Reconciliation

 

Confession at St. Peter's

St. Peter Church's Confessional is located in the right-side wall of the church. 

Above the doors of the confessional are red lights.  If the red light is on, it means somebody is in that section of the confessional, if it is not on, you are free to go in the door.

If you go in the door marked "sitting" - your confession will be a seated face-to-face confession with the priest.

If you go in the door marked "kneeling" - your confession will be anonymous, as you will be kneeling and facing a screen as in the image directly below.

Examination of Consciences are available in the back of church to help you prepare or at the links listed to the right.

If you cannot remember the Act of Contrition, do not worry, as the confessional is well lit and there is an act of contrition in each section which you can easily read.
 

Mercy and Grace Await

Jesus told us through a revelation to St. Faustina - "The greater the sinner, the greater their right to my Mercy."  Do not let anything keep you from going to Confession.  Our Lord tells us in the Scriptures (Luke 15) that there is more joy over one repentant sinner than over 99 who have no need of repentance.  He gave us this Sacrament one week after his Resurrection - so important was this avenue of Mercy.  Read John 20:22-23 - In it you will hear that Jesus breathed on his apostles and said "if you forgive the sins of any they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."  It is clear that he gave the Apostles the authority to forgive and thus must have expected other followers to come to them for that Mercy.  The priests and bishops of our Church remain in an unbroken 2000 year line from the Apostles and to this day this grace of Mercy is available to any and all who will go to the Apostles' successors (bishops and priests) for Jesus' free gift of forgiveness. 

To help you prepare, see the links to the left for some helpful resources.  Let Jesus take that weight off of your soul, come to Confession.
 

Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with your whole heart,  and with your whole being, and with your whole strength. Take to heart  these words which I command you today. Keep repeating them to your  children. Recite them when you are at home and when you are away,  when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 6:5-7) 

✠ I am the Lord your God: You shall not have strange gods  before me.  

Have I treated people, events, or things as more important than God? 
✠ You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. 
Have my words, actively or passively, put down my God, my Church,  my neighbors or other people?  

✠ Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.  

Do I go to Mass every Sunday (or Saturday Vigil) and on Holy Days of  Obligation (Jan. 1; Aug. 15; Nov. 1; Dec. 8; Dec. 25)? Do I avoid, when  possible, work that keeps me from worship of God, joy for the Lord’s Day,  and proper relaxation of mind and body? Do I find ways to spend time  with my family or in service to others on Sunday? 

And (Jesus) said to them…”The second is like it: You shall love  your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39) 

✠ Honor your father and your mother.  

Do I show my parents due respect? Do I seek to maintain good  communication with my parents? Do I criticize them for lacking skills  I think they should have?  

✠ You shall not kill.  

Have I harmed another through physical, verbal, or emotional means,  including gossip or manipulation of any kind?  

✠ You shall not commit adultery.  

Have I respected the physical and sexual dignity of others, and of myself? 
✠ You shall not steal.  

Have I taken or wasted time or resources that belonged to another? 
✠ You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 
Have I gossiped, told lies, or embellished stories at the expense of another? 
✠ You shall not covet your neighbor’s spouse.  

Have I honored my spouse with my full affection and exclusive love? 
✠ You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.  

Am I content with my own means and needs, or do I compare myself to  others unnecessarily? 

Examination of Conscience text ©2013 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.