How do I know if
I'm ready?

If you've read this
far, chances are you're serious about getting ready. Sometimes we are reluctant to go to
Reconciliation because we're not sure what to do or what to say. How do we know that we're
ready. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, three things are necessary ...

• CONTRITION.
  Contrition is "sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together
  with the resolution not to sin again. The reception of this sacrament ought to be prepared
  for by an examination of conscience made in the light of the
  Word of God. Click on the "examination of conscience"
  link here for one version based on the Ten Commandments.

  
  

• CONFESSION OF SINS.
  The confession [or disclosure] of sins, even from a simply human point of view, frees us
  and facilitates our reconciliation with others. Through such an admission we squarely look
  at the sins we are responsible for, take responsibility for them, and therefore open
  ourselves again to God and to the communion of the Church in order to make a new future
  possible. Confession to a priest is an essential part of the sacrament of Penance.
  "All mortal sins of which penitents after a diligent self-examination are conscious
  must be recounted by them in confession. According to the Church's command, "after
  having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation
  faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year."

  
  

• SATISFACTION. Many
  sins wrong our neighbor. One must do what is possible in order to repair the harm [[e.g.
  return stolen goods, restore the reputation of someone slandered, pay compensation for
  injuries." Simple justice requires as much. Raised up form sin, the sinner must still
  recover full spiritual health by doing something more to make amends for the sin. The
  person must "make satisfaction for" or "expiate" sins. This
  satisfaction is called "penance." It can consist of prayer, an offering, works
  of mercy, service of neighbor, voluntary self-denial or sacrifices.