What to Say in Confession
A line-by-line script for Catholic confession, from "Bless me, Father" through the absolution. You don't have to memorize all of it — the priest will lead — but knowing the structure will let you walk in and breathe.
The opening
You can sit face-to-face with the priest or kneel anonymously behind a screen. Both are valid. After he greets you (often with the Sign of the Cross), say:
"Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [time] since my last confession."
If it's been a long time, just say so: "It has been a long time since my last confession" is fine. If you're new to confession or have forgotten the formula, "I'm not sure how to begin — can you help me?" is a perfectly normal opening. Priests hear this constantly.
Confessing your sins
Then name your sins. The standard the Catechism gives is: mortal sins by kind and approximate number (CCC 1457). Venial sins do not require this precision — you can summarize them.
Examples of how to phrase it:
- "I lied to my spouse seriously twice this month about money."
- "I missed Sunday Mass without a serious reason on three Sundays."
- "I have been impatient with my children most days — sometimes losing my temper in ways I'm not proud of."
- "I have looked at pornography on five or six occasions."
- "I have failed to pray for several months."
You don't need to dramatize, explain at length, or relive the events. Name the sin, name the kind, give a count if it was mortal. The priest does not need the details — he needs to know what you are confessing.
If you're unsure whether something is a sin, mention it. "I'm not sure if this is sinful, but…" is fine. The priest can tell you.
Closing the confession
When you have finished naming your sins, close with:
"For these and all the sins of my past life, I am sorry."
This signals to the priest that you are done. He may ask a clarifying question, offer a brief word of counsel, then give you a penance.
What the priest says
The priest's role at this stage is pastoral. He may:
- Ask a clarifying question (kindly — he is not interrogating)
- Offer a short word of counsel or encouragement (often very short)
- Give you a penance — usually a prayer (one Our Father, three Hail Marys), sometimes an action (read a Scripture passage, perform a specific work of mercy)
- Ask you to make an Act of Contrition
If you don't catch the penance or aren't sure what he asked, ask him to repeat it. There is no embarrassment in this.
The Act of Contrition
You pray this aloud after the priest gives you the penance. The traditional version is:
"O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen."
A modern version is also approved:
"My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy. Amen."
If you forget the words, "I am sorry for my sins" is a complete Act of Contrition. The priest will not turn you away.
For more on both versions, see the Act of Contrition guide.
The absolution
The priest extends his right hand and prays:
"God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
You respond: "Amen."
That moment — "I absolve you" — is the moment of forgiveness. Whatever you have confessed, validly and with contrition, is now gone.
The priest will close with something like: "Go in peace; your sins are forgiven." Some priests add: "Pray for me, a sinner." Respond: "Thanks be to God."
Two short example confessions
Example 1 — Regular monthly confession
"Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been one month since my last confession.
I lost my temper with my children five or six times. I gossiped about a colleague twice. I missed evening prayer most days. I was impatient with my wife on a few occasions and didn't apologize.
For these and all the sins of my past life, I am sorry."
Example 2 — After a long absence
"Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been about ten years since my last confession. I'm not sure I remember the form — can you help me?
(After the priest's reassurance:)
I missed Mass for most of those years. I lived with my girlfriend before we were married. I was unfaithful in my marriage on one occasion several years ago, and confessed this to my wife but never to a priest. I have not prayed regularly. There is more I can't remember clearly, but I want to come back.
For these and all the sins of my past life, I am sorry."
Frequently asked
Do I need to memorize a script?
No. The opening line and closing line help, and the Act of Contrition should be familiar, but the priest will lead you through the rite even if you forget every other word.
How specific do I need to be about my sins?
For mortal sins: kind and approximate number (CCC 1457). Venial sins can be summarized. You do not need to give backstory or relive events.
What if the priest can't hear me?
Speak up. Most confessionals are designed for soft voices but priests are often older and the screens absorb sound. The priest will ask you to repeat anything he missed. The seal of confession applies regardless of volume.
Can I confess in my own words instead of the formula?
Yes. The traditional opening is customary but not required. The priest cares that you confess your sins clearly, not that you use a particular phrase.
Confess. has an In-Confession Mode that puts a clean, full-screen script in front of you in the confessional — opening, closing, and the Act of Contrition expandable on demand.
Download Confess.