May the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all the saints, whatever good you do and suffering you endure, heal your sins, help you grow in holiness, and reward you with eternal life. Go in pease. -- Rite of Penance, no. 93 Preparation: Before going to confession, take some time to prepare. Begin with prayer and reflect on your life since your last confession. How have you - in your thoughts, words and actions - neglected to live Christ's commands to "love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your Mind," and to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Mt. 22:37,39)? As a help with this "examination of conscience", you might review the Ten Commandments or the Beatitudes.
Greeting: The priest will welcome you; he may say a short blessing or read a scripture.
The Sign of the Cross: Together you and the priest will make the Sign of the Cross. You may then begin your confession with these or similar words: "Bless me Father, for I have sinned. It has been (give days, months, years) since my last confession."
Confession: Confess all your sins to the priest. If you are unsure what to say, ask the priest for help. When you are finished, conclude with these or similar words: "I am sorry for these and all my sins".
Penance: The priest will propose an act of penance. The penance might be a prayer, a work of mercy, or an act of charity. He might also counsel you on how to better live a Christian life.
Act of Contrition: After the priest has conferred your penance, pray an Act of Contrition, expressing sorrow for your sins and resolving to sin no more.
My God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of your grace to confess my sins, do penance and to amend my life. Amen
Absolution: The priest will extend his hands over your head and pronounce the words of absolution. You respond, "Amen".
Praise: The priest will usually praise the mercy of God and will invite you to do the same. For example, the priest may say, "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good". Your response would be, "His mercy endures forever". (Rite of Penance, no. 47)
Dismissal: The priest will conclude the sacrament, often saying, "Go in Peace." Thank him as you leave.