20 Tips for a Good Confession

I just came across this great post on Father Z.'s blog, "What Does the Prayer Really Say?" (http://wdtprs.com/blog/fr-zs-20-tips-for-making-a-good-confession/) (I am unsure how to do hyper-links!) It is Father Z.'s 20 tips to making a good confession. Since I only care enough "borrow the very best", and since we both have as the aim of our mission the salvation of souls, and since confession is one of the sacraments given by Christ for this very reason, I happily repost his great list here.

God love you!

Fr. Z’s 20 Tips for
Making a Good Confession o{]:¬)

We should…
1) ...examine our consciences regularly and thoroughly;
2) ...wait our turn in line patiently;
3) ...come at the time confessions are scheduled, not a few minutes before they are to end;
4) ...speak distinctly but never so loudly that we might be overheard;
5) ...state our sins clearly and briefly without rambling;
6) ...confess all mortal sins in number and kind;
7) ...listen carefully to the advice the priest gives;
8) ...confess our own sins and not someone else’s;
9) ...carefully listen to and remember the penance and be sure to understand it;
10) ...use a regular formula for confession so that it is familiar and comfortable;
11) ...never be afraid to say something "embarrassing"... just say it;
12) ...never worry that the priest thinks we are jerks…. he is usually impressed by our courage;
13) ...never fear that the priest will not keep our confession secret… he is bound by the Seal;
14) ...never confess "tendencies" or "struggles"... just sins;
15) ...never leave the confessional before the priest has finished giving absolution;
16) ...memorize an Act of Contrition;
17) ...answer the priest’s questions briefly if he asks for a clarification;
18) ...ask questions if we can’t understand what he means when he tells us something;
19) ...keep in mind that sometimes priests can have bad days just like we do;
20) ...remember that priests must go to confession too … they know what we are going through.

Christ's Wounded Side and the Sacraments

I came across a picture on-line of Christ on the cross which featured prominently His wounded side. I am always moved by such pictures because it is from His wounded side that we receive the sacraments, and in effect, salvation. Often times there are pictured angels holding chalices to collect the Precious Blood so that it may be given to men for their salvation. (Of the two pictures below, the first one is the one that spawned this blog, the second demonstrates the angels collecting Christ's sacred blood. How beautiful and formational was true Catholic art!)

In thinking about this, I thought I would post from St. Thomas Aquinas, theologian and doctor without equal, in his Summa Theologica entry on this topic. A good portion might be difficult to read, but I will "bold" the 'heart' of the article (pun intended). However, read the whole thing, for it is not incomprehensible if one reads it slowly, and perhaps even reads it as a meditation. For the sake of brevity, I have also excluded the objections and replies. This is, however, something that all Catholics should have the most basic, rudimentary understanding of. The sacraments are key to our salvation, and this is where the sacraments come from!

Questions and comments are indeed welcome and encouraged.

(In the manner of a plug for subscribers, where else in the world do you read blogs so varied as here? From Sinatra to the Summa, my readers have got it all! If you agree, recommend this blog, ask your friends to subscribe, and spread the good news!)

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Whether the sacraments of the New Law derive their power from Christ's Passion?Q.62, Art. 5

On the contrary, on Rm. 5:14: "After the similitude of the transgression of Adam," etc., the gloss says: "From the side of Christ asleep on the Cross flowed the sacraments which brought salvation to the Church." Consequently, it seems that the sacraments derive their power from Christ's Passion.

I answer that, As stated above (1) a sacrament in causing grace works after the manner of an instrument. Now an instrument is twofold. the one, separate, as a stick, for instance; the other, united, as a hand. Moreover, the separate instrument is moved by means of the united instrument, as a stick by the hand. Now the principal efficient cause of grace is God Himself, in comparison with Whom Christ's humanity is as a united instrument, whereas the sacrament is as a separate instrument. Consequently, the saving power must needs be derived by the sacraments from Christ's Godhead through His humanity.

Now sacramental grace seems to be ordained principally to two things: namely, to take away the defects consequent on past sins, in so far as they are transitory in act, but endure in guilt; and, further, to perfect the soul in things pertaining to Divine Worship in regard to the Christian Religion. But it is manifest from what has been stated above (48, 1,2,6; 49, 1,3) that Christ delivered us from our sins principally through His Passion, not only by way of efficiency and merit, but also by way of satisfaction. Likewise by His Passion He inaugurated the Rites of the Christian Religion by offering "Himself--an oblation and a sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:2). Wherefore it is manifest that the sacraments of the Church derive their power specially from Christ's Passion, the virtue of which is in a manner united to us by our receiving the sacraments. It was in sign of this that from the side of Christ hanging on the Cross there flowed water and blood, the former of which belongs to Baptism, the latter to the Eucharist, which are the principal sacraments.

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But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5


For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
1 Peter 1:18-20, 2:24