Times for Confession

In the Agneskerk you can confess half an hour before every Holy Mass.

Confession at another time is also possible, by (telephone) appointment.

Every priest has a personal confessional.

The Examination of Conscience

In order to ask the Lord’s forgiveness for our sins, we must first examine our conscience
and discover the faults by which we have offended Him. No universal rule can be given here:
some confess weekly, others only fulfil the obligation of Easter Confession.
One person is still a child, another an adult; one is married, another unmarried.
We do not all have the same duties of state, but we are all bound to keep the divine commandments.

The one instruction applicable to all is this: each person must take the necessary time for his
examination of conscience, in order to discover the sins committed and to confess them sincerely.

It is good to make this examination in prayer, commending ourselves to the Blessed Virgin Mary
and to our Guardian Angel, that they may obtain for us the light of the Holy Ghost.
Thus our faults will not escape our notice, nor be excused by ourselves.

Whoever desires that confession should promote his spiritual life and deepen his love of God
must examine his conscience with the same care with which he prepares himself for other serious matters.

Contrition

To regain the friendship with God that we lost through sin, contrition is indispensable.
This contrition does not need to be emotional or move us to tears. Such feelings are not necessary.

True contrition lies in the will, which says: “Had I only not done that.”
It is rooted in the supernatural life and must be directed to God Himself.
Otherwise it remains a merely natural sorrow, which cannot bring us to the grace of forgiveness.

Three Kinds of Sorrow

• Sorrow out of love: because God is good, our friend, and has given His life for us;
  because we owe everything to Him and yet have offended Him.
• Sorrow out of fear: out of fear of the just punishment of sin.
  Less perfect, but sufficient for forgiveness.
• Sorrow out of pride: a merely natural disappointment in our own weakness.
  This is not supernatural contrition and can hinder the way to God.

Only the first two dispose us properly to receive the Lord’s forgiveness.

Examination Guide

A new Dutch practical examination guide for adults has been published.
This booklet is an excellent aid in preparing for a good confession.
It contains both spiritual preparation with prayers and a practical explanation
of the commandments of God, the precepts of the Church, and the capital sins.

In the examination of conscience we carefully review ourselves and our life before God,
but without scrupulosity. With childlike confidence we recall His divine presence
and consciously place ourselves in His light.

The examination guide serves as a support for the memory and is an excellent means
to help form the conscience. It would, however, be a misunderstanding to regard it as
a complete list of sins and of all the personal duties of a Christian in the world.
It can in no way replace a good catechesis on confession.

The booklet is available at the back of the church. A voluntary contribution is appreciated.