Confession

What it is

Across many religions, confession means saying out loud what one has done wrong in thought or act. It can be made in private to God, or to a person given religious authority, or in front of a whole congregation. Most traditions place it before penance, the making of amends, and see it as the road to atonement. The aim is not only forgiveness: communities describe it as a way to repair relationships, take moral responsibility and find healing. Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Hinduism all hold some version of the practice, and each gives it its own shape and rules.

In Christianity

Christian practice differs from church to church. In the Roman Catholic Church confession is a formal sacrament, heard by a priest who gives absolution and sets a penance. Eastern Orthodox Christians bring their sins to a chosen spiritual father. Lutherans keep private confession and absolution with a pastor, and Anglicans use both private and shared forms. Reformed and Methodist congregations put the emphasis on confessing together in worship. Despite the differences, each tradition treats the practice as a way back to God and to the community, and most attach a promise of secrecy to what is heard.

Catholic practice

The Catholic Church calls the sacrament penance, reconciliation or confession. Absolution comes from God through the priest, who also names an act of penance. Three acts are asked of the penitent: sorrow, the telling of the sins, and satisfaction. Serious sins must be confessed at least once a year, and everyday faults may be told too. Confession usually happens in a box, booth or reconciliation room, though it was once public. Priests are bound never to repeat what they hear, a rule known as the Seal of Confession.

Eastern Christian practice

Orthodox Christians, Assyrian Church of the East members and Eastern Rite Catholics choose a guide, often their parish priest, sometimes a monastic elder known as a starets, whom they call their spiritual father. Confession normally takes place in the main body of the church, at a lectern near the icon screen, with a Gospel book and a cross on it. The priest stands as a witness; forgiveness is believed to come from Christ. Afterwards he lays his stole over the penitent's head and reads the prayer of absolution.

Beyond Christianity

Islam has no intermediary: sins are brought to God in prayer. Jews confess as a community on holy days, above all Yom Kippur, and also privately to anyone they have wronged. In Hinduism, confession belongs to Prāyaścitta, the wider work of penance and atonement. Outside religion, groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous use confession as a step in recovery. What the traditions share, according to the sources, is a view of confession as a route to spiritual healing, mended relationships and moral accountability.

How Confession is kept

In the Catholic form the penitent greets the priest, tells the sins and their number, and prays an act of contrition; the priest gives absolution and a penance. Orthodox practice begins with the choice of a spiritual father; the penitent bows before the Gospel book and cross, confesses, and receives the prayer of absolution under the priest's stole. A Lutheran confesses to a pastor, who speaks the words of forgiveness. Jewish communal confession is said together on Yom Kippur. At the Sunday of Forgiveness, priest and people bow to one another and ask pardon.

When and where

Catholic teaching asks for confession at least once a year when serious sins are involved, and pastors make it available whenever it is reasonably sought. Orthodox parishes advise it before Holy Communion, or during the four fasting seasons: Great Lent, the Nativity Fast, the Apostles' Fast and the Dormition Fast. Jewish communal confession belongs to Yom Kippur.

Confession is kept wherever these faiths are practised. Catholic confession usually happens in a confessional box or reconciliation room; Orthodox confession is heard in the body of the church, and in an emergency anywhere at all. Monks on Mount Athos confess daily. Old Believers hold the rite of mutual forgiveness before the Divine Liturgy.

What Confession means

Catholic teaching compares confession not to a courtroom but to a wedding hall, where the community rejoices at Easter. The white garment given at baptism is said to be restored. Eastern Christians see the priest as a witness while Christ forgives. The word sub rosa, for secrecy, comes from Greek and Roman myth and passed into Christian use. Across the traditions the meaning is much the same: honesty about failure, a repaired bond, and the beginning of a changed life.

Days Confession is marked

Questions people ask about Confession

See also

OvooA stone cairn on a peak or pass, circled by travellers and honoured in sky worshipSaint Andrew's DayThe feast of Andrew the Apostle, kept on 30 November and Scotland's national dayIntercession of the TheotokosAn Eastern Christian autumn feast honoring the protective veil of the Virgin MaryKiddush LevanahA Jewish ritual service held after the new moon to bless God for the lunar cycle and seek protection.

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle

• Confession (religion) on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-12.