A Cleansing Confession
A Cleansing Confession
A Practical Guide
When fellowship with God and each other has been broken by sin, the Church — since its earliest days — provides a way to restoration: the Sacrament of Confession (or, much better, Reconciliation), in which we experience forgiveness from God, unburden the soul, and restore fellowship with God and each other.
Why confession? Because sin separates us from God — our Source of Life, our Salvation, our Everything — and from each other, and even from our true selves. Whatever is in us becomes part of us, and Confession is the process of getting all those sinful impurities out and turning them over to God “who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (I Timothy 2:4).
Three elements form this blessed Mystery: contrition, that we may accept the seriousness of our sins; honesty, that we may make a clear and heartfelt confession to God in the presence of a priest ordained to comfort and guide; and forgiveness, that we may know with full assurance that, by His tender grace, we are truly restored and reconciled to God and to ourselves and to the Body of Christ.
A Few Suggestions
See Confession as a Gift — view the Mystery of Reconciliation as a cleansing, renewing privilege given by God to the Church. Take this gift seriously and keep a grateful attitude because the Lord wants us to know His forgiveness!
Spend Time in Preparation — find a quiet place to be alone; put some effort into preparing. One way to prepare is, when settled, to make the Sign of the Cross, read Psalm 51 (50, in the Orthodox Study Bible). Then, be patient and silent, and ask the Lord to bring to your mind any sins that have hurt yourself, your relationship with others, and your relationship with Him. A thorough confession brings thorough freedom: “Whatever is bound on earth is
bound in heaven, and whatever is loosed on earth is loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18).
Write Down your Confession — long sentences are not necessary, but bringing a list with a word or two for each sin can help you avoid forgetfulness and keep you on track.
Consider Your Relationships — call to mind specific persons (even yourself!) and consider any sins you have committed, or hold, against him or her:
Be Specific — confess acts of sin, not the conditions of sin. For example, rather than confess “stress” or “anger” or “frustration,” confess the specific sins you have committed from feeling stressed or angry or frustrated — it is from those the Lord wants to heal us.
Go Forth in Peace! — depart from the Mystery of Reconciliation with the full assurance of God’s bountiful and long-suffering forgiveness! Feel the joy of the angels over one’s genuine repentance!
Confess Regularly — a general guideline for the frequency of confessing is every four to eight weeks. But, also confess anytime as needed for the unburdening of the soul.
These questions may help with self-reflection.
MY RELATIONSHIP with SELF
Have I mistreated myself? Have I been proud? Have I been vain or ambitious? Do I bear insults or rejection humbly? Have I been sensitive or had my feelings hurt? Am I self centered? Have I envied anyone of anything? Have I been lazy? Have I endured my illnesses with grace? Have I failed to give thanks to God for who He has made me to be? Have I cared for both the body and the soul God has entrusted to me? Have I overeaten? Have I engaged any media that is spiritually or physically damaging? Have I missed church for any reason not worthy of a blessing? Have I been attached to material possessions? Have I been impatient or anxious about anything? Have I dwelt on previous sins?
MY RELATIONSHIP with OTHERS
Have I taken anyone for granted? Have I withheld love or forgiveness from anyone? Have I spoken carelessly or too much? Have I lied? Have I failed to honor the Image of God in everyone I’ve met? Have I neglected anyone poor or in need? Have I failed to share the Gospel of Christ with anyone out of embarrassment? Have I failed an opportunity to share the Orthodox faith with anyone? Have I been respectful of the elderly? Have I quarreled or fought with anyone? Have I mocked or made fun of anyone? Have I been unwilling to rejoice in the blessings of others? Have I ever hoped for bad things to happen to anyone? Have I forsaken anyone in need? Am I stubborn? Do I always try to have my own way? Have I gossiped? Have I lied or been deceptive? Have I desired to punish anyone? Am I at peace with all?
MY RELATIONSHIP with GOD
Have I failed to give thanks to God in all things? Do I pray to God daily? Do I read Holy Scripture and other spiritually nourishing books? Have I rushed my prayers or been distracted in church? Have I been ashamed of my faith? Have I made a show of my piety? Have I kept the Church fasts to the best of my ability? Have I taken the Lord’s name in vain? Have I ever doubted God’s care for me? Do I ask for God’s help before starting every activity? Does my mind wander during church? Have I come to Holy Communion unprepared? Have I tithed or kept my pledge to my church?
