With Lent quickly approaching on February 17th, it's time to examine our consciences and make a good confession.  While frequent confession is recommended for everybody, the Church requires that we make a confession of our sins at least once each year.

From the blog of Fr Z at What Does The Prayer Really Say

Fr. Z’s 20 Tips For Making A Good Confession   o{]:¬)

We should…

  1) ...examine our consciences regularly and thoroughly;
  2) ...wait our turn in line patiently;
  3) ...come at the time confessions are scheduled, not a few minutes before they are to end;
  4) ...speak distinctly but never so loudly that we might be overheard;
  5) ...state our sins clearly and briefly without rambling;
  6) ...confess all mortal sins in number and kind;
  7) ...listen carefully to the advice the priest gives;
  8) ...confess our own sins and not someone else’s;
  9) ...carefully listen to and remember the penance and be sure to understand it;
10) ...use a regular formula for confession so that it is familiar and comfortable;
11) ...never be afraid to say something "embarrassing"... just say it;
12) ...never worry that the priest thinks we are jerks…. he is usually impressed by our courage;
13) ...never fear that the priest will not keep our confession secret… he is bound by the Seal;
14) ...never confess "tendencies" or "struggles"... just sins;
15) ...never leave the confessional before the priest has finished giving absolution;
16) ...memorize an Act of Contrition;
17) ...answer the priest’s questions briefly if he asks for a clarification;
18) ...ask questions if we can’t understand what he means when he tells us something;
19) ...keep in mind that sometimes priests can have bad days just like we do;
20) ...remember that priests must go to confession too … they know what we are going through.

Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Lantana, FL is celebrating Low Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite every Sunday starting September 6th at 2:00PM.  Holy Spirit is located on Lantana Road just east of I-95 at 1000 Lantana Road, Lantana, Florida 33462. Tel. #561-585-5970.

The Extraordinary Form, also called The Latin Mass or Trindentine Latin Mass, is Mass using the Roman Missal of 1962.  Information to familiarize yourself with the Extraordinary Form is available at SanctaMissa.org.