Preparation for confession is one of the most important stages of spiritual development

Unfortunately, none of us is perfect. But there are times when we just need to turn to God - with a request or for consolation. And in order for our words to be heard, we need to pass the sacrament of confession, cleanse ourselves of bad thoughts and sins. However, not all so simple. Confession must be carefully and seriously prepared.

Stages of preparation

Preparation for confession consists of several stages. First, you need to understand what exactly you should say. We are used to consider ourselves to be good, good, positive people. Rarely, who dares to confess even to himself in not too plausible deeds and thoughts, and even bring them to someone's court, to make a subject of discussion ... It seems to us that as we do, most people do, and no one pushes anyone Fingers. Preparing for confession helps to realize the illegality of such an opinion. The fact that someone does the same as we do does not remove from our actions the seals of sinfulness. To understand this and sincerely repent, to want to get rid of sins - that's what the sacred mystery implies.

The next stage is to try to cope with your embarrassment. It is especially strong when such a conversation with the Lord is for the first time. Preparing for confession includes the attitude that the priest who will listen to us is not just a person, but a kind of connecting link between us and God. He is appointed by the Higher Power to accomplish the Sacrament of Repentance over us. So embarrass him or try to hide something - it's like hiding from the all-seeing eye of the Most High. Thus, preparation for confession is a very, very serious spiritual work of a man over himself. It will give us the opportunity to come to a decision to say goodbye to one sins forever and to fight violently with our other unholy habits.

What rules of confession should be known in advance

Going to church, we are tuning to the fact that our confession, our act will be pleasing to God and accepted by Him. This will happen if our words go from the heart, with utmost sincerity, without embellishment and diligence, whitewash, justify ourselves, with humility and fear before the Lord. What are the basic confessional rules?

• Preparation for confession of sins requires understanding and telling your own, and not someone else's. We will ask for forgiveness for ourselves, not for our neighbor;
• Do not tell a long story about confession. It is necessary to state clearly and concretely what we did in our lives "not so", where we stumbled or made a mistake, to whom pain and evil were inflicted;
• Confession in the church does not provide for again and again to recall those misdeeds in which we have already repented and for which we have received forgiveness. Repeat is possible and even necessary only if we commit our sin again;
• But you can not hide anything. Otherwise, it may seem that we do not realize the seriousness of what is happening, we treat the process superficially, and, by and large, God himself is not seriously perceived, we play hide and seek with Him. This attitude, of course, is unacceptable. By this we only increase the burden of our sins, make them unbearable;
• The main purpose of the confession is not only to receive forgiveness, so that the priest can read the appropriate prayer over us. The goal is to renounce the old unrighteous life and realize the desire to start a new life, like a child of God. If this is not in us, then the confession will turn into a simple retelling of worldly stories, without enlightenment and purification. And there will be no meaning in this;
• When preparing for confession, one should fast and lead a modest way of life, read the Bible and spiritual literature. The priest, to whom you turn, will give appropriate instructions and instructions.

Confession is a responsible exercise, it imposes a number of duties on a person. Resist them - the task of those who want to find in God a reliable support and guiding force for the entire earthly life.