The traditional Catholic Confession begins with the Penitent kneeling down behind a screen and making a sign of the cross and then saying:

“Bless me father for I have sinned.  It has been (week, month, years) since my last confession and these are my sins.”  States the sins and number of times.  Then says: “I am sorry for these sins and all the sins of my life and I ask for absolution and penance of thee my father.”

The priest then gives a penance and asks you to make an act of contrition:

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, amend my life. Amen.

Then the priest extends his right hand and says:

Misereatur tui ominipotens Deus, et dimissis peccatis tuis, perducat te ad vitam aeternam. Amen.

English: May the almighty God have mercy on thee, forgive thee thy sins, and lead thee unto life everlasting. Amen.

Indulgentiam, absolutionem, et remissionem peccatorum tuorum tribuat tibi omnipotens, et misericors Dominus. Amen.

English: May the almighty and merciful Lord grant thee pardon, absolution, and remission of thy sins. Amen.

Dominus noster Jesus Christus te absolvat; et ego auctoritate ipsius te absolvo ab omni vinculo excommunicationis (sespensionis) et interdicti in quantum possum et tu indiges.  Deinde ego te abslovo a peccatis tuis in nomine Patris, (+) et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

 

English: May our Lord Jesus Christ absolve thee; and by His very authority do I absolve thee from every bond of excommunication, suspension and interdict, in so far as lies within my power and thou hast need of it.  Furthermore, I absolve thee from thy sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

He will pray a prayer for you:

Passio Domini nostri Jesu Christi, merita Beatae Mariae Virginis et omnium sanctorum, quidquid boni feceris vel mail sustinueris sint tibi in remissionem peccatorum, augmentum gratiae et praemium vitae aeternae. Amen.

 

English: May the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, the merits of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints, the good thou has done, and the ill thou has endured profit thee unto the remission of sin, increase in grace, and reward in eternity.  Amen.

Here is the New Confession Rite.

1. Enter confessional and kneel behind a screen or sit down face-to-face.
2. Make the sign of the cross.
3. Say, “Bless me father for I have sinned.  It has been (how long) since my last confession.”
4. Tell your sins to the priest.
5. When you are finished sharing your sins say, “ I am sorry for these and all my sins.”
6. The priest will give you a penance; a prayer to say or something good to do.
7. You say an Act of Contrition/Prayer of Sorrow.  (many forms)
8. Then priest gives you absolution;  “God the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father, (+) and of the Son,and of the Holy Spirit
9. The priest then says, “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.”
   You say, “His mercy endures forever.”

God Bless all you wonderful priests who spend hours and hours hearing confession.  It is wonderful that you take the time to do a complete confession.  Often people express sorrow over not having been listen to in confession because the priest was in a rush or told them what they considered sinful was not.  Inside, they did not feel clean when they left the confessional.   It all felt incomplete.