• Go to the priest and begin with the Sign of the Cross.

Pilgrim confessional from Santiago de Compostela in Spain

• The priest will say: “May God, who has enlightened every heart, help you to know your sins and trust in his mercy,” or similar words taken from Scripture.
• You answer: “Amen.”
• Then you say: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been X weeks/ months/years since my last confession.”
• “These are my sins…” Confess your sins.
• You may conclude by saying: “For these and all my sins, I am sorry.”
• Listen to the priest for whatever counsel he may judge appropriate. If you have any question whether something is a sin, feel free to ask him.
• Then the priest will assign you a penance.

Act of Contrition
• Pray the Act of Contrition

“O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins because of your just punishments, but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.”

• Listen as the priest absolves you of your sins. If you forget to confess a mortal sin, you are still forgiven, but must mention it the next time you go to confession.
• The priest will then grant you Absolution as he says:

God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to Himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

• You say: “Amen.”
• The priest may say: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.”
• You say: “His mercy endures forever!”
• Priest: “Go in peace.”

Do the penance the priest assigns you.