Catholic Confession: What to Say — Exact Words & Examples

The hardest part of confession, for most people, is the first ten seconds. I know a grown man who sat in his car in the parish parking lot for twenty minutes rehearsing his opening line before his first confession in thirty years. So let’s take the guesswork out of it. Here are the exact words to say, from the moment the screen slides open to the moment you leave, with examples you can adapt to your own life. For the full walkthrough of the sacrament itself, see our step-by-step guide to how to go to confession.

The Exact Opening Words

When the priest opens the screen (or you sit down face to face), you begin with the sign of the cross and the traditional opening: “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [two months, a year, twenty years] since my last confession.” That last part is not an interrogation — it simply helps the priest offer the right guidance. If it has been a very long time, you can add: “Father, it has been a long time, and I’m a little nervous.” Priests hear that every week, and they will help you through it.

How to Name Your Sins

Now you simply name your sins — honestly, briefly, and without dramatic detail. You don’t need to tell the whole story; a sentence per sin is plenty. Examples: “I lost my temper with my children more times than I can count.” “I lied to my boss about finishing a project.” “I gossiped about a coworker.” “I struggled with impure thoughts and websites.” “I skipped Mass on Sundays when I could have gone.” “I was unkind to my husband.” If you’re not sure what counts as a sin, the Catholic confession sins list and our examination of conscience questions will help you prepare.

What the Priest Says

After you finish, say: “…and for these and all the sins of my past life, I am truly sorry.” The priest may offer a short word of counsel or a penance — usually a few prayers, sometimes an act of charity: “For your penance, pray one decade of the rosary for peace in your family.” Then he will ask you to say the Act of Contrition while he prays the words of absolution: “God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of His Son has reconciled the world to Himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins…” When he finishes, he says, “Go in peace.” That is the whole exchange.

The Act of Contrition

You will be asked to pray one of the versions of the Act of Contrition. The most common: “O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins because of Your just punishments, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.” If you forget the words, simply say: “Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner” — the priest will understand, and the absolution is what matters.

What If You Forget Something?

It happens to everyone. If you forget a sin during confession, it is still forgiven — your intention to confess everything was sincere, and God honors that. Just mention the forgotten sin at your next confession. And if you remember something on the way out of the church, you don’t need to rush back; your confession is complete. One more reassurance: whatever you say in the confessional is protected by the seal of confession. The priest cannot and will not repeat it to anyone, ever. That seal is absolute, even under threat of law.

Face to Face or Behind the Screen?

Every confessional in the US offers both options: you can kneel behind the screen anonymously, or sit face to face with the priest. There is no obligation to go face to face, and no shame in choosing the screen — most people start there. Over time, many Catholics find face-to-face confession deepening, but the choice is entirely yours, and you can switch back and forth from week to week. What matters is that you come — the grace of the sacrament is the same either way.