Confess our Sins

Sins separates us from God. Through confessing, we are assuming responsibility for our actions and not blaming our actions on others. Confession is a commandment of God, anyone who has sinned is obligated to confess in order to receive forgiveness of his sins and achieve salvation. By not confessing his/her sins, a person will never experience peace because he will never be drawn near to God due the weight of guilt in him/her. Therefore, Christians (Catholics/Orthodox) who has sinned is obliged to sincerely declare the sins he/her has committed without shame and reservation, but with self-reproach, contrition, and true repentance, to a priest who has been empowered by the Church to forgive sins.

Numbers 5:6-7

Any man or woman who wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the Lord is guilty and must confess the sin they have committed.

1 John 1:8-9

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Romans 14:11-12

11 It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,

‘every knee will bow before me;

every tongue will acknowledge God.’”

12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

James 5:16

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

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 occasion of sin.

Amen.

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.

Amen.