For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
INTRODUCTION
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. JOHN 3:16-17
 We begin our discussion of conversion, repentance, confession and absolution with a God who loves us, a God who seeks us, a God who wants us to be part of His family, the Most Holy Trinity.
We must never forget that God always wills our good that we may bear good fruit. Some pruning may be necessary.
Today, Sin is often downplayed as character flaws genetic makeup or personality disorders. Sin first of all is an offense against an omnipotent divine God who made us in His image and likeness to know, love and serve Him in this world and be happy with Him in the next..
Baptism forgives original sin inherited from our first parents Adam and Eve and any other personal sin prior to Baptism, but something more is needed after Baptism. Original Sin left us with a clouded mind, unfriendly natural environment, division between people, and a weak will when it comes to facing temptations of the flesh.
Whether we like it are not the Spiritual Warfare begun in Genesis continues. The same Satan and his minions go about the world looking for the ruin of souls. We need spiritual medicine for our eternal souls the same as we need physical medicine for our bodies here on earth.
On the first Easter Jesus gave us the Sacrament of /Reconciliation to absolve sins committed after Baptism.
RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
WHOSE SINS YOU FORGIVE ARE FORGIVEN
“In the evening of the same day…Jesus came and stood among them…Peace be with you. He showed them his hands and side…Peace be with you. As the Father sent me…so I am sending you…After saying this, Jesus breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit for those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven. For those whose sins you retain, they are retained.'” John 20:19-35
Today God the Father awaits us like the prodigal son to return home, confess our sins, and be reconciled to God and his Church. The Church is the custodian today of conversion, forgiveness of sins, absolution and reconciliation.
JESUS SEEKS US OUT; WON’T YOU LET HIM IN!
“…When you give Me your sins, you give Me the joy of being your Savior. There is nothing I cannot forgive and heal…Come to Me with your misery and your sins, with your troubles and needs…I stand at the door of your heart and knock… won’t you let me in!
 POSTSCRIPT
 PREPARE FOR CONFESSION? WHAT DO I SAY AND DO?
We begin with prayer, placing ourselves in the presence of God, our loving Father. We review our lives since our last confession, our thoughts, words and actions that did not conform to God’s love, to his law or to the laws of the Church.
 BRIEF EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE
Do I attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation?
Do I take God’s name lightly or in anger or in blasphemy?
Am I envious, hot-tempered, impatient?
Do I forgive others?  Do I judge others?
Do I entertain thoughts of revenge, hold grudges?
Do I tell lies? Steal property or reputations?
In my marital relationships do I respect my spouse by faithfulness in words and actions?
If I am single, am I living a chaste life?
Do I use artificial contraception to thwart God the giver of life?
Have I ever had an abortion or encouraged one
Do I provide good examples to my children?
Do I honor and respect my parents?
Do I care and give to the poor and needy
Do I respect the environment?
Do I overdo eating, drinking, smoking and amusements?
The Priest receives the penitent with a greeting, a sign of the cross and invitation to trust in God’s mercy
 Confession of sins
Through the admission of our sins, we look squarely at our relationship with God and our neighbor and open ourselves to be reconciled with God and full communion with His Church. We accept our Penance as satisfaction for the offense to God and the harm to His Church.
 Our act of contrition
Our act of contrition expresses our sorrow for offending God and our detestation of sin. We are sorry that we offended God and our neighbor and intend to amend our lives and avoid these sins in the future.
SAMPLE ACT OF CONTRITION
 O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee.  I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of Heaven, and the pains of Hell; but most of all because I love 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
 Prayer of absolution
The words of absolution by the priest, “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit” and the reply by the penitent, “Amen” restores the penitent to God’s grace, reconciles him with God, with His Church, with himself, and with his brothers and sisters.