Prayers after Confession, and what to do next

After Confession, do your penance first, then thank God for his mercy. Psalm 32 and Psalm 103 are the classic prayers of thanksgiving for forgiveness, and a few words of your own are just as good. Then make one small resolution and go in peace. If you forgot a sin, it's forgiven along with the rest.

What should I do right after Confession?

1. Do your penance. If it's a prayer, sit in a pew and pray it before you leave the church. That way you won't forget it.
2. Give thanks. Stay a few more minutes and thank God. One of the prayers below, or your own words.
3. Make a resolution. Pick one concrete thing to work on before your next Confession.
4. Go in peace. You were forgiven. Leave it there.

Why the penance comes first

Absolution takes away your sins, but sin also leaves damage behind, in you and around you. The penance is a small way of helping to set that right, and the Church calls it satisfaction (CCC 1459). It might be a prayer, an act of service, or a sacrifice (CCC 1460).

Do it soon, while you remember exactly what it was. If you forget your penance, don't panic. Your absolution still stands. Mention it at your next Confession and the priest will help.

Psalm 32: a prayer of thanksgiving after Confession

Psalm 32 reads as if it were written for the walk out of the confessional. It describes the relief of a person who stopped hiding his sin and told God the truth (Psalm 32:1-2, 5, RSV):

Psalm 103: for when you feel the weight lift

Psalm 103 is pure gratitude. Pray it slowly and let the words land (Psalm 103:1-3, 10-12, RSV):

"As far as the east is from the west" is worth carrying out of the church with you. That's how far the sins you just confessed have gone.

A short thanksgiving in your own words

You don't need a psalm. Something this simple is a real prayer:

That's an example, not a traditional text, so make it yours. You can also end with a Glory Be:

Some priests close Confession with "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good," and you answer, "For his mercy endures for ever." That exchange is a thanksgiving prayer in itself. You can repeat it quietly in the pew.

How do I make a good resolution?

Keep it small and specific. "Be a better person" is too vague to keep. "Put my phone in the kitchen at night" or "apologize to my sister this week" is something you can actually do.

The best resolution usually targets the near occasion of sin: the place, time or habit that keeps leading you to the same fall. You already promised this in your Act of Contrition. Now give it one concrete shape.

What if I forgot to confess a sin?

If you honestly forgot it, it's forgiven. The Catechism says that when you try to confess all the sins you can remember, you place all of them before God's mercy (CCC 1456). Forgetting isn't hiding.

If the sin you forgot was serious, mention it at your next Confession. You don't need to rush back today, and you don't need to stay away from Communion in the meantime because of it. Just bring it next time, simply: "Father, last time I forgot to confess this."

Leaving something out on purpose is different. If you deliberately held back a serious sin, go back, tell the priest, and he'll help you put it right.

What if I don't feel any different?

Many people feel lighter after Confession, sometimes close to tears. The Catechism says reconciliation with God is usually followed by peace and serenity of conscience, with real spiritual consolation (CCC 1468). But the forgiveness doesn't depend on how you feel. If you leave tired or flat, you're still forgiven. The priest's words of absolution did what they say.

If you tend to worry after Confession, going over what you said and whether you said it right, try not to replay it. Trust the priest and the sacrament. That anxious second-guessing is worth mentioning next time too, since a regular confessor can help with it.

Keep the next one closer

The days right after Confession are a good time to start a habit, while your conscience is clear and the resolution is fresh. A few minutes each evening with a daily examen keeps you close to God and makes the next Confession easier to prepare. If you're still learning the whole process, our step-by-step guide walks through it.