Preparing for Confession

Confession is one of the Holy Mysteries of the Church. In it we come before Christ, who alone forgives sins, and we say aloud what burdens us. The Lord gave His apostles authority to remit sins (John 20:21-23), and the Church's priests serve in that ministry. The priest is not there to condemn you. In the Church's own rite he says to the penitent, “I am but a witness, bearing testimony before him,” and it speaks of confession as coming to the physician, so that you do not depart unhealed.

You need not be afraid. The Lord asks whether He has any pleasure at all that the wicked should die, and not rather that he should turn from his ways and live (Ezekiel 18:23). And Scripture promises: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Begin with prayer. Ask the Lord for light to see yourself truthfully and courage to say what you see. Then make a short, calm examination of your life, using the Scripture below: “let a man examine himself” (1 Corinthians 11:28). This is not a hunt for every possible fault. If you tend to scruples, keep it brief and trust your priest to ask whatever else is needed. Name what you find plainly, without excuses and without blaming others, as the publican did.

Seek peace with others. Our Lord says, “first be reconciled to thy brother” (Matthew 5:24). Where you can, ask forgiveness from those you have wronged and forgive those who have wronged you.

Follow your priest’s guidance. As your spiritual father he decides how often you should confess, and he will tell you how to fast and prepare for Holy Communion. If you are new to confession, simply tell him so and he will help you. Practice varies between parishes and jurisdictions, so ask rather than assume. If you are not Orthodox but are drawn to confession, speak with an Orthodox priest first.

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image … Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them …

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain …

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy …

Honour thy father and thy mother …

Thou shalt not kill.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife … nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

O Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

O all-holy Trinity, have mercy upon us. O Lord, wash away our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for thy Name's sake.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from the Evil One.

Lord, have mercy.

O come, let us worship God our King. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God. O come, let us worship and fall down before the Very Christ, our King and our God.

Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness; according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences. Wash me throughly from my wickedness; and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my faults, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight; that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged. Behold, I was shapen in wickedness; and in sin hath my mother conceived me. But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts; and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly. Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Turn thy face from my sins, and put out all my misdeeds. Make me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy Spirit from me. O give me the comfort of thy help again; and stablish me with thy free Spirit. Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou that art the God of my health; and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness. Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord; and my mouth shall show thy praise. For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it thee: but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings. The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise. O be favourable and gracious unto Sion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations: then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.

Have mercy upon us, O God, have mercy upon us. For in that we sinners are devoid of all defence, we offer unto thee, as to our Master, this supplication: Have mercy upon us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Have mercy upon us, O Lord, for in thee have we trusted, and be not very wroth with us, neither call thou to remembrance, our iniquities; but look down even now upon us, inasmuch as thou art of tender compassion, and deliver us from our enemies; for thou art our God, and we are thy people, we are all the works of thy hand, and we call upon thy Name.

Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Open unto us the door of thy loving-kindness, O blessed Birth-giver of God. In that we set our hope on thee may we not fail, but through thee may we be delivered from all adversities; for thou art the salvation of all Christian people.

God be merciful to me a sinner.

Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

When you come to the priest, he will often have you stand before an icon of Christ, and he may begin with prayers like those above. Speak simply about your own sins, not other people’s. Do not be ashamed, and do not hold anything back; the priest is there as a witness, and Christ is the one who heals. What you confess is kept in strict confidence. Below are the words the priest says to the penitent in the rite as Hapgood’s Service Book gives it, so you know what to expect.

Behold, my child, Christ standeth here invisibly, and receiveth thy confession: wherefore, be not ashamed, neither be afraid, and conceal thou nothing from me: but tell me, doubting not, all things which thou hast done; and so shalt thou have pardon from our Lord Jesus Christ. Lo, his holy image is before us: and I am but a witness, bearing testimony before him of all things which thou dost say to me. But if thou shalt conceal anything from me, thou shalt have the greater sin. Take heed, therefore, lest, having come to the physician, thou depart unhealed.

I believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible:

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, Begotten of his Father before all worlds; Light of Light, Very God of very God, Begotten, not made; Being of one Essence with the Father; By whom all things were made; Who, for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man. And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. And the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.

And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets. In one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the Resurrection of the dead, And the Life of the world to come. Amen.

After confession, thank God and go in peace. Receive any counsel or rule of prayer your priest gives as a physician’s remedy for your healing, not as a payment for sin. What you have confessed is forgiven: you need not confess it again or carry it as a weight, though you may keep thanking God for His mercy. If you are preparing for Holy Communion, follow your priest’s direction, and see “Before Holy Communion” for the prayers.