Make Confession consciousness of your sins

I have been going to Confession regularly since I was 15. When I was that teenager, persons in my life thought I was a goody two-shoes for doing so. “Oh, you think you’re so holy because you go to Confession all the time?” 

Um, no. The exact opposite. I’m so unholy. I’m a sinner. I have sins to confess which stand in the way of my becoming holy some day. I should have asked them: “Do you think you’re so holy that you don’t need Confession?” But then I would’ve had to confess that. 

Is it hard to go to Confession? For most people, yes, and we may never get over the discomfort. Deal with it. People freely engage in all kinds of things that are way more uncomfortable that Confession, like extreme sports and childbirth. Consider the discomfort a pre-penance. Our palms start sweating, our heart starts racing, our throat goes dry. We feel embarrassed, ridiculous, ugly and guilty—because that’s what sin does to us. But remember, you are not your sin. You are still a precious child of God, a man or woman of God who needs to get cleaned up and back on the right track, the narrow road. Remember: Satan makes us bold in sinning and timid in confessing. He encourages us to sin, then mocks us for having done his bidding. He lures us to presumption before we sin--despair afterwards.

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Frankly, I have never been able to understand why people stay away from Confession. It’s free, readily available (you can even accost a priest on the street if need be). Do you really want to carry that load? Do you want to have sins (big or small) piling up throughout your life? And most of all, do you want to go into eternity with all that gunk? Not me. 

If I’m stupid enough to sin, I can at least be smart enough to get rid of my sins and start over as soon as possible. One of the best parts of Confession is that we receive sacramental grace to strengthen us not to commit sin in the future. 

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You can always choose to be anonymous in Confession. Find a church with a traditional confessional or a set-up that allows for either anonymity or face-to-face. And don’t worry, the priest has heard it all. Even the young priests. Was one particular priest stern with you in Confession and made you feel worse? That’s just one particular priest. Move on. The Sacrament itself will make you feel light as a feather. Keep your eyes on the prize. I would endure just about anything to get that absolution. 

Did you forget how to go to Confession? It’s very simple. You can look it up online, or just ask the priest to prompt you. 

1. Ahead of time: Examine your conscience. If you’re not sure how to examine your conscience, there are helpful guides and questions online. (I always write down my sordid list of iniquities and bring it into the box with me). Repent and be truly sorry for having offended our good God. 
2. Confess your sins. 3. Father will give some advice and a penance. 
3. Make an Act of Contrition (which includes a firm resolution to “sin no more”). 4. The priest will absolve you of your sins. 
4. Make sure to do your penance as soon as possible (it’s part of the absolution). 

We are all broken in one way or another, and our brokenness leads us to sin in one way or another. St. Paul says: “Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ,” which, of course, is true. God loves everyone, even the greatest sinner. An exorcist recently said, “God loves everyone, but He’s not pleased with everyone…if we insist on sinning.” Fact: God loves me. TBD (to be determined): Do I love God?

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The one thing that can separate us from friendship with God (aka being in a “state of grace”) is sin. Let’s get rid of it using the simple means God gave us: Confession. “Let us rid ourselves of every encumbrance of sin that clings to us, and persevere in running the race that lies before us.” (Hebrews 12:1)

Going to Confession or not during our lives may be a matter of salvation. That’s why the Sacrament of Reconciliation is incorporated into the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick/Last Rites. But goodness, that’s quite a gamble to wait until we’re unconscious.

(Sr. Helena Raphael Burns, FSP, is a Daughter of St. Paul. She holds a Masters in Media Literacy Education and studied screenwriting at UCLA. HellBurns.com Twitter: @srhelenaburns #medianuns)

A version of this article appeared in the September 27, 2026 issue of The Catholic Register with the headline "Make Confession consciousness of your sins".