A New Catholic's Guide to Confession (From a New Catholic)

Since coming into the Catholic Church last October, I have grown to LOVE the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Granted, making that first confession was hard because I've never done anything like that before. Even though my apprehension was high ahead of the big day, I knew I was going to feel awesome when I walked out of there (and I did!).

Finding how to do an examination of conscience was a bit tricky. There are a lot of guides around with different approaches, some being better than others. In this video I give you a run-down of the two most common ways you'll find on how to make a good examination of conscience in books on the topic, usually with the ten commandments or with the virtues as a guide.  Another helpful way is with the eight beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount.

Since becoming Catholic, I go to confession often. All the Sacraments are gifts given by Jesus to His Church to help her to be holy.  To sit down face to face with your pastor, bearing your heart to him in his priestly authority just the same as if it were Christ himself, and to know that the penance and absolution you are given stands in heaven for all eternity, while infusing actual grace into your soul . . . how can you not love that?  Hopefully this short video clip will help new Catholics with their first penance.  If you have other ways you do an examination of conscience, please share below.