"Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained” (Jn 20:23). Jesus gave his Apostles and their sucessors the power to forgive sins. Confession is the sacrament by which sins committed after baptism are forgiven by a priest, who stands in the place of Christ.
This sacrament is a priviledged encounter with the mercy of God who is so overabundantly forgiving that He will forgive any sin, give the grace of repentance, and the strength to walk anew in communion with Him.
One prepares for Confession by an examination of conscience, which is a sincere effort to call to mind the sins we have committed since our last confession. An examination of conscience also allows us to see how God's grace has been at work in our lives and how we might be more open and cooperative to His promptings.
Click on the documents below for more information on how to prepare for Confession.