Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath not imputed sin, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

I have acknowledged my sin to thee, and my injustice I have not concealed. I said I will confess against myself my injustice to the Lord: and thou hast forgiven the wickedness of my sin.

Now therefore saith the Lord:  Be converted to me with all your heart, in fasting, and in weeping, and in mourning.  And rend your hearts, and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy, and ready to repent of the evil. Who knoweth but he will return, and forgive, and leave a blessing behind him, sacrifice and libation to the Lord your God?

"When you go to Confession, know this, that I Myself am waiting for you in the confessional; I am only hidden by the priest, but I Myself act in the soul.  Here the misery of the soul meets the God of Mercy.  Tell souls that from this fount of mercy souls draw graces solely with the vessel of trust.
If their trust is great there is no limit to My generosity."

"I long to have the whole world read of My ardent desire to forgive and reinstate souls in grace."

"My Heart finds joy in forgiveness.  I have no greater desire nor happiness than to be able to forgive."

"How I long to make known to mankind the Loving Mercy and Forgiveness of My Heart."
 
 

The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul; The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The command of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eye; The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; The ordinances of the LORD are true, all of them just; They are more precious than gold, than a heap of purest gold; Sweeter also than syrup or honey from the comb.

1.    Make a thorough examination of conscience. (See below the Rule of St. Benedict).  If it helps, write it down and take it with you. (but swallow it immediately afterwards!) This will also help you:

 2.     Ask the Blessed Mother and all the patron saints and angels of good confessions to assist you in preparing your heart and remembering all your offenses against God.  Especially any mortal sin. You should also pray for your confessor.  Recall all that you have done, thought, said, or neglected to do that might displease God. We can never know all the things we do every day that offend God, so it might also be advisable to always add at the end of your confession, "May God forgive me for anything I have done or said or thought that offends Him in any way -  that I cannot now recall, or am unaware of."

3.     Forgiveness and reconciliation is central to our relationship to God. True sorrow for your sins is most important!  Now you are on the true road to "authentic conversion," (Pope John Paul II) True conversion is a matter of the heart and a continuing process throughout your entire life.  You have now opened the door that may have been previously closed to you - the door of God's Grace and Mercy. With an unrepentant sinner, the only door open to him is the door of God's JUSTICE.  And that is why frequent use of the sacrament of confession is recommended. (at least once a month)

4.    There is great benefit to a general confession. You are not supposed to give every gory detail!  (whew)  Remember, when in the confessional, its really God you are speaking to!  It's God you have offended - not the priest - and God knows all the details! God uses the priest as his minister of mercy as he had bestowed that power on him through St. Peter. But for your own benefit...so as not to fall into the error of denial which is caused by pride, you should try to remember each and every sin as clearly as possible (do not hide them!) and mention how many times you committed this sin.

5.    To begin, kneel and make the sign of the cross, saying, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."  You can say something like, "Bless me father for I have sinned.  It's been _____ (days, months, years, etc.) since my last confession. Then tell him all your sins.

6.    He may counsel you a little, offer some helpful advice,  and then he'll ask you to say a good 'Act of Contrition' :

7.  Then the priest will tell you what you must do for penance.  (Usually some prayers or good works) He will then give you absolution and his blessing saying:

     "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 reply: "Amen."

The priest then says, "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good."

Your reply: "His mercy endures for ever."

Then the priest dismisses you by saying, "Go in the peace of Christ."

Go out and kneel down in the Church, thank God for his free gift of forgiveness and Mercy and then perform your act of penance.  DONE!

8.    Now you're like a clean slate - Go and sin no more!
You have just made peace with your Maker!  You can now take full advantage of the rivers of graces flowing from the Sacraments of the Church, and the Blessings of Almighty God.

Do not kill.
Do not commit adultery.
Do not steal.
Do not covet. 
Do not bear false witness.
To honor all men.
Do not do to another what one would not have done to oneself.
Deny oneself, in order to follow Christ.
To chastise the body.
Not to seek soft living.
To love fasting.
To relieve the poor.
To clothe the naked. 
To visit the sick.
To bury the dead. 
To help the afflicted.
To console the sorrowing.
To avoid worldly conduct.
To prefer nothing to the love of Christ.
Not to yield to anger.
Not to nurse a grudge.
Not to hold guile in one's heart.
Not to make a feigned, (false show of), peace.
Not to forsake charity.
Not to swear, lest perchance one forswear oneself. (to swear falsely).
To utter truth from heart and mouth.
Not to render evil for evil.
To do no wrong to anyone, and to bear patiently wrongs done to oneself.
To love one's enemies.
Not to render cursing for cursing, but rather blessing.
To bear persecution for justice sake.
Not to be proud.
Not be a wine bibber (habitual drinker).
Not be a glutton.
Not be somnolent, (inclined to sleep).
Not be slothful.
Not be a grumbler or complainer.
Not be a detractor, (slanderer or false witness).
To put ones hope in God.
To attribute to God, and not to self, whatever good one sees in oneself. 
But to recognize always that the evil is one's own doing, and to impute it to oneself.
To fear the day of Judgment. To dread Hell.
To keep constant guard over the actions of one's life.
To desire eternal life with all spiritual longing.
To keep death daily before one's eyes.
To know for certain that God sees one everywhere.
When evil thoughts come into one's heart, to dash them at once on the rock of Christ and to manifest them to one's spiritual advisor, (confessor).
To keep one's mouth from evil and depraved talk.
Not to love much speaking.
Not to speak vain words or such as move to laughter.
To listen gladly to holy reading.
To apply oneself frequently to prayer.
Daily in one's prayer, with tears and sighs, to confess one's past sins to God. 
To amend those sins for the future.
Not to fulfill the desires of the flesh.
To hate one's own will.
To obey in all things the commands of the abbot, even though he himself, (which God forbid), should act otherwise, remembering the Lord's precept: What they say, do ye, but what they do, do ye not.   Not to wish to be called holy before one is holy, but first to be holy, that one may more truly be called so.
To fulfill God's commandments daily in one's deeds.
To love chastity.
To hate no man.
Not to be jealous. 
Not to give way to envy.
Not to love contention, (conflict).
To shun vainglory, (boastfulness).
To reverence the old.
To love the young.
To pray for one's enemies in the love of Christ.
To make peace with one's adversary before sundown.

And never to despair of God's Mercy.

     Behold, these are the tools of the spiritual craft.  If we employ them unceasingly day and night, and on the day of Judgment render account of them, then we shall receive from the Lord in return that reward which He Himself has promised:  Eye has not seen nor ear heard, what God hath prepared for those that love Him.  Now the workshop, wherein we shall diligently execute all these tasks, is the enclosure of the monastery, (home, office, workplace, etc.), and our spiritual roots in the community.

  St. Benedict is called the "Father of Western Monasticism." Through his rule of morality there developed the western, european, monastic tradition of teaching.  Teaching in the west was pioneered by Benedictine Monks.  The good moral teachings derived from St. Benedict became the foundation upon which the western countries rose to great moral heights.  Let us humbly beg God to help America, our leaders, and ourselves, rise again through the intercession and the Rule of St. Benedict.