A Practical Guide
When fellowship with God and each other has been broken by sin, the Church — since its earliest days — provides a way to restoration: the Sacrament of Confession (or, much better, Reconciliation), in which we experience forgiveness from God, unburden the soul, and restore fellowship with God and each other.
Why confession? Because sin separates us from God — our Source of Life, our Salvation, our Everything — and from each other, and even from our true selves. Whatever is in us becomes part of us, and Confession is the process of getting all those sinful impurities out and turning them over to God “who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (I Timothy 2:4).
Three elements form this blessed Mystery: contrition, that we may accept the seriousness of our sins; honesty, that we may make a clear and heartfelt confession to God in the presence of a priest ordained to comfort and guide; and forgiveness, that we may know with full assurance that, by His tender grace, we are truly restored and reconciled to God and to ourselves and to the Body of Christ.
A Few Suggestions
See Confession as a Gift — view the Mystery of Reconciliation as a cleansing, renewing privilege given by God to the Church. Take this gift seriously and keep a grateful attitude because the Lord wants us to know His forgiveness!
Spend Time in Preparation — find a quiet place to be alone; put some effort into preparing. One way to prepare is, when settled, to make the Sign of the Cross, read Psalm 51 (50, in the Orthodox Study Bible). Then, be patient and silent, and ask the Lord to bring to your mind any sins that have hurt yourself, your relationship with others, and your relationship with Him. A thorough confession brings thorough freedom: “Whatever is bound on earth is
bound in heaven, and whatever is loosed on earth is loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18).
Write Down your Confession — long sentences are not necessary, but bringing a list with a word or two for each sin can help you avoid forgetfulness and keep you on track.
Consider Your Relationships — call to mind specific persons (even yourself!) and consider any sins you have committed, or hold, against him or her:
- self/body
- wife/husband
- child(ren)
- parent(s)
- sister(s)/brother(s)
- relatives
- church members
- acquaintances, co-workers, etc.
- the poor and less fortunate
- humanity and creation
Be Specific — confess acts of sin, not the conditions of sin. For example, rather than confess “stress” or “anger” or “frustration,” confess the specific sins you have committed from feeling stressed or angry or frustrated — it is from those the Lord wants to heal us.
Go Forth in Peace! — depart from the Mystery of Reconciliation with the full assurance of God’s bountiful and long-suffering forgiveness! Feel the joy of the angels over one’s genuine repentance!
Confess Regularly — a general guideline for the frequency of confessing is every four to eight weeks. But, also confess anytime as needed for the unburdening of the soul.
These questions may help with self-reflection.
MY RELATIONSHIP with SELF
Have I mistreated myself? Have I been proud? Have I been vain or ambitious? Do I bear insults or rejection humbly? Have I been sensitive or had my feelings hurt? Am I self centered? Have I envied anyone of anything? Have I been lazy? Have I endured my illnesses with grace? Have I failed to give thanks to God for who He has made me to be? Have I cared for both the body and the soul God has entrusted to me? Have I overeaten? Have I engaged any media that is spiritually or physically damaging? Have I missed church for any reason not worthy of a blessing? Have I been attached to material possessions? Have I been impatient or anxious about anything? Have I dwelt on previous sins?
MY RELATIONSHIP with OTHERS
Have I taken anyone for granted? Have I withheld love or forgiveness from anyone? Have I spoken carelessly or too much? Have I lied? Have I failed to honor the Image of God in everyone I’ve met? Have I neglected anyone poor or in need? Have I failed to share the Gospel of Christ with anyone out of embarrassment? Have I failed an opportunity to share the Orthodox faith with anyone? Have I been respectful of the elderly? Have I quarreled or fought with anyone? Have I mocked or made fun of anyone? Have I been unwilling to rejoice in the blessings of others? Have I ever hoped for bad things to happen to anyone? Have I forsaken anyone in need? Am I stubborn? Do I always try to have my own way? Have I gossiped? Have I lied or been deceptive? Have I desired to punish anyone? Am I at peace with all?
MY RELATIONSHIP with GOD
Have I failed to give thanks to God in all things? Do I pray to God daily? Do I read Holy Scripture and other spiritually nourishing books? Have I rushed my prayers or been distracted in church? Have I been ashamed of my faith? Have I made a show of my piety? Have I kept the Church fasts to the best of my ability? Have I taken the Lord’s name in vain? Have I ever doubted God’s care for me? Do I ask for God’s help before starting every activity? Does my mind wander during church? Have I come to Holy Communion unprepared? Have I tithed or kept my pledge to my church?