The Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine

Auricular Confession

What is Confession?: Confession is the telling of our sins to the priest of God to obtain forgiveness.
What testimony have we that Auricular Confession was practiced in the early Church?: We have the testimony of the Fathers of the Church that Auricular Confession was always practiced in the early Church, for example:

1) Saint John c.101: We confess our sins. He is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from iniquity."
2) Saint Cyprian c.257: "Let each confess his sins, and the satisfaction and remission made through the priest are pleasing before the Lord." "Confession is made with inquiry into the life of him who is doing penance, nor may anyone come to Communion, except the hand shall have been imposed on him by the clergy."

3) Saint Athanasius c.373: "He who confesses in Penance, receives through the priest, by the grace of Christ, the remission of his sins."

4) Saint Ambrose c.397: "The poison is sin; confession is the remedy." "God promised mercy to all and granted his priests permission to loose all without exception."
What must the penitent do to obtain forgiveness?: To obtain forgiveness the penitent must

1) Examine his conscience;

2) Be sorry for his sins;

3) Resolve never more to offend God;

4) Confess his sins to the priest;

5) Perform the penance that the priest imposes.
Q. How can the penitent easily examine his conscience?: The penitent can easily examine his conscience by consulting the Examination of Conscience in his Prayerbook.
What motives may prompt the sinner to true repentance?: The motives that may prompt a sinner to true repentance, are, the Fear of God and the Love of God.
What does the Fear of God do?: A. The Fear of God moves the sinner to turn from sin because he dreads the pains of hell and the loss of heaven. This sorrow is called Imperfect Contrition.
What does the Love of God do?: The Love of God prompts the sinner to return to God because God is infinitely good and deserving of all love. This sorrow is called Perfect Contrition.
May Perfect Contrition remit mortal sin?: Perfect Contrition, united with the resolution of going to confession, remits mortal sin.
Why must the penitent detest sin more than any other evil?: The sinner must detest sin more than any other evil because sin is the greatest evil.
Must the penitent feel his sorrow?: It is not necessary for the penitent to feel his sorrow, because contrition is essentially an act of the will.
How is a soul moved to sorrow for sin?: A soul is moved to sorrow for sin by reflecting on the Shortness of Life, the Certainty of Death, the transient gratification of sin, the Joys of Heaven, the Torments of Hell, the Mercy of God, and the Price of sin paid by the Saviour on the Cross.
In what does the Purpose of Amendment consist?: The Purpose of Amendment consists in a fixed determination to avoid at least all mortal sin and its proximate occasion, and to use the necessary means to persevere in the friendship of God.
What is the Proximate Occasion of sin?: The Proximate Occasion of sin is any person, place or thing, that easily leads us into sin.
What sins must the penitent confess?: The penitent must confess all his mortal sins, their number and the circumstances which change their nature.
If without his fault a person forgets a mortal sin in Confession is it forgiven?: If without his fault a person forgets a mortal sin in Confession, the sin is forgiven, but must be confessed later if it comes to mind.
What sin is it willfully to conceal a mortal sin in Confession?: Willfully to conceal a mortal sin in Confession is a sacrilege, or an abuse of the Sacrament, which renders the confession worthless.
How can a bad confession be remedied?: A bad confession can be remedied only by a General Confession, or the repetition of all the confessions that have been made since the last worthy confession.
Is it well to include some past sins when we have only venial sins to confess?: It is well to include some past sins, for which we are sorry, when we have only venial sins to confess, so that we receive the benefit of Absolution.
What should we do on entering the Confessional?: On entering the Confessional we should kneel, make the Sign of the Cross, and say: Bless me, Father. It is (state length of time) since my last confession. Since then I have (mention the sins). I also include in this confession all my past sins, and especially. ... I humbly ask pardon of God and you, my Spiritual Father.
Has a priest ever revealed the confession of anyone?: No priest has ever revealed the confession of anyone. He is bound to silence, and God watches over this Sacrament of His mercy by His special Providence.
What Penance does a priest give in confession?: As Penance the priest usually prescribes the recitation of some prayers or the performance of some good work.