From the Rector, Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 7/4/2021

Renovations to the Confessionals

You may have noticed over the last couple weeks that we have been doing some work on the confessionals. We are hoping soon to move back to those from our current arrangement in the side chapel of St. Katherine Drexel. Before we make this move, however, we wanted to make it so that the confessionals will only have the option for anonymous (“behind the screen”) confessions. This will also include separate entrances for priest and penitent.

Our greatest desire is to make the confessional a prayerful place to meet God. More than any worldly reason, we want to respect the sacraments Christ has given us, especially this one, in which hearts are laid bare before God. By making this provision, we will continue to offer you, in a peaceful and private setting, a place to meet God and receive His mercy.

Please consult our confession schedule on the front of the bulletin. We will still have ten times per week to come to this sacrament. “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).

Saint John Nepomucene, Saint John Vianney, Saint Padre Pio, patrons of confessors: pray for us!

Prayer before Confession

Receive my confession, O most loving and gracious Lord Jesus Christ, only hope for the salvation of my soul. Grant to me true contrition of soul, so that day and night I may by penance make satisfaction for my many sins. Savior of the world, O good Jesus, Who gave Yourself to the death of the Cross to save sinners, look upon me, most wretched of all sinners; have pity on me, and give me the light to know my sins, true sorrow for them, and a firm purpose of never committing them again.

O gracious Virgin Mary, Immaculate Mother of Jesus, I implore you to obtain for me by your powerful intercession these graces from your Divine Son.

St. Joseph, pray for me.

Prayer after Confession

O almighty and most merciful God, I give You thanks with all the powers of my soul for this and all other mercies, graces, and blessings bestowed on me, and prostrating myself at Your sacred feet, I offer myself to be henceforth forever Yours. Let nothing in life or death ever separate me from You! I renounce with my whole soul all my treasons against You, and all the abominations and sins of my past life. I renew my promises made in Baptism, and from this moment I dedicate myself eternally to Your love and service. Grant that for the time to come, I may detest sin more than death itself, and avoid all such occasions and companies as have unhappily brought me to it. This I resolve to do by the aid of Your divine grace, without which I can do nothing. Amen.