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Sandhills Catholic

Sandhills CatholicSandhills CatholicSandhills Catholic

Proudly serving Mullen, Thedford, Hyannis

Proudly serving Mullen, Thedford, HyannisProudly serving Mullen, Thedford, HyannisProudly serving Mullen, Thedford, Hyannis

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.


2 Corinthians 5:18

Go to the Examination of Conscience

The Ten Commandments

The Precepts of God's Church

The Ten Commandments

1.  I am the Lord your God: You shall not have strange Gods before Me.

2.  You shall not take the Name of the Lord your God in vain.

3.  Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.

4.  Honor your father and mother.

5.  You shall not kill.

6.  You shall not commit adultery.

7.  You shall not steal.

8.  You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

9.  You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.

10.  You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

>Deuteronomy 5

The Beatitudes

The Precepts of God's Church

The Ten Commandments

-Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
-Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.
-Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted.
-Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
-Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
-Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.
-Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
-Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

>Matthew 5 

The Precepts of God's Church

The Precepts of God's Church

The Precepts of God's Church

1. You shall attend Mass on Sundays and all Holy Days of Obligation (Ex.20, Deut.5, Lev.23:4, Lk.22:29, Heb.10:19-25).

2.You shall go to Confession at least once a year (2Cor.5:18, 1Jn.1:9, Jn.20:21-23). 

3. You shall receive the Eucharist at least in Easter [after Confessing] (Jn.6:51-58, 1Cor.10:16-21). 

4. You shall observe the days of fasting & abstinence (Jl.2:12, Mt.6:16, Acts 13:2 & 14:23). 

5. You shall provide for the needs of the Church [time, talent, treasure] (Mk.12:44, 2Cor.9:6-7, Lk.6:38, Prov.3:9, Deut.15:10, Deut.14:22-23). 


>CCC 2041-2043

What is the Sacrament of Confession?

"Your sins are forgiven, go in peace." -Jesus, Lk7:48-50

The Sacrament of Confession, also known as Penance or Reconciliation, is the Sacrament of God's loving mercy. Since all have sinned, all are in need of forgiveness (Rom.3:23-24). Confession is how God chose to impart His mercy. Literally in Confession we admit our sins to God and the Priest acts as God's mediator. The Priest will hear the Confession, offer some spiritual encouragement, assign the penance, say the words of Absolution, and tell us to 'go in peace;' but it is God who grants the forgiveness. 


The beauty of the Sacrament of Confession is that God is promising to send forth His healing Grace! We all struggle, but a Saint is someone who gets back up (spiritually in Confession) and goes forward with God. Our Father desires for us to encounter His loving mercy, receive healing, and go in peace. Be not afraid to make a Confession, for in this Sacrament, we will encounter Divine Love. 

Some Confession Questions

Do I need to Confess to a Priest?

In short, yes, because this is the pattern Jesus established. John 20:19-23. In the Gospels we see Jesus heal the sick, cure the cripples, and forgive sins. He indeed, as God, has such awesome power. In the Gospels we also see that this great gift of pardoning sin is handed on to the Apostles. It is Christ who established the Sacraments and their minister. Regardless of needing a priest for Confession, it is Jesus who pardons the sin.  The Priest is the instrument for Our Blessed Lord. Could God forgive by going directly to Him, yes; however, this is not the path He chose. In humility (a virtue), we Confess with the minister of the Church. This action of humility unites us to Christ on the Cross and then in HIs Resurrection. 

In John 1:9 we hear, “If we confess our sins he (God) will be faithful and forgive.”  God wants to forgive anything and everything, but we have to be willing to make use of this Sacrament.  If you need help in the Confessional, Father is there to help you. 

How often do I need to go?

The minimal requirement of any Catholic is to make use of Confession once a year (CCC1457). 

It is far more  helpful, efficacious, and loving to go to Confession on a regular basis. Catholics who practice their Faith, are encouraged to make monthly use of the Confessional. The way to fight sin and encounter love is by using this Sacrament. 


If it has been a long time....Just go! Do not be afraid, for God is anxiously waiting for you (Luke 15:11-32). 

What is Penance?

This is a prayer or prayers the Priest will ask you to say after Confession. The prayers of Penance are not a punishment. Although our sins are forgiven, by God through the Sacrament, the effects of our sin are still present in the world. The prayers are given for our Penance not as punishment, but as an attempt on our part to make up for the effects of our sins. 


“Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking Him by prayer and supplications with fasting and sackcloth and ashes” (Dan. 9:3).

“I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” (1 Cor. 9:27).

Are all my sins forgiven?

Yes. So long as we do not intentionally (on purpose) avoid listing a known mortal sin of ours, all the sins are forgiven. This includes the sin that we accidentally forgot. When we go to Confession, the power of the Holy Spirit helps us. Romans 8:26 says, "...Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words." Christ conquers all. 

Pope St. John Paul II

“Confession is an act of honesty and courage – an act of entrusting ourselves, beyond sin, to the mercy of a loving and forgiving God.”

Steps to a good Confession

Examination of Conscience

Examination of Conscience

Examination of Conscience

PRIOR to going to Confession, Catholics should do an examination. This prepares our souls, recollects the conscience, and ensures we make a holy Confession. It helps to formulate a lit of the sins to confess and be absolved of. ALL mortal sins need to be confessed. 

Go to the Confessional

Examination of Conscience

Examination of Conscience

Once the examination is completed, arrive early for Mass. This is a noble practice, especially if we are going to Confession. Locate the confessional and wait for the next turn. Then simply enter and begin the confession. It may help to take your examination & guide with you. 

Pray the Penance

Examination of Conscience

Pray the Penance

After confession, return to a pew. There, be sure to pray the penance that was assigned in the confessional. Penance comes after repentance. The penance prayer is asking for the Grace to make up any temporal punishment incurred because of sin. 

When are Confessions heard?

Confessions in all SHC Parishes are heard 40/30 minutes prior to the Weekend Holy Mass. 

One can also contact Father and easily set up a different time for Confession. 

Contact Page

an Examination of Conscience for Teens & Adults

Download PDF

A Detailed Examination of Conscience & Guide for Adults

Download PDF

"In failing to confess, Lord, I would only hide You from myself, not myself from You."


Saint Augustine

An Examination of Conscience for kids

Download PDF

“We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures, we are the sum of the Father's love for us and our real capacity to become the image of His Son Jesus.”


Pope Saint John Paul II

Tips for making a good Confession

Examination

Your state in life

Your state in life

Make time for a good examination. It can help to make a list. We are only asked to confess mortal sin, however, confessing venial sin helps grow in accepting God's Grace. When making the Confession, try and list the sin with the number of times committed (generally). This clarifies for us personally, where we need to invite God in for greater healing. Be sure to recollect sins of omission too; what we were called to do and did not then go do. 

Your state in life

Your state in life

Your state in life

All of us are called to serve God in various vocations, ways, and means. It is very beneficial to let Father know your state in life. This would include: age, marital status, kids living at home, work etc... 


It will also help if we can recall (roughly) when the last time we went to Confession. 

Accusing the self

Your state in life

How specific do we need to be?

Be sure to Confess sin committed, and not someone else's sin. When we confess we convict ourselves and do not seek to blame others or situations. Excuses are just lies guarded. They have no role in a Confession. By owning the sins we have done, we can freely give them to Jesus and He will cleans us. Have no fear there. Father is not there to judge, but speak the words for healing and Absolution. 

How specific do we need to be?

How specific do we need to be?

How specific do we need to be?

Just be clear and direct. Try and avoid sayings like, "I need to be more nice." This could imply everything from cussing someone out to physically attacking them. It is too hard for any spiritual advice to flow form this or for us to truly own the sin and so be free to give it to Jesus. We do not need to list names of others persons involved, if there were any, but be clear on the sin committed. Know that Jesus is there to forgive, not condemn in this Sacrament. 

An act of Contrition

How specific do we need to be?

An act of Contrition

Father will ask you to pray an Act of Contrition. It helps to learn one, but do not panic or avoid Confession if one is not known. Acts of Confession are posted in all SHC Confessionals, are on the bottom of the examinations, and can even be made up by the penitent. Father is also happy to help if needed. DOn't be afraid to enlist his service, that is why he is there. 

Want to be free?

How specific do we need to be?

An act of Contrition

If you desire to be set free from the yoke of sin and enjoy the life of Grace, go to Confession. Go often. Jesus is waiting for you. 


Repeat and frequent Confession helps us live in the freedom Jesus so desires for us (Gal.5:1). 


Go and encounter Divine Love! 

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow about His promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you,

 not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

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