Introduction To Confession

A religious confession is the acknowledgment of one’s sins and is usually accompanied by repentance. In the Roman Catholic Church, Christians confess sins that were committed after baptism, which are absolved by a priest. The confession in the Roman Cathol ic Church takes place in a confession booth or a reconciliation room. As Catholics, there are some basic requirements that should be met before, during and after confession to increase your chance of being forgiven

Evaluation of sin with reference to the 10 commandments

1. You shall not have any gods apart from me, the Lord your God

   Do you love any other god apart from God the Most High King? How often do you pray? Have you substituted your relationship with God with other things?

2. Do not worship idols

   Have you worshiped any other object, animal, force or human being apart from the true God?

3. Do not mention the name of God in vain

   Have you misused the name of God by making false promises or taking a false oath either in a court of law or in any oth er situation? Have you used the name of God as a curse out of anger, frustration, amazement or disappointment?

4. Honor the Sabbath day and keep it holy

   Have you deliberately misused theSabbath day by engaging in sinful activities? Have you deliberately missed the Holy Mass on the Sabbath day from Saturday evening through Sunday? Have you failed to attend any holy Mass held during the Holy Day of Obligation or any other important holidayin the liturgical calendar such as Ascension Thursday, Christmas, Easter Sunday and Mary the Mother of God?

5. Respect your parents so that your days on earth may be increased

   Have you recently disobeyed your parents? Have you done unto them, anything that seems disrespectful or goes against the will of God?

6. Thou shall not kill

   Have you had an abortion or advised someone to have one? Are you destroying yourself by abusing illegal drugs? Have you sterilized yourself or encouraged anyone to do it? Do you hold agrudge or anger against anyone? Have you used contraceptives for abortion or encouraged anyone to do so? Have you killed anyone?

7. Thou shall not commit adultery

   Have you had sex with anyone against the teachings of God? Have you had sex with yourself through masturbation or any other bodily sexual simulation? Do you watch pornographic materials, dress indecently or entertain impure thoughts?

8. Thou shall not steal

   Have you taken anything whether forcefully or not, that does not belong to you? Do you gamble excessively?

9. Thou shall not bear false witness against your neighbor

   Have you lied against anyone? Have you been announcing the faults of others? Do you gossip about others? Do you reveal confidential information to a second party

10. Do not envy your neighbor’s wife and goods

    Are you envious or jealous of others? Have you ever wished bad luck to others so that you may gain whatever God has blessed them with? Do you put down others?