| A | B |
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| 409. Why must we confess our sins? | We must confess our sins because Jesus Christ obliges us to do so in these words; spoken to the apostles and to their successors in the priesthood: “Whose sins you shall forgive; they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain; they are retained.' |
| 410. How do these words of Christ oblige us to confess our sins? | These words of Christ oblige us to confess our sins because the priest cannot know whether he should forgive or retain our sins unless we tell them to him. |
| 411. Is it necessary to confess every sin? | It is necessary to confess every mortal sin which has not yet been confessed and forgiven; it is not necessary to confess our venial sins; but it is better to do so. |
| 412. What are the chief qualities of a good confession? | The chief qualities of a good confession are three: It must be humble; sincere; and entire. |
| 413. When is our confession humble? | Our confession is humble when we accuse ourselves of our sins with a conviction of guilt for having offended God. |
| 414. When is our confession sincere? | Our confession is sincere when we tell our sins honestly and frankly. |
| 415. When is our confession entire? | Our confession is entire when we confess at least all our mortal sins; telling their kind; the number of times we have committed each sin; and any circumstances changing their nature. |
| 416. What are we to do if without our fault we forget to confess a mortal sin? | If without our fault we forget to confess a mortal sin; we may receive Holy Communion; because we have made a good confession and the sin is forgiven; but we must tell the sin in confession if it again comes to our mind. |
| 417. What happens if we knowingly conceal a mortal sin in confession? | If we knowingly conceal a mortal sin in confession; the sins we confess are not forgiven; moreover; we commit a mortal sin of sacrilege. |
| 418. What must a person do who has knowingly concealed a mortal sin in confession? | A person who has knowingly concealed a mortal sin in confession must confess that he has made a bad confession; tell the sin he has concealed; mention the sacraments he has received since that time; and confess all the mortal sins he has committed since his last good confession. |
| 419. Why should a sense of shame and fear of telling our sins to the priest never lead us to conceal a mortal sin in confession? | A sense of shame and fear of telling our sins to the priest should never lead us to conceal a mortal sin in confession because this is a grave sacrilege; and also because the priest; who represents Christ Himself is bound by the seal of the sacrament of Penance never to reveal anything that has been confessed to him. |
| 420. Why does the priest give us a penance after confession? | The priest gives us a penance after confession that we may make some atonement top God for our sins; receive help to avoid them in the future; and make some satisfaction for the temporal punishment due to them. |
| 421. What kinds of punishment are due to sin? | Two kinds of punishment are due to sin: the eternal punishment of hell; due to unforgiven mortal sins; and temporal punishment; lasting only for a time; due to venial sins and also to mortal sins after they have been forgiven. |
| 422. Does the sacrament of Penance; worthily received; always take away all punishment? | The sacrament of Penance; worthily received; always takes all eternal punishment; but it does not always take away all temporal punishment. |
| 423. Why does God require temporal punishment for sin? | God requires temporal punishment for sin to satisfy His justice; to teach us the great evil of sin; and to warn us not to sin again. |
| 424. Where do we pay the debt of our temporal punishment? | We pay the debt of our temporal punishment either in this life or in purgatory. |
| 425. What are the chief means of satisfying the debt of our temporal punishment; besides the penance imposed after confession? | Besides the penance imposed after confession; the chief means of satisfying the debt of our temporal punishment are: prayer; attending Mass; fasting; almsgiving; the works of mercy; the patient endurance of sufferings; and indulgences. |
| 426. Before entering the confessional; how should we prepare ourselves for a good confession? | Before entering the confessional; we should prepare ourselves for a good confession by taking sufficient time not only to examine our conscience but; especially; to excite in our hearts sincere sorrow for our sins and a firm purpose not to commit them again. |
