Catholic Student Center at USF

The Sacrament of Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Reconciliation, or Penance, can be scheduled at any time convenient for you. Please keep in mind that the Sacraments cannot be celebrated from Holy Thursday night until Holy Saturday night.

You can speak with Fr. Alan after Sunday Liturgy, call the Office at 988-3727 or make a request by email for an appointment.

The Order of the Sacramental Celebration

1. The penitent should prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation by making a careful Examination of Conscience, recalling the Commandments of God, the Precepts of the Church and the Church's moral teaching. It is appropriate to spend some time in silent reflection and prayer, asking the Holy Spirit's guidance in recalling and repenting of those sins committed since one's last Confession. A format for an Examination of Conscience is available on the "Spirituality & Prayer" page of this site.

2. After the penitent has recalled all of the sins to be confessed and mentally expressed genuine sorrow for them, the penitent goes to meet the priest for the celebration of the sacrament.

3. After being welcomed by the priest, the penitent makes the sign of the cross saying: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

4. The priest may read a short Scripture passage, then the penitent states the length of time since the last confession and confesses the sins recalled during the examination of conscience.

5. After the sins are confessed, the priest counsels the penitent and asks the penitent to do a penance, usually some prayers or a charitable act. The penance is meant to be reparation for the offense caused to others by one's sins.

6. The penitent expresses sorrow for sin in her or his own words, or by saying an Act of Contrition, or by saying short psalm of sorrow. The following is a typical form of the Act of Contrition:
   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 Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In His name, my God, have mercy.

7. The priest then prays the prayer below, called "Absolution." The word "absolution" means "washing." The Sacrament of Reconciliation renews the innocence of Baptism, in which one was washed clean of sin.
   "God the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son 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 give 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."

8. The penitent replies, "Amen."

9. The priest then says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good."

10. The penitent replies, "His mercy endures forever."

11. The penitent is then dismissed by the priest, to go in the peace of Christ.

Seasonal Penance Services

At least twice a year, during Advent and Lent, there is a Communal Penance Service held at The Catholic Center. Dates for these Penance Services can be found on the Liturgy Schedule. The format of a communal penance service differs from the above form of private confession only in that the greeting, reading of scripture, and praying an Act of Contrition is done communally. After this brief prayer service, there is time for the private confession of sins.