An Anglican Catechism (Expanded Version)

Question 252: How do you practice confession in prayer?

Question 252: How do you practice confession in prayer?

You practice confession in prayer by humbly examining your heart before God, acknowledging your sins, expressing sincere sorrow, and asking for forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Confession should be honest, specific, and regular, made with trust in God’s mercy and a desire to be renewed in holiness. (Psalm 139:23–24, Isaiah 55:7, Luke 15:21, Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)

Full Scripture References​

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” – Psalm 139:23–24 (BSB)

“Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.” – Isaiah 55:7 (BSB)

“The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’” – Luke 15:21 (BSB)

“Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” – Acts 3:19 (BSB)

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9 (BSB)

Expanded Explanation of Catechism Question

To practice confession in prayer is to bring your sins—known and unknown—into the light of God’s truth and mercy. It begins with self-examination, often aided by Scripture or the Ten Commandments. Bishop TJ Johnston (AMiA, All Saints, Pawleys Island) teaches, “We do not confess to earn forgiveness—we confess because forgiveness has already been secured in Christ. Confession restores our fellowship, not our status.” (A Life of Repentance, 2015)

Anglicans are trained to confess regularly through the liturgy, but personal confession should be more than routine. Fr. Peter Johnston (ACNA, Holy Cross Cathedral, Loganville, GA) advises, “Begin with silence. Ask the Spirit to reveal sin. Write it down if needed. Speak it plainly to God—not vaguely, but specifically—and receive His Word of pardon with faith.” (Pastoral Teaching on Prayer Practices, 2021)

Confession is not meant to lead us into despair, but into renewal. Bishop Todd Hunter (AMiA, Churches for the Sake of Others) writes, “Healthy confession includes both sorrow for sin and hope for change. The God who convicts also cleanses.” (Our Favorite Sins, 2011) This dual movement—from brokenness to healing—is part of how we grow in holiness.

Dr. Ephraim Radner (ACNA, Wycliffe College, Toronto) notes, “When we confess, we align ourselves with the truth of God’s judgment and the hope of His mercy. We stop hiding, and in doing so, we begin to walk again in the light.” (Leviticus as Theology, 2008)

Confession may also be practiced with the help of a spiritual director, mentor, or priest. The Anglican tradition allows, though does not require, auricular confession. As the 2019 BCP teaches: “All may, none must, some should.” In this spirit, Fr. Kenneth Tanner (Anglican Priest, Church of the Holy Redeemer, Michigan) encourages pastoral confession when burdened by persistent sin: “Hearing ‘You are forgiven’ from a fellow priest of Christ can break chains that solitary confession sometimes cannot.” (Essay on Pastoral Absolution, 2019)

Early Church Fathers On Catechism Question

“He who confesses his sins receives mercy; he who conceals them makes war against himself. Confession is a mighty weapon—it defeats the enemy and strengthens the soul.” – Basil the Great, Homily on Psalm 32, c. 370 AD

“Let us not delay repentance. Let confession be daily, so that sin may not become habit, and grace may not be resisted.” – Cyprian of Carthage, Letter to the Lapsed, c. 250 AD

“No one is healed unless he reveals his wound. So let the Christian uncover his sins before God, and healing will surely come.” – Ambrose of Milan, On Repentance, c. 385 AD

“True confession is not only words, but the breaking of the heart. Let the tears of repentance fall, and grace will follow.” – John Chrysostom, Homily on Repentance, c. 390 AD

An Anglican Catechism (Expanded Version)

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