The Method of Confession

I. HE penitent kneeling down at the side of his ghostly father, makes the sign of the cross, and asks his blessing, Pray father, give me your blessing, for I have sinned. Then he says the Confiteor in Latin, or in English, as far as med up &c., through my fault, &c.

2. After this he accuses himself of his sins, either according to the order of God’s commandments, or such other order as he finds most helpful to his memory adding after each sin the number of times that he has been guilty of it, and such circumstances as may very considerably aggravate the guilt; but carefully abstaining from such as are impertinent or unnecessary, and from excuses and long narrations.

3. After he has confessed all that he can remember, he may conclude with this or the like form: For these and all other my sins which I cannot at this present call t The Method of my remembrance, I am heartily sorry; purpose amendment for the future; most humbly ask pardon of God, and penance and absolution of you my ghostly father: and so he may finish his Confiteor, and then give attentive ear to the instructions and advices of his confessor, and humbly accept of the penance enjoin’d by him.

4. Whilst the priest gives him absolution, let him bow down his head, and with great humility call upon God for mercy; and beg of him that he would be pleased to pronounce the sentence of absolution in heaven, whilst his minister absolves him here upon earth.

5. After confession let the penitent return to his prayers; and after having heartily given God thanks for having admitted him by the means of this sacrament to the grace of reconciliation, and received him like the prodigal child returning home, let him make an offering of his confession to Jesus Christ, begging pardon for whatever defects he may have been guilty of in it; offering up his resolutions to his Saviour, and begging grace that he may put them in execution.

6. Let him be careful to perform his penance _ in due time, and in a penitential spirit.

A Protestation

Recommended by St. Francis de Sales, to be Made by the Penitent in Presence of His Director, by Way of Engraving in His Soul a Firm Resolution of Serving God

I N. N. placed in the presence of the eternal God, and of all the court of heaven, having considered the exceeding mercy of his divine goodness towards me a most unworthy and wretched creature, whom he has made out of nothing, preserved, maintained, and delivered from so many dangers, and loaded with so many benefits; but above all, having considered the incomprehensible sweetness and clemency with which this most good God has so graciously spared me in my iniquities, so frequently called upon me, inviting me to amendment, and so patiently expected my repentance and conversion until this present time, notwithstanding all my ingratitude, disloyalty and infidelity, whereby, deferring my conversion, and despising his graces, I have so unadvisedly offended him: having moreover considered that, upon the day of my holy baptism, I was so happily and holily vowed and dedicated to my God to be his child; and that contrary to the profession then made in my name, I have, so many times, so execrably and detestably profaned and violated all the powers of my soul and senses of my body, applying and employing them against his divine majesty: at length returning to myself, prostrate in heart and mind before the throne of the divine justice, I acknowledge, confess and avow myself lawfully attainted and convicted of high treason against his divine majesty, and guilty of the death and Passion of Jesus Christ, by reason of the sins I have committed, for which he died, and suffered the torments of the cross so that consequently I am worthy to be cast away and damned for ever.

2. But turning myself towards the throne of the infinite mercy of the same eternal God, having detested from the bottom of my heart, and with all my power, the many transgressions of my past life; I most humbly beg and crave pardon, grace and mercy, with an entire absolution from my offences, by virtue of the death and Passion of the same Saviour and Redeemer of my soul: on which relying, as on the only foundation of my hope, I confirm again and renew the sacred profession of my allegiance made in my behalf to God at my baptism; renouncing the devil, the world and the flesh; abominating their horrible suggestions, vanities and concupiscences, for all the time of this present life, and for all eternity. And converting myself unto my most gracious and merciful God, I desire, deliberate, purpose and resolve irrevocably to serve and love him now and for ever. And, to this end, I give and consecrate to him my spirit with all its faculties, my soul with all its powers, my heart with all its affections, and my body with all its senses; protesting that I will never more abuse any part of my being against his divine will and soveraign majesty; to whom I offer up and sacrifice myself in spirit, to be perpetually a loyal, obedient and faithful creature, without ever unsaying, revoking, or repenting me of this resolution.

3. But if, alas! by the suggestion of the enemy, or through human frailty, I chance to transgress in anything whatsoever, this my purpose and resolution; I protest and determine from this very hour, by the assistance of the Holy Ghost, to rise again as soon as I shall perceive my fall, and to return anew to the divine mercy without any delay or protraction whatsoever. ‘This is my will, intention and resolution, inviolable and irrevocable, which I profess and confirm without reservation or exception, in the same sacred presence of my God, and in the sight of the whol triumphant Church, and in the face of thi Church militant my mother, who hears thi my declaration in the person of him, who, as her officer, hears me in this action.

4. May it please thee, O my eternal God, almighty and gracious, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to confirm me in this my resolution, and to accept this inward sacrifice of my heart, in the odour of sweetness. And as it has pleased thee to give me the inspiration and will to do this; so grant me power and grace to perform it. O my God, thou art my God, the God of my heart, the God of my soul, and the God of my spirit:: so I acknowledge and adore thee now and for ever.

Live O Jesu.