These are links to other Web sites and resources on the topic of confession, reconciliation, and penance. While we make them available here for your perusal, their authors are solely responsible for their content and they may change without notice.

General Help on the Sacrament of Penance

• USCCB Q&A on the Sacrament of Penance
• How to Go to Confession
• Little Catechism of Confession
• Doesn't God Already Know My Sins?
• The Value of Frequent Confession
• Rediscovering Frequent Confession
• Why Confess Frequently?
• How Confession Set Me Free after 37 Years
• First Confession and First Communion
• The Catechism on the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Recent Pastoral Letters on the Sacrament of Penance

• Archbishop Wuerl, God's Mercy and the Sacrament of Penance
• Archbishop Wuerl, Reflections on God's Mercy
• Bishop Carlson, Pastoral Letter on Penance
• Bishop Carlson, The Liberating Power of the Sacrament of Confession
• Bishop Serratelli Reconcilation: Gift And Sacrament
• Bishop Murphy, Pastoral Letter On Penance 2007
• Archbishop Forte, Why Go To Confession?
• Archbishop Gomez, The Tender Mercy of God
• Bishop Doran, The Sacrament of Penance
• Archbishop McCarrick, Pastoral Letter on Penance
• Bishop McManus, Pastoral Letter on Penance, 2010

The History of the Sacrament of Penance

• Catholic Encyclopedia, History & Theology of Confession

Recent Papal Documents or Homilies

• John Paul II, Reconciliation and Penance
• John Paul II, Dives in Misericordia
• John Paul II, Misericordia Dei
• John Paul II Letter to Priests on Confession
• John Paul II on Making a Good Confession
• Benedict XVI Extols Confession
• Benedict XVI Urges Rediscovery of Confession
• Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Future Benedict XVI) on Confession
• Benedict XVI on Conscience and Confession
• Benedict Urges Young People to Confession

God's Divine Mercy

• The Divine Mercy Devotion
• What Is Divine Mercy?
• John Paul II on Divine Mercy

The Apologetics of Confession

• How to Defend the Sacrament of Confession
• How to Talk about Confession
• A Confession to Make
• Fathers of the Church on Confession

Resources from other areas of this site

• Frequently Asked Questions About the Sacrament of Penance
• A Guide to the Sacrament of Reconciliation
• A Confession Guide for Children
• An Examination of Conscience For Married Couples
• An Examination of Conscience For Religious And Priests
• An Examination of Conscience For Teenagers And Young Adults
• A Guide to Confession For Teenagers

Archdiocese of Boston