During the great fasting periods, we try as best as we can to increase our fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. As part of our prayer, we should also increase, as best as we can, our reception of the holy mysteries. One such mystery that will be very beneficial during this time is the Holy Mystery of Reconciliation. This Holy Mystery is one of the most important weapons we have in our spiritual arsenal.

Holy Reconciliation is a wonderful Mystery (Sacrament) and goes by different names in English: Confession, Penance, Reconciliation. The last one appears to best describe this Mystery, but whatever the case, it is important to understand what it does. It is, in essence, a restoration of our baptismal grace, and thus, a reconciliation of our relationship with God.  

Have you ever wished you could be re-baptized and start all over again? Well, this is what this Mystery provides, a renewal of God's life within us. Some of you are in the habit of receiving this Mystery weekly. This is a good practice, but if you are unable, due to time or other circumstances, you should try your best to receive this Mystery at least once a month.

This is why there is usually an opportunity to receive this Mystery during Orthros (Morning Prayer) each Sunday. Sometimes the lines can be quite long so don't wait until the last minute. If you feel that you are in need of this Mystery, come before Orthros so that you can receive this Mystery before the Divine Liturgy and before receiving the Holy Mystery of the Eucharist. Besides, arriving before Orthros is a good spiritual discipline in and of itself and should be everyone's goal every Sunday!

When you do come up for the Mystery, the priest will be standing just to the left of the icon of Christ. He will leave the space in front of the icon open for you. Come right up and stand next to him while facing the icon. When you come, he will immediately begin praying with you the penitent's prayer: "O God be propitious to me a sinner and have mercy on me." Together, you will say this three times with bows while making the sign of the cross. The priest is saying this with you as a fellow sinner. So this is a prayer you should be saying as well.

Next, he will bless you by making the sign of the cross over your head.  This is intended to help you make a good confession.  Next, he will say, "Have you asked Jesus for forgiveness of any sins that you may have committed."  The hoped for response is, "Yes," since before you come to this Mystery you should have already asked God for forgiveness of whatever sins you have on your conscience and have made a real heartfelt act of contrition and decision, with God's grace, to make a life change.  Without that, the Mystery can't help you.

The priest will then ask, "Are there any sins you feel you need to confess at this time?"  He is saying this because, while we all have many sins that we deal with on a regular basis, there are usually some that are more serious than others and it is for this reason that you are probably coming for reconciliation.  So, the answer would be, "Yes, I........etc."  This is when you confess the more significant things with which you are struggling.  There is no need to get into colorful details or pull out a list or smart phone to remind you of every possible infraction.  This is also certainly not the time to go through an examination of conscience.  All the priest needs to hear is the most significant issues that are bothering you and just enough information so that he can offer some advice. But the basic principle regarding details here is: less information is better.  He'll ask if he needs to know more.  And remember, there are others in line.

The priest will then attempt to give you some recommendations, maybe it is some advice about the issues, maybe it is a Scripture passage to read, or maybe it is about improving your fasting as a way to increase your willpower to resist temptation.  Think of it as a prescription/medicine given you by a doctor.  If you take it, it will likely help you.  If you don't, it certainly won't.  After he has given you the recommendations, then he will say, "Now bow down your head and pray for God's blessing."  

You then bow toward the icon of Christ and he will put his epitrachelion (stole) over your head and say, "God it was who pardoned David through Nathan the Prophet when he confessed his sins, Peter who wept bitterly for his denial, the Harlot weeping at his feet, the Publican, and the Prodigal Son; may the same God forgive thee all things, through the hand of me a sinner, both in this world and in the world to come, and set thee uncondemned before his awesome Judgment Seat."

The priest will then make the sign of the cross over you saying, "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." After that he will remove the epitrachelion saying, "Now having no further care for the sins which thou hast confessed, depart in peace."  At this point, it is tradition to kiss the cross on the epitrachelion and then the hand of the priest from which you have received this Mystery.  As you depart he will ask you to pray for him.  Please remember to do so since he also is a sinner and needs your prayers!  

Come to the Holy Mystery of Reconciliation as soon as need arises.  You never know when it will be your last opportunity.