Lent is the perfect time to go to the sacrament of confession.

?Jesus wants to forgive you and help you change your life.?Here are some tips for before, during, and after confession:

Before Confession

• Take plenty of time beforehand to examine your conscience. Try using an examination from the U.S. bishops that matches your state in life:?children,?young adults,?single people,?married people. Write them down to help you remember.
• Brush up on the?structure of confession?and the?act of contrition. Don't be afraid to print it out or load it on your phone if you might not remember.
• Arrive to the Church on time to ensure that there is enough time for you to confess.

During Confession

• When in the confessional, begin with: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It’s been [X amount of time] since my last confession.”
• Confess your sins to the priest, without any exaggeration or excuses. You especially need to confess the serious sins, or mortal sins. To learn more about mortal sins, check out this video from?Fr. Mike Schmitz.
• It can help to give both your state in life (e.g. single, married, parent) and any context for your sins. This helps the priest to give relevant advice.

After Confession

• Complete the penance that the priest gave you.
• Give thanks to God for His mercy and love.
• Take note of any advice you received and make earnest resolutions to sin no more.

Video?-?Making a Good Confession | Fr. Mike Schmitz | Ascension Presents

Fr. Mike offers four powerful ways we can examine our consciences so that our experience of reconciliation moves us towards that holiness to which we are called.

Video?-?Why Does God Allow Suffering? | Dr. Mark Giszczak

Why would God allow suffering? Professor Mark Giszczak explains the Church's teaching on suffering and how God can bring good out of it.

I shall love You, O Lord, and return thanks to You and exalt Your Name because You have pardoned so many of my guilty acts.

-St. Augustine