Confiteor

Confiteor helps you prepare for the Sacrament of Penance with a guided examination of conscience. Before you go to confession, the Church asks you to examine your conscience in the light of God’s Word, using the Gospel’s moral teaching and apostolic guidance as a true “light for our path.”

Confiteor also helps you do this in a prayerful way: before starting, you ask God to give you light to know your sins and grace to hate them and turn away from them.

A careful examination is meant to recall sins since your last good confession, not just every small detail. It supports a truthful, well-formed conscience and helps you reflect on your thoughts, words, and actions.

Confiteor does not replace confession. It is only a preparation tool. When you are ready to be reconciled, you should confess all the unconfessed grave sins you remember after making a careful examination. Confessing serious sins is the normal way to receive forgiveness. Venial faults are not required, but confessing them is strongly recommended.