The very name "sacrament of confession" suggests that something intimate is being accomplished, something that reveals the secret moments of life that a person prefers not to return to. Therefore, many confessions are afraid and try to avoid it. But most people sooner or later have a need to clear their conscience, to reconcile with God and with themselves. And then the logical question arises: how to prepare for confession correctly. Indeed, the more sins that a person has not repented of, the thicker the wall becomes between him and the Creator. The deed gradually destroys the soul. A person ceases to love people, fear, irritability, nervousness, anger, anger appear. Depression, longing develops, a desire for suicide, evil addictions appear. In the end, the body becomes ill. A person would be glad to help his soul already, but does not know how?
You can prepare for confession at home, realizing your sins, lamenting in heart about them. But purification is not limited to this. Truly, it is accomplished only through the mediation of a priest.
It is very difficult to independently determine your inner spiritual state and discover sins for an inexperienced person. As an example of how the preparation for confession, the list of sins should go, you can use the work of St. Ignatius Brianchaninov, applying it to the conditions of modernity.
Not all priests welcome reading on a piece of paper. Nevertheless, it is acceptable, since it is not possible to prepare for a beginner’s confession in a different way. True, one condition must be met: sins are read out completely and sincerely, and not formally, or in general the note is simply transmitted silently to the priest. It is unacceptable. If the confessor considers it necessary, he may still ask about something. This is especially important for a person who came for the first time and is experiencing some difficulties. After confession, the sheet with the prescribed sins must be destroyed.
An experienced, perspicacious priest will always pay attention to the fact that the repentant needs a deeper awareness of the source of his sins and repentance. Then he imposes on him in order to educate penance - church punishment in the form of bowing, reciting prayers, and observing strict fasting. In this case, sins are also released after the believer fulfills penance. Only the spiritual father who imposed her can free her.
How to prepare for the general confession practiced in the church, when the priest forgives sins to all those who repent, without listening to each individually? It would seem that you can not really worry and not be afraid. Therefore, it looks attractive to people who have never resorted to individual confession and consider the general sufficient. But this is not so, just for them such repentance cannot be considered valid. Only those believers who often receive communion and do not have mortal sins can approach it .
Confession must necessarily precede the sacrament, and therefore, be accompanied by fasting, the duration and severity of which is determined by the content of sins and the church calendar.
How often do you need to confess and partake? It is enough for a layman four times a year - during each post. In posts before Christmas and Easter, you can two times. But this does not free the believer from constant internal ordering and perfection of his soul and spirit.
Preliminary preparations for the confession and communion of children should begin at the age of seven. According to the customs of the Church, babies after their baptism and up to seven years of age are considered innocent. During this period, they can take communion very often, literally daily. But, starting from the age of seven, children should prepare for confession and get accustomed to receive communion on an empty stomach.