Confession - made easy

Step 1 - Confess Your Sins

Priest & You: 
Begin your confession by making the sign of the cross, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

You:
You say...
"Bless me Father for I have sinned. It has been [X] weeks since my last confession. These are my sins..."

• Tell the priest your sins

Priest:
Once you have said your sins, listen to what the priest has to say, and in process the priest will assign you some penance to do. These are usually in the form of prayers to say after confession. The Priest will then forgive your sins, and ask you to say the act of Contrition.


Step 2 - Say The Act Of Contrition

You:
Act of Contrition (O my God)

• O my God, I am very sorry that I have sinned against you; And with your help I will try not to sin again.

Or​​

• ​O my God, I am sorry and beg pardon for all my sins, and detest them above all things, because they deserve Thy dreadful punishments, because they have crucified my loving Saviour Jesus Christ and, most of all, because they offend Thine infinite Goodness. And I firmly resolve, by the help of Thy grace, never to offend Thee again and carefully to avoid the occasions of sin Amen.

Or​​

• ​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 are 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. Amen.”

Or

• O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all-good and worthy of all my love.  And I firmly resolve with the help of Thy Grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin.  Amen.

You:
Once the priest has completed the words of absolution for your sins, confession has completed.
Say... "Thank you, Father."


Step 3 - Doing your Penances
Once you have completed confession, find a quiet spot in the Church to do your penances given to you.
This is only a start to doing your penance.

Don't forget to always do prayers and penances. We can pay now or we can pay later. 
P.S. It is much better to pay now.

"Three conditions are necessary for Penance: contrition, which is sorrow for sin, together with purpose of amendment; confession of sins without any omission; and satisfaction by means of good works." ~ Thomas Aquinas

Common Prayers for Penances

Our Father
Our Father,
Who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.