(Exerts
taken from the Greek Archdiocesan pamphlet entitled, "The Neglected
Sacrament, A Practical Guide to Confession and Happiness.")
The Confessional
It is important to know how to prepare yourself for the
highlight of the priest, penitent and God encounter; absolution. When the
priest puts the stole on your head after a short service, he recites this
prayer:
"Oh God and Saviour, who by Thy prophet Nathan has
granted pardon to David repenting of his own transgressions, Who has accepted
Manasseh's penitential prayer; do Thou, the same compassionate Lord, accept
this Thy servant (name) who is repentant of sins that he (she) has committed.
Overlook all that he (she) has done, forgiving all of his (her)
unrighteousness, and overlooking his (her) iniquities. You have said, oh Lord,
I desire not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should return from His
wickedness and live; and that sins ought to be forgiven even unto seventy times
seven. For as Thy greatness is incomparable, so is Thy mercy immeasurable. Who,
oh Lord, would stand aright before you if Your judgment was to the extreme in
what is amiss in our lives? You are a God of those who repent and unto You we
ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and
ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."
If you read this prayer carefully, you will see that there
are several ways in which you can prepare yourself to go to a Priest of your
choosing in order to encounter God through the sacramental experience of
confession.
a. Find a quiet place where you can be alone and where you
can concentrate on the love of God; His love for the world and for you. Think
of the Christmas story and how Our Lord became Man because He loved us, how He
experienced death on the cross because He loved us, and how, at Easter, He
resurrected, because He loves us.
b. Think of what God wants you to be and where you are in
life, at this very moment. Ask yourself: Am I worthy to be called a creation of
God? When Christ returns at the second coming, will we be able to tell him that
in spite of our failures in life, we sincerely tried to make amends in our
shortcomings?
c. Once we have gone through (a) and (b), we are now ready
to face the most difficult question of all: How have we offended God? In
examining ourselves, what sins have been committed? One easy way of doing this
is to put down on a piece of paper all the sins committed recently, or since
your last confession. Details and unnecessary descriptions should be avoided.
d. Once you have completed your list, check them with the
following "self-examination" questions based on the Ten Commandments,
which will also help you to crystalIize your thinking before you share your
feelings with your Father confessor.
First Commandment
"I Am The Lord Thy God; Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods
Before Me." Have I loved God as much as I should? Have I been more
interested in myself than in God? Have I tried to serve God and keep His
Commandments? Have I been vain about my personality, personal appearance,
clothes, possessions, my family, ability, success in games or in
accomplishments? Have I given way to anxiety instead of turning to God for
help? Have I failed to trust in God and His mercy? Have I failed to pray to God
sincerely and faithfully? Have I put my self before God?
Second Commandment
"Thou Shalt Not Make Unto Thee Any Graven Image. "
Have I put another person before God's law; by not going to
Church, or by committing some other sin to please that person? Have I neglected
my duties to God through fear of ridicule? Have I been insincere about my
religion? Have I been receiving Holy Communion without the appropriate
preparation?
Third Commandment
"Thou Shalt Not Take The Name of The Lord Thy God in
Vain . " Have I profaned the Holy Name of God? Have I misused the Holy
Name of Jesus'? Have I cursed anyone or sworn a false oath? Have I paid proper
attention to holy persons and things? Have I broken any solemn vow or promise?
Fourth Commandment
"Remember The Sabbath Day, to Keep it Holy. " Have
I missed Church on Sundays? Have I always kept Sunday as it ought to be kept?
Have I done unnecessary work on Sundays? Have I been irreverent during Church
Services? Have I caused anyone to profane the Lord's day? Have I been ashamed
of my religion or my Church?
Fifth Commandment
"Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother."
Have I respected my parents and been grateful enough for all
they have done for me? Have I disobeyed them or neglected them? Have I
contributed as much as I should to the support and happiness of my parents?
Have I tried to bring my children up properly? Have I given as much care as
possible to the religious life of my family; with regard to daily prayer,
church going, etc? Have I honored God, my Heavenly Father, by working or
treating my employers as well as other co-workers honestly and diligently?
Sixth Commandment
"Thou Shalt Not Kill. "
Have I killed if not in outward deed, perhaps in my heart?
Have I wished for some one's death? Have I been angry unjustly? Have I harmed
others by ridicule or contempt? Have I defamed anyone who needed help? Have I
gossiped about people? Have I been cruel to anyone? Have I failed to forgive
anyone? Have I shown proper respect toward life?
Seventh Commandment
"Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery. "
Have I been impure in thought, word, or deed? Have I
committed unworthy actions alone or with others'? Do I dwell on pornography and
obscenity? Have I committed any sin with regard to my wife (husband) or other
member of my family? Have I caused others to commit sinful acts?
Eighth Commandment
"Thou Shalt Not Steal ."
Have I ever stolen anything, or shared in stolen goods? Have
I cheated in business, games or school? Have I kept things that did not belong
to me? Have I given as much as I am able to charitable causes and to the
Church?
Ninth Commandment
"Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness. "
Have I lied often? Have I concealed the truth? Have I
exaggerated too much? Have I let others receive blame for my faults? Have I
judged others for sins which I also have committed? Have I been deceitful,
unfair, hypocritical?
Tenth Commandment
"Thou Shalt Not Covet. "
Have I been jealous of others? Have I envied them because
they have more money; or are better looking; or more successful; or because
people pay more attention to them? Have I been grieved at the prosperity of the
others? Have I ever wished the downfall of anyone? Have I failed to thank God
for what He has already given me? Have I thought that God is partial ?
Archbishop lakovos, former Primate of
the Greek Orthodox Church in the Americas summarized it all by stating:
"Though God may intend man to destroy himself, he also has given man free
will and the ability to cleanse himself and his world. The church will not be
pessimistic, nor sit quietly in its handsome houses of worship while the war
rages outside its churches for the bodies, minds and souls of its
parishoners."