Every Advent, the same voice comes back in the Sunday Gospels: John the Baptist, standing by the Jordan, telling people to get ready. Not by decorating or shopping, but by turning around. For many Catholics, the most concrete way to answer him is to go to confession before Christmas.
This guide explains why confession belongs to Advent, what the Church actually asks of you, and how to prepare in about fifteen minutes. It includes Advent questions to reflect on and a word for anyone who has been away for years.
Why confession belongs to Advent
Advent is a season of waiting for Christ: remembering his first coming at Bethlehem and looking toward his return. The Church describes it as a time of devout and joyful expectation. It is not Lent, but it carries a note of preparation and conversion.
The Gospel readings make that plain. On the second and third Sundays of Advent the Church reads about John the Baptist, who came preaching repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Luke quotes the prophet Isaiah to describe him:
Luke 3:4
"As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight."
Confession is one of the most direct ways to "make ready the way." It clears away what we already know is standing between us and God, so that we can receive Communion at Christmas with a lighter heart. If you would like the bigger picture of the season first, our guide to Advent walks through its meaning, dates and customs.
A practical note: in many dioceses, parishes hold Advent penance services, usually in the evening, with several priests hearing confessions at once. Confession times get busier as Christmas approaches, and the last days before 24 December can be crowded or have few confession times. Aim for early or mid-December, and check your parish bulletin or website, or call the parish office.
What the Church asks, and what it offers
The requirement. The Church asks Catholics to confess their serious (mortal) sins at least once a year. This is one of the precepts of the Church (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2042) and is set out in canon law (Code of Canon Law, canon 989). The Catechism also teaches that someone aware of having committed a mortal sin should not receive Communion without first going to confession (CCC 1457). There is no rule that you must go to confession specifically in Advent.
The gift. The Church also warmly recommends confessing everyday, lesser (venial) sins, because the sacrament helps us grow and heals the habits we struggle with (CCC 1458). Going in Advent is not about meeting a quota. It is about accepting an invitation.
If you are unsure what applies to you, a priest can help you in a short conversation, inside or outside confession.
How to prepare in 15 minutes
You don't need a retreat. Find a quiet quarter of an hour, the day before or in church while you wait.
- Pray for light (1 minute). Ask the Holy Spirit to show you your life honestly, without excuses and without harshness. A simple prayer is enough: "Lord, show me what you see."
- Examine your conscience (8–10 minutes). Look back since your last confession. The Ten Commandments are the traditional guide. If you want a structured walk-through, try Haven's examination of conscience; if you are unsure how that differs from the nightly examen, see examen vs examination of conscience.
- Be concrete. "I was impatient" is vague. "I snapped at my children most evenings this month" is something you can confess and change. Name serious sins clearly, and roughly how often if you can.
- Be sorry. Contrition is not a feeling you must produce. It is a real sorrow for having turned away from God, and a desire to come back. Tell him so in your own words.
- Choose one change. Pick one realistic intention for the weeks ahead. The priest may help you shape it.
Advent questions for reflection
These questions are prompts to help you notice where Advent might be asking something of you. They are not a complete examination of conscience. Use them alongside the commandments, not instead of them.
God
- Have I made any room to wait for the Lord this Advent, or has the season been swallowed by the calendar?
- Have I neglected prayer, or Sunday Mass, because December got busy?
- Have I paid attention to God in the small moments of the day, or only thought of him in a hurry?
Others
- Have I been irritable, short-tempered or harsh with the people closest to me, especially under December pressure?
- Is there someone I need to be reconciled with before the holidays: a family member, a friend, a colleague?
- Have I helped keep peace at home, or stirred up old arguments?
- Have I gossiped or spoken unkindly about others, including relatives I will see at Christmas?
- Have I been generous to the poor and to those who are alone this season?
Myself
- Have I spent money carelessly, or to impress, while neglecting real needs?
- Have I let hurry and busyness crowd out attention and gratitude?
- Have I been honest with myself about a habit I keep returning to?
What happens in the confessional
In brief: you make the Sign of the Cross and say how long it has been since your last confession. You confess your sins simply. The priest may give a word of advice and a penance, often a prayer. You say an act of contrition, and the priest gives absolution. Usually it takes only a few minutes.
For the full walkthrough, with the words to say and what the priest says, read how to go to confession.
Forgiveness comes from God in the sacrament, through the priest. No app or checklist can absolve you; preparation only helps you get there.
If it has been years
If it has been five, ten or twenty years, you are exactly who Advent is for. Just tell the priest at the start: "It has been many years since my last confession," and, if you like, "I would be grateful for your help." Priests hear this often, and most are glad to guide you through it. You do not need to remember every sin; confess what you can, honestly.
Jesus' parable of the prodigal son describes how the father receives a child who comes home:
Luke 15:20
“He arose and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran, fell on his neck, and kissed him.
The father runs first. And the promise holds:
1 John 1:9
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
After confession: carrying it into Christmas
- Do your penance soon, ideally before you leave the church.
- Give thanks. Sit for a minute. Whether you feel light or feel nothing, the sacrament has done its work.
- Keep your intention small and alive. Come back to it in the evenings through the rest of Advent. A short evening examen is a gentle way to do that.
- Receive Christmas as a gift. You come to the manger not as someone who has everything sorted, but as someone forgiven.
Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, and let’s reason together,” says the LORD: “Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Common questions
Do I have to go to confession before Christmas? No, there is no specific rule requiring confession in Advent. The Church asks Catholics to confess serious sins at least once a year (CCC 2042, canon 989) and not to receive Communion while aware of a mortal sin without confessing first. Advent is simply a very fitting time to go.
When should I go to confession in Advent? Go in early or mid-December if you can. Parishes often hold penance services during Advent, and confession times near 24 December are usually crowded or limited. Check your parish for times.
What is an Advent penance service? It is a parish celebration, often in the evening, with Scripture readings and a shared examination of conscience, followed by individual confession to one of several priests. You still confess and receive absolution individually.
Can I go to confession if it has been many years? Yes. Simply tell the priest how long it has been, or that it has been many years, and ask him to help you. Confess what you remember honestly; you do not need a perfect list.
Can I confess venial sins only? Yes. The Church recommends confessing everyday faults too, because the sacrament helps you grow in grace (CCC 1458).
Preparing with Haven
Haven's guided examination of conscience (Premium) walks you through the questions before confession, at your own pace. It does not replace the sacrament: forgiveness happens with a priest. Through Advent, the free Gospel of the day each morning and the evening examen at night can keep you close to the season's call to prepare the way.
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (public domain).