Here is a practical guide for those who make regular use of the sacrament of reconciliation, for those who do not, and for those who fall somewhere in between. The book is meant to be a handy guide for those who do not know “how” to go to confession. It also offers new resources to those familiar and comfortable with the sacrament. Chapter 1 offers several ways of thinking about the sacrament of reconciliation, discussing the various names it goes by (confession, penance, reconciliation), and suggests why it is an important “tool” in a Catholic’s spiritual life. The next three chapters deal with the actual celebration of the sacrament. Chapter 2 offers a step-by-step guide through its celebration. Chapter 3 addresses questions people frequently have about the sacrament, about the confessor, and about themselves as penitents. Chapter 4 offers several examinations of conscience, different ways to prepare for confession. A final brief chapter offers some thoughts on a topic that intrigues many people, Catholic and non-Catholic alike: what is it really like to hear confessions?
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