Source: http://cdn.higherthings.org
Preparation Before Confession
The immediate preparation for the Sacrament is to make a prayerful examination of conscience, asking God to help us be aware of how we have offended him and done wrong to our neighbour, and asking him to help us be sincerely sorry for these sins, while trusting in his forgiveness and his power to change us.
At Confession
Priest and Penitent: In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Priest: May God who has enlightened every heart, help you to know your sins and to trust in His mercy.
The priest may then read or say from memory a text of Scripture which proclaims God’s mercy and calls to conversion, before inviting the Penitent to confess their sins.
Penitent: Bless me, Father for I have sinned, it is (…length of time…) since my last Confession. These are my sins: (confesses sins).
The confession of our sins should be sincere, truthful, and complete; naming our sins without going into unnecessary details or excuses, but trustfully laying before God, through his minister the priest, anything that is troubling our conscience.
Priest: (Gives words of advice and encouragement to the Penitent, proposes a suitable penance, and invites the Penitent to make an Act of Contrition.)
Penitent: O my God, I thank you for loving me. I am sorry for all my sins, for not loving others and not loving You. Help me to live like Jesus and not to sin again.
Or
My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Saviour Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.
(or any other Act of Contrition that is familiar)
The Priest gives Absolution:
God the Father of mercies through the death and resurrection of his Son Our Lord Jesus Christ 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 grant 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.
Penitent: Amen.
Priest: Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.
Penitent: And his love endures forever.
Priest: The Lord has freed you from your sins, go in peace.
Or
May the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all the saints, whatever good you do and suffering you endure, heal your sins, help you to grow in holiness, and reward you with eternal life. Go in peace.
Penitent: Thanks be to God.
After Confession
It is good to spend some time in prayer, thanking God for his forgiveness received in the Sacrament, and saying any prayers that were proposed by the priest as a penance. The ‘Our Father’ said slowly and meditatively, is a very good prayer to make after confession.
