Confession, in many religions, is the acknowledgment of sinful thoughts and actions. This is performed privately to a deity or to a religious authority or congregation. It is often seen as a required action of repentance and a necessary precursor to penance and atonement. It often leads to reconciliation and forgiveness.
In Christianity, practices vary widely by denomination: Roman Catholics confess to a priest in a formal sacrament; Eastern Orthodox Christians confess to a spiritual father; Lutherans and Anglicans observe both private and corporate forms; while Reformed and Methodist traditions emphasize communal confession in worship. In Islam, sins are confessed directly to God through prayer, without any intermediary. Judaism incorporates communal confession on holy days such as Yom Kippur, as well as private confession to those one has wronged. In Hinduism, confession forms part of Prāyaścitta, a broader practice of penance and atonement. Confession also appears in secular contexts, such as the Twelve-Step Program of Alcoholics Anonymous.Despite their differences, most traditions share a common understanding of confession as a path toward spiritual healing, restored relationships, and moral accountability.
Christianity Latin Catholicism In Catholic Church teaching, the Sacrament of Penance is the method by which individuals confess any sins they have committed after their baptism; these sins are then absolved by God through the administration of a priest, who assigns an act of penance. To validly receive absolution, the penitent must make a sincere sacramental confession of all known mortal sins not yet confessed to a priest and pray an act of contrition (a genre of prayers) that expresses both motives for sorrow and the resolve not to sin again.
Known by many names throughout the Latin Church, including penance, reconciliation, and confession, the sacrament is obligatory at least once a year for serious sins and is usually conducted within a confessional box, booth, or reconciliation room. While official Church publications usually refer to the sacrament as "penance", "reconciliation", or "penance and reconciliation", many clergy and laypeople continue to use the term "confession" when referring to the sacrament.For the Catholic Church, the sacrament intends to provide healing for the soul as well as to regain the grace of God, lost by sin. In Catholic teaching, a perfect act of contrition – where the penitent expresses sorrow for having offended God and not out of fear of eternal punishment – removes the eternal punishment associated with mortal sin, even outside of confession. However, Catholics must confess their mortal sins within confession at the earliest opportunity. In theological terms, the priest acts and receives from the Church the power of jurisdiction over the penitent. The Council of Trent (Session Fourteen, Chapter I) quoted John 20:22–23 as the primary Scriptural proof for the doctrine concerning the sacrament. Catholics also consider Matthew 18:18, describing the power to "bind" and to "loose", to be among the Scriptural bases for the sacrament.
The Catholic Church teaches that sacramental confession requires three "acts" on the part of the penitent: contrition (sorrow of the soul for the sins committed), disclosure of the sins (the 'confession'), and satisfaction (the 'penance'; i.e., doing something to make amends for the sins). The basic form of confession has not changed for centuries, although at one time, confessions were made publicly. The concept of confessing in private is called , which comes from Hellenistic and later Roman mythology and was eventually adopted into Christian symbolism.
Typically, the penitent begins sacramental confession by saying, "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [time period] since my last confession." The penitent must then confess what they believe to be grave and mortal sins, in both kind and number,1983 Code of Canon Law, Can. 988 §1: to be reconciled with God and the Church. The sinner may also confess venial sins; this is especially recommended if the penitent has no mortal sins to confess. According to the Catechism, "without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church. Indeed, the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ, and progress in the life of the Spirit."Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1458. "When Christ's faithful strive to confess all the sins they can remember, they undoubtedly place all of them before the divine mercy for pardon."Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1456.
The Catholic Church teaches, based on the Parable of the Prodigal Son, that confession is not a tribunal or criminal court, where one is condemned by God like a criminal, but a "wedding banquet hall, where the community celebrates Easter, Christ's victory over sin and death, in the joyful experience of his forgiving mercy." In confession, the church believes God judges a person in the sense of bringing to light their sins by granting the person the ability to confess their sins to the confessor, then grants the person repentance and, through the confessor, grants the person forgiveness. God's forgiveness restores the person to "the brightness of the white robe of baptism, a garment specifically required to participate in the [wedding] feast."Evangelizatio.Va: 24 Hours for the Lord, Part 1: Confession
In Catholicism, it is considered the duty of priests not to reveal anything learned during the Sacrament of Penance; this protection against disclosure is known as the Seal of Confession.
Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, and Eastern Rite Catholicism
Orthodox Christians as well as members of the Assyrian Church of the East and Eastern Rite Catholics choose an individual to trust as their earthly guide to help them grow in Christ. In most cases, this is the parish priest, but may also be a starets (Elder, a monastic who is well known for their advancement in the spiritual life). This person is often referred to as one's "spiritual father". Once chosen, the individual turns to their spiritual guide for advice on their spiritual development, confessing sins, and asking advice. Orthodox Christians tend to formally confess only to this individual, with their spiritual guide assisting them with their growth in Christ and through Theosis. The bond between an Orthodox Christian and their spiritual father is so deep that no legal official can override a spiritual guide in criminal cases. What is confessed to one's spiritual guide is protected by the same seal as would be any priest hearing a confession. Only an ordained priest may pronounce the absolution.
Confession does not take place in a confessional, but normally in the main part of the church itself, usually before an analogion (lectern) set up near the iconostasion. On the analogion is placed a Gospel Book and a blessing cross. The confession often takes place before an icon of Jesus Christ. Orthodox Christians understand that during Confession, forgiveness is not bestowed by the priest, but by Christ. The priest stands only as a witness and vessel to be used by God. Before confessing, the penitent venerates the Gospel Book and blessing cross and places the thumb and first two fingers of his right hand on the feet of Christ as depicted on the cross. The confessor will often read an admonition warning the penitent to make a full confession, holding nothing back.
As with administration of other sacraments, in cases of emergency confession may be heard anywhere. For this reason, especially in the Russian Orthodox Church, the pectoral cross that the priest wears at all times will often have the Icon of Christ "Not Made by Hands" inscribed on it so that such an icon will be available to penitents who are experiencing imminent death or life-threatening danger in the presence of a priest but away from a church.
In general practice, after one confesses to one's spiritual guide, the parish priest (who may or may not have heard the confession) covers the head of the person with his Epitrachelion (Stole) and reads the Prayer of Absolution, asking God to forgive the transgression of the individual (the specific prayer differs between Greek and Slavic use). It is not uncommon for a person to confess their sins to their spiritual guide on a regular basis but only seek out the priest to read the prayer before receiving Holy Communion.
In the Eastern Churches, clergy often make their confession in the sanctuary. A bishop, priest, or deacon will confess at the Holy Table (Altar) where the Gospel Book and blessing cross are normally kept. He confesses in the same manner as a layman, except that when a priest hears a bishop's confession, the priest kneels.
There are many different practices regarding how often Orthodox Christians should go to confession. Some Patriarchates advise confession before each reception of Holy Communion, others advise confessing during each of the four fasting periods (Great Lent, Nativity Fast, Apostles' Fast and Dormition Fast), and there are many additional variants. Many pastors encourage frequent confession and communion. In some of the monasteries on Mount Athos, the monks will confess their sins daily.
Eastern Christians also continue to practice a form of general confession, (or manifest contrition), referred to as the rite of "Mutual Forgiveness". This rite involves an exchange between the priest and the congregation (or, in monasteries, between the superior and the brotherhood). The priest will make a prostration before all and ask their forgiveness for sins committed in act, word, deed, and thought. Those present ask that God may forgive them, and then they in turn all prostrate themselves and ask the priest's forgiveness. The priest then pronounces a blessing. The rite of Mutual Forgiveness does not replace the Mystery of Confession and Absolution, but is for the purpose of maintaining Christian charity and a humble and contrite spirit. This general confession is practiced in monasteries at the first service on arising (the Midnight Office) and the last service before retiring to sleep (Compline). Old Believers will perform the rite regularly before the beginning of the Divine Liturgy. The best-known asking of mutual forgiveness occurs at Vespers on the Sunday of Forgiveness, and it is with this act that Great Lent begins.
Lutheranism
Lutherans practice confession and absolution, seeing and as biblical evidence for the sacrament of confession.Luther's Small Catechism with Explanation