How-To Guides
How to Go to Confession
By Find My Prayers · Published August 4, 2026
Confession follows a fixed, learnable structure: a greeting, the Sign of the Cross, confessing your sins, a short talk with the priest, an Act of Contrition, absolution, and a penance to complete afterward. Most confessions take five to ten minutes, nothing you say can be repeated by the priest under any circumstance, and you can go with no preparation beyond an honest look at your own conscience — no special vocabulary or memorized formula is required to walk in and be understood.
Before You Go: An Examination of Conscience
Preparing for confession means spending a few quiet minutes honestly reviewing your actions, words, and omissions since your last confession — often guided by a structured list of questions organized around the Ten Commandments or the seven deadly sins, widely available as a printed "examination of conscience." You don't need a complete inventory or precise theological language; a simple, honest list is enough. If it's been a long time since your last confession, or you're going for the first time, it's completely normal to say so — priests hear this often and will guide you through it. Some people find it helpful to jot a short list on paper beforehand, especially the first few times, simply as a memory aid rather than a script to read verbatim.
Why Confess to a Priest
Catholics believe Jesus gave the apostles the authority to forgive sins in his name — described in John's Gospel as Jesus breathing on the apostles and saying, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them." The Sacrament of Confession (also called Reconciliation or Penance) continues that authority through priests today: the priest acts in the person of Christ, so confession isn't simply a private conversation but a formal encounter with God's forgiveness, mediated through the Church rather than a purely private matter between an individual and God alone.
Entering the Confessional
Most parishes offer both a traditional confessional (an enclosed booth with a screen, allowing anonymity) and face-to-face confession in a reconciliation room — either is equally valid, and you can request whichever you're more comfortable with. You'll typically begin with the Sign of the Cross and the greeting: "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [amount of time] since my last confession." From there, you simply confess your sins as you prepared them.
What to Say
State your sins plainly and specifically enough to be understood, without needing excessive detail or self-justification — "I lost my temper and yelled at my spouse" is sufficient; a blow-by-blow account isn't necessary. There's no required order or format beyond honesty. If you're unsure whether something counts as a sin worth mentioning, mention it anyway and let the priest guide you — this is a normal part of what confession is for, not a test you can fail by asking. It's also fine to briefly explain context or a pattern you're struggling with, rather than listing isolated incidents with no thread between them, if that helps the priest offer useful guidance.
The Priest's Response and the Act of Contrition
After you finish, the priest will typically offer a short reflection or practical guidance, then ask you to make an Act of Contrition — a short prayer expressing sorrow for sin and a resolution to avoid it, such as: "O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more, and to avoid the near occasions of sin." A shorter, sincere version in your own words is also acceptable if you don't have it memorized — what matters is genuine sorrow, not the exact wording.
Absolution and Penance
The priest then prays the prayer of absolution over you, formally forgiving your sins in the name of the Church, usually while extending his hand or making the Sign of the Cross. Before or after this, he'll assign a penance — typically a short prayer or set of prayers, occasionally a concrete act (like making amends with someone) — meant to be completed afterward, not during the confession itself. The confession then closes, often with "Go in peace," and you're free to leave.
After Confession
Complete your assigned penance as soon as is reasonably convenient — there's no strict deadline, but leaving it indefinitely defeats its purpose. Many people find it helpful to spend a few minutes in the pew afterward in quiet prayer or thanksgiving, though this isn't required. If you're returning after a long absence, going more regularly afterward — monthly is common — tends to make each individual confession feel less daunting than an infrequent, high-stakes event. A single decade of the Rosary is a common choice for a personal thanksgiving afterward, though it isn't required unless it was specifically assigned as the penance.
Common Questions and Concerns
The seal of confession is absolute: a priest can never reveal anything said in confession, under any circumstance, including to civil authorities — this is one of the most strictly protected obligations in Church law. Nervousness before a first confession, or a first one after years away, is extremely common and won't surprise or bother the priest. If you forget a sin you intended to confess, it's still forgiven along with the rest — you can mention it next time if it continues to weigh on you, but there's no need to interrupt or restart. It's also common to feel that a particular sin is too serious or embarrassing to say aloud; priests hear the same handful of struggles repeatedly across many different penitents, and nothing said in the confessional is unfamiliar or shocking to someone who hears confessions regularly.
Finding a Time to Go
Most parishes list scheduled confession times — often Saturday afternoon, before or after a weekday Mass, or a dedicated evening slot — on their website or bulletin, typically without needing an appointment; you simply arrive and wait your turn if others are ahead of you. Many parishes will also arrange a one-on-one time with a priest on request if the regular schedule doesn't work, particularly for a first confession or one after a long absence, where a little more time and explanation is often welcome. Confession is also heard on request after most weekday Masses in many parishes, which can be a quieter, less crowded option than the main Saturday slot.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does confession take?
Most confessions take five to ten minutes; a first confession or one after a long absence may take a little longer as the priest walks you through it.
Can the priest tell anyone what I confess?
No — the seal of confession is absolute and applies in every circumstance, with no exceptions, including to civil authorities.
What if I forget a sin?
It's still forgiven along with everything else you confessed; there's no need to interrupt the confession or return immediately to add it.
Do I have to go behind a screen?
No — most parishes offer both an anonymous, screened confessional and face-to-face confession in a reconciliation room; you can choose whichever you prefer.
How often should I go to confession?
The Church requires confession at least once a year if you're aware of serious sin, but many Catholics go more often, commonly monthly, as an ongoing practice rather than only when something serious has happened.