Part III: Lesson 29

Question 1

170. What is the sacrament of Penance?

Answer 1

Penance is the sacrament by which sins commited after baptism are forgiven.

Question 2

171. What must we do to receive the sacrament of Penance worthily?

Answer 2

To receive the sacrament of Penance worthily we must: first, examine our conscience; second, be sorry for our sins; third, make up our minds not to sin again; fourth, confess our sins to the priest; fifth, be willing to do the penance the priest gives us.

Question 3

172. What is an examination of conscience?

Answer 3

An examination of conscience is a sincere effort to call to mind all the sins we have committed since our last confession.

Question 4

173. What should we do before our examination of conscience?

Answer 4

Before our examination of conscience we should ask God’s help to know our sins and to confess them with sincere sorrow.

Question 5

174. How can we make a good examination of conscience?

Answer 5

We can make a good examination of conscience by calling to mind the commandments of God and of the Church, and by asking ourselves how we may have sinned with regard to them.