How to confess
Step by step, without the awkwardness
For many, the biggest obstacle to confession is simply not knowing what to say. The guide in Holymeet walks through every step and gives the actual sentences that open and close a confession.
What it gives you
You know what to say
Each step carries the words that are spoken, so there is no stumbling in front of the priest.
No fear of the first time
Whether it has been years or it is your first time, the guide takes you from the greeting to absolution.
Paired with the examination
The guide and the examination of conscience are linked, so preparation and the act itself sit together.
Always at hand
You can read it in the queue outside the confessional, on your phone, and offline.
A sample — a few pointers
Examine your conscience
Quietly go through the commandments and recall the time since your last confession.
Greeting and how long it has been
You begin with the sign of the cross and say when you last confessed.
Name the sins honestly
Without softening or excusing — the priest is there to help, not to judge.
Contrition and penance
You pray the act of contrition, receive absolution and carry out the penance given.
These are pointers only. The full guide, with the words that are spoken, opens inside the app.
Preparing for a good confession
Confession has an order: examining the conscience, sincere contrition, the resolve to sin no more, naming the sins before the priest, and finally the penance. Anyone who walks that order once with a guide will not need it the second time.
The usual obstacle is not sin but discomfort — not knowing how to begin, what to say and how to finish. That is why the guide gives concrete sentences at every step rather than a description, and links to the examination of conscience for preparing beforehand.
The guide is written for people who have not confessed in years and for those going for the first time since confirmation. It assumes no memorised formulas: each step carries what is said, from the greeting to the thanks after absolution.
Frequently asked
What if I cannot remember my last confession?
Tell the priest roughly — "it has been a few years" is perfectly enough. An exact date is not required.
Do I have to list absolutely everything?
Grave sins are to be disclosed sincerely. If you forget something without meaning to, the confession is still valid.
What if I get flustered halfway through?
Priests are used to helping and leading the conversation. You can keep the guide open on your phone while you wait.
How long does a confession take?
Usually a few minutes. The preparation at home, through the examination of conscience, takes longer than the confession itself.