before you go, recall your sins. Prayerfully ask yourself what you have done, with full knowledge and full consent, against the commandments of God and the Church. Ask God's help, tell Him you are sorry, and resolve not to sin again. These questions can help:

Do I pray to God every day? Have I thanked God for his gifts to me?
Did I put my faith in danger through reading contrary to Catholic teaching or involvement in non-Catholic sects? Did I engage in superstition, palm reading or fortune-telling?
Did I take the name of God in vain? Did I curse or take a false oath?
Did I miss Mass on Sundays or holy days through my own fault? Am I attentive at Mass? Did I keep the fast and abstinence on the prescribed days?
Did I disobey my parents or lawful superiors in important matters?
Did I hate or quarrel with anyone, or desire revenge? Did I refuse to forgive? Was I disrespectful?
Did I get drunk? Did I take illicit drugs?
Did I consent to, recommend, advise or take part in an abortion?
Did I willfully look at pornography, entertain impure thoughts, or engage in impure conversations or actions? Did I use artificial means to prevent conception?
Was I unfaithful to my spouse? Did I engage in sexual activity outside of marriage?
Did I steal or damage another's property? Have I been honest and just in my business dealings?
Have I been responsive to the needs of the poor and respected the dignity of others?
Did I tell lies? Did I sin by calumny or detraction? Did I judge others rashly in serious matters?
Have I envied other people?

The rite

The priest greets you and may share a brief passage of Scripture.
Make the Sign of the Cross and say, "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. My last confession was …" (weeks, months or years).
Confess your sins. If you are unsure how, or feel uneasy, just ask the priest to help you. Place your trust in God, a merciful Father who wants to forgive you.
When you've finished, say, "I am sorry for these and all of my sins."
The priest gives you a penance and some advice.
Pray an Act of Contrition. The priest, acting in the person of Christ, then absolves you of your sins.

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, 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 you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

The Sacrament of Penance is God's gift so that any sin committed after Baptism can be forgiven. In it we place ourselves in His presence, honestly acknowledge our sins, and are reconciled to God and the Church. "In him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28).