Confession is a sacred and confidential encounter with Christ, essential to the First Saturday Devotion’s call to make reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, you speak with a priest to seek forgiveness, express sorrow, and receive healing, fulfilling the devotion’s requirement to go to Confession within eight days before or after the First Saturday.
It’s a grace-filled moment of renewal, drawing you closer to God’s mercy and Mary’s heart.
Confession—also known as the Sacrament of Reconciliation—is a sacred opportunity to cleanse your soul, strengthen your will, and make reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as requested in the First Saturday Devotion. While it’s normal to feel nervous or unsure, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the process, remember: confession is always confidential. It’s a safe, private space where you can speak honestly and receive God’s mercy.
When you go to confession, you speak with a Catholic priest who has been given the authority by Christ to forgive sins. The priest stands in the name of the Church and Christ Himself, offering compassion, guidance, and absolution. Every confession is unique—but the steps are simple and deeply meaningful, especially when offered with the intention of repairing offenses against Mary’s Immaculate Heart.
Start by making the Sign of the Cross. You may also greet the priest with a simple “Hello” or “Good morning.” For the First Saturday Devotion, you may silently offer your confession for the intention of reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Let the priest know when you last went to confession. For example:
“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. My last confession was one month ago.”
Speak honestly about the sins you’ve committed, including those that offend the Immaculate Heart of Mary, such as blasphemies or ingratitude. If you’re unsure what to say, the priest can gently guide you. This moment is a dialogue with Christ—trust in His mercy and love.
If you forget a few sins, don’t worry. A sincere confession, offered with the intention of reparation, brings forgiveness for all your sins, even those you didn’t remember.
The priest will assign a penance—such as a prayer, act of kindness, or small sacrifice—to help you grow spiritually and make reparation to God and Mary’s Immaculate Heart.
You’ll express your sorrow by praying the Act of Contrition. Most Catholics use a version like:
“O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You…”
You may add an intention to make reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The priest will pray the words of absolution, forgiving your sins in the name of Christ. You’ll respond with “Amen” and make the Sign of the Cross.
The priest may offer a brief blessing or words of encouragement. You’ll then leave the confessional and complete your penance as soon as possible, ideally with a prayer for Mary’s Immaculate Heart.
Confession is not just about listing sins—it’s about healing, renewal, and returning to the embrace of God and Mary. For the First Saturday Devotion, it’s a key act of reparation for offenses against the Immaculate Heart. Whether it’s been a week or many years, Christ and Mary are always ready to welcome you back.
Prayer Before Confession
My Lord and God, I have sinned. I am guilty before You.
Grant me the strength to say to Your minister what I say to You in the secret of my heart.
Increase my repentance. Make it more genuine. May it really be a sorrow for having offended You and my neighbor, and for the offenses against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Help me to atone for my sin. May the sufferings of my life and my little mortifications be joined with the sufferings of Jesus, Your Son, and cooperate in rooting sin from the world.
Amen.
Act of Contrition
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, and against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
I firmly intend with Your help to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In His name, and through Mary’s intercession, my God, have mercy.
Amen.
Thanksgiving After Confession
My dearest Jesus,
I have told all my sins as well as I could. I have tried hard to make a good confession. I feel sure that You have forgiven me. I thank You. It is only because of Your sufferings and Mary’s Immaculate Heart that I can go to confession and free myself from my sins. Your heart is full of love and mercy for poor sinners. I love You because You are so good to me.
My loving Savior and dear Mother Mary,
I shall try to keep from sin and to love you more each day.
Mary, pray for me and help me to keep my promises. Protect me and do not let me fall back into sin.
Amen.
Another Act of Contrition
O my God,
I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all of my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven, and the pains of hell;
but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who are all good and deserving of my love, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace and Mary’s intercession, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life.
Amen.
Act of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus,
I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You or from the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Amen.
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