Confession app · the sacrament of Penance

Prepare a good confession, the traditional way

The app walks you through the preparation the catechism teaches: an examination of conscience by the Commandments of God and of the Church, the capital sins and the duties of your state, then a step-by-step guide in the confessional — so that you kneel knowing what to say.

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What is inside

Everything for the preparation, in its order

  • The examination in four parts. I the Ten Commandments, II the five precepts of the Church, III the seven capital sins, IV the duties of state — of spouses, of parents, professional duties.
  • Mortal or venial. Each question marked M or V, the usual gravity of the matter; tick what concerns you.
  • The notebook. A private notebook gathers the sins you ticked, to confess them; it clears once the confession is recorded.
  • The guide in the confessional. Place yourself in God's presence, enter and greet — “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned” —, accuse the mortal sins first with their number and circumstances, conclude, receive absolution while reciting the act of contrition, perform the penance; then mark it as confessed.
  • Mortal or venial ? A doctrinal helper to discern grave matter, full knowledge and full consent, after the Catechism of Trent and Tanquerey.
The confession app's examination of conscience: the First Commandment opened, questions ticked, each marked as grave or venial matter

How to prepare a good confession

  1. Examine your conscience. Recall your sins since your last good confession, by the Commandments, their number and their kind.
  2. Be sorry for them. Contrition, the chief part: sorrow for having offended God, at least for fear of His punishments, best for love of Him.
  3. Resolve not to sin again. A firm purpose of amendment, and of avoiding the occasions of sin.
  4. Confess them. All mortal sins, with their number, plainly, to the priest.
  5. Do the penance. Fulfil the satisfaction the priest gives you.

Examination of conscience · an excerpt

The Ten Commandments of God

A few of the questions of the first three Commandments. The whole examination is in the app.

  1. I. I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt not have strange gods before Me.

    • Have I failed in faith? Wilfully doubted a truth taught by the Church?
    • Have I consulted horoscopes, fortune-telling, tarot, mediums, spiritism?
    • Have I neglected acts of faith, hope and charity? Neglected regular prayer?

  2. II. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

    • Have I blasphemed against God, the Virgin or the Saints?
    • Have I sworn falsely? Made vows and failed to keep them?

  3. III. Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day.

    • Have I missed Sunday Mass or a holy day of obligation without a legitimate impediment?
    • Have I done servile work on Sunday without necessity?

  4. IV. Honour thy father and thy mother.

  5. V. Thou shalt not kill.

  6. VI. Thou shalt not commit adultery.

  7. VII. Thou shalt not steal.

  8. VIII. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

  9. IX. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife.

  10. X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's goods.

The complete examination is in the app

The whole examination and the help to make the confession, in the app:

  • I — the Ten Commandments, question by question;
  • II — the five precepts of the Church;
  • III — the seven capital sins;
  • IV — the duties of state: of spouses, of parents, professional duties;
  • each question marked mortal or venial, a private notebook and the step-by-step guide in the confessional.
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The act of contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell;

but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love.

I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

To read and pray on the site

Journal

Questions

The confession app, in a few questions

Is there a Catholic confession app?

Yes. Iter Fidei prepares you for confession: the examination of conscience in four parts, a private notebook of what you ticked, and a step-by-step guide in the confessional with the act of contrition. The confession itself is made to a priest. What is confession?

Can I go to confession through an app?

No. The sacrament requires a priest who hears and absolves; an app can only help you prepare.

What is the difference between contrition and attrition?

Perfect contrition is sorrow for sin out of love of God; attrition, out of fear of His punishments. Attrition suffices with the sacrament. Contrition and attrition

Is the confession app free?

Joining early access is free; at launch the app will be offered by subscription, without advertising. The act of contrition is free to read on this page.