Confession & Conversion

How to make a good Confession, how to come back when you have been away, and how to do battle with the predominant fault.

Adveniat regnum tuum. The kingdom of God comes whenever a soul returns to the truth about itself. Confession is not the wreckage of the spiritual life — it is its hinge. Frequent Confession (every two to four weeks) keeps the soul honest, pries off the small lies before they harden, and supplies grace for the next stretch of the road. If it has been long, this collection will help you come home.

Before Confession

How to examine, what to say, and how to be honest without theatre.

How to Make a Good Confession The sacrament of mercy — preparation, confession, and after Examination of Conscience 5 min Confession 10 min

In the Rite

The Act of Contrition — and the brief Compline confession when sacramental confession is not at hand.

Act of Contrition 2 min Act of Contrition 1 min Confession 1 min

Returning to the Sacrament

If it has been months, years, decades — the steps back, written for souls who feel they cannot.

Returning to Confession After a Long Time For the Catholic who has not been in years — and the Father who is running toward you The Predominant Fault Naming the one passion that stands between you and God The First Mass Back On returning after a long absence The First Year After Reception What no one warned the convert about

The Capital Sins & Their Virtues

Pride / humility, envy / generosity, anger / meekness, sloth / diligence, avarice / liberality, gluttony / temperance, lust / chastity. Knowing the seven sins is knowing the seven battlegrounds.

The Capital Sins and Opposing Virtues Seven roots of sin — and the remedies that uproot them Litany of Humility 5 min

Penitential Psalms

The psalms the Church has always put on the lips of the penitent.

Psalm 50 (Miserere) 4 min De Profundis (Psalm 130) 1 min The Seven Penitential Psalms 20 min