The Sacrament of Reconciliation or Penance was instituted by Jesus, the physician of our souls and bodies, who forgave the sins of the paralytic and willed that his Church continue, in the power of the Holy Spirit, His work of healing and salvation. Jesus has willed that the life and actions of his Church be a sign and instrument of forgiveness and reconciliation.

At Saint Clare children are prepared to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time when they reach the fourth grade. They are prepared through a special program and must already be attending religious education classes or attending Catholic grade school. Older children may be prepared separately from the fourth graders. For further information, please contact the Religious Education Office.

The First Form is the preferred method of reconciliation that enables the penitent to have a personal conversation with the priest.  This dialogue enables the Sacrament to be more fully realized as spiritual healing.  Priests are trained to be understanding as they represent Christ's forgiving presence.

First Form: Private Confession

1. The penitent should prepare to receive the Sacrament of Penance with a careful Examination of Conscience, recalling the Commandments of God, the Precepts of the Church and the duties of a particular state of life. Silent Reflection should be accompanied by prayer, especially to the Holy Spirit, and Scripture reading. One should recall and regret all of the sins committed since the last Confession.
   
2. After the penitent has recalled all of the sins to be confessed and mentally expressed genuine sorrow for them, the confessional or other place set aside for the celebration of the Sacrament is entered.
   
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 time since the last confession and confesses the sins recalled during the examination of conscience, including all mortal sins.
   
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 work. The penitent accepts the penance.
   
6. The penitent expresses sorrow for sin in his or her own words, or by saying an Act of Contrition, or by saying short psalm of sorrow.
   
7. The priest then gives absolution saying:
   "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."
   The priest then says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
   
9. The penitent replies, "His mercy endures forever."
   
10. The penitent is then dismissed by the priest in the peace of Christ.
    
    

This third form is to be used only in cases of emergencies or in cases where people would have to wait a long time to receive the sacrament. These conditions do not normally exist in the United States.

The priest has the main responsibility for this form of penance. Time permitting, each penitent should make an examination of conscience and be sorry for all the sins committed.

The priest absolves everyone.

Each person who has received general absolution must confess all mortal sins individually to a priest at the next opportunity.

In normal circumstances, Catholic should not make use of this form of the sacrament. However, the Church allows the use of this form in extraordinary circumstances so that no one would be deprived of the mercy of God.