How to Go to Confession

Get help on going to confession or understand more about the sacrament with these helpful resources

Confession is the Sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins committed after baptism. Through the Sacraments Christ continues his healing and life-giving ministry in the Church.

Confession is a sacrament that goes by many names:

• We call it the Sacrament of Reconciliation because it is the means Christ has left us to be reconciled with God and his Church.

• It is the Sacrament of Penance because it involves a turning back to God and away from our selfishness.

• It is called Confession because in this sacrament we confess or ‘speak forth’ our sins.

• It is also fittingly called the Sacrament of Pardon and Peace, because in this Sacrament God does what we cannot do: he forgives our sins and brings peace to our souls.

Our Best Guides to Confession

How to Go to Confession

This quick but helpful guide has everything you need to make a good confession, breaking down the essential elements of a good confession and explaining step by step how to go to confession.

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Daily Examination of Conscience

Make a brief examination of conscience before going to bed at night. Two or three minutes will suffice.

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Examination of Conscience

Examine your conscience before Confession with this helpful Examination of Conscience.

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Why is Confession Important?

Why do I need to go to Confession?

Have you ever wondered why you need to go to confession, or why you can't just confess your sins directly to God without needing to confess to a priest? Here are answers to some of the most common questions about the Sacrament of Penance.

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Why did Jesus institute a sacrament for the forgiveness of sins?

People who find it difficult to go to confession and non-Catholics often ask: "Why do we have to go to confession? Why can't we just go directly to God?" The answer is that Jesus instituted the sacrament because He knew human nature and He knew we would need it. Here are four reasons why.

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