Return
A companion for the Sacrament of Reconciliation: prepare, examine your conscience, walk through the rite, and keep a record of the mercy you've received.
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.”Psalm 50:3 (51:1), Douay-Rheims
Ask for light
Before you look at your sins, look at God. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what you need to see, honestly and without fear.
🔒 Your examination isn't kept unless you choose to record it afterward. Records stay on this device only, and you can delete any of them at any time.
Examine
Read slowly. Tick anything that applies; it gathers into a list for your review.
Review
This is your list to take in with you. Glance at it before you enter, then put the phone away.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all iniquity.”1 John 1:9, Douay-Rheims
Confess
You can kneel behind the screen or sit face to face, whichever you prefer. The priest will guide you if you lose your place.
Greeting
The priest welcomes you. Make the Sign of the Cross.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Begin
Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.
The priest may invite you to trust in God's mercy, or read a short passage of Scripture.
Confess your sins
Name them simply and directly: mortal sins by kind and number as best you can, then any venial sins. When you've finished:
For these and all the sins of my past life, I am sorry.
Counsel and penance
The priest may offer advice and will give you a penance: a prayer or an act. If you don't understand it, ask.
Act of Contrition
When invited, pray aloud:
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, 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 sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.If the words won't come, the tax collector's prayer is enough:
O God, be merciful to me a sinner. Luke 18:13
Absolution
The priest extends his hand over you and prays the words of absolution. Make the Sign of the Cross as he names the Trinity, and answer:
Amen.
Dismissal
The priest may say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.”
His mercy endures for ever.
Thank him, and go in peace.
Afterward
“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.”Psalm 31:1 (32:1), Douay-Rheims
Do it soon, ideally before you leave the church.
Give thanks
Record
Keep what helps you remember God's mercy. Remove anything you'd rather not keep.
No items from the examination.
What did you hear in the counsel? Where did you sense God's mercy? What do you want to carry forward?
Journal
Confessions
Privacy and records
Passcode
Backup
Your journal lives only on this device. If you clear your browser data or lose the phone, it's gone. A backup file is not encrypted, so keep it somewhere private.
Delete
Journal locked
Enter your passcode to open your journal.
Forgotten passcode? The journal can't be recovered without it, but you can erase it and start fresh.
Return
A companion for the Sacrament of Reconciliation: to prepare well, confess with confidence, and remember the mercy received.
How it works
- Prepare: pray for light and note how long it's been since your last confession.
- Examine: reflect on the Ten Commandments and the Precepts of the Church.
- Review: see what you've marked, gathered in one place.
- Confess: follow the rite step by step, with the words to say.
- Afterward: give thanks, then record the confession or clear it.
The Journal keeps the confessions you choose to record: what you brought, your penance, and the grace you received.
Privacy
Your examination is held only while the app is open and is kept only if you record it. The journal is stored on this device alone and is never sent anywhere. You can protect it with a passcode, which encrypts it, and delete any entry, or everything, at any time.
Offline
After the first visit, Return works without a connection. For the most reliable storage, add it to your Home Screen.
Sources
Scripture is from the Douay-Rheims Bible and the Act of Contrition is the traditional form, both in the public domain. The examination questions and the prayer of thanksgiving are original. The words of absolution are described rather than quoted.
Version 1.0 · Built by Claude using material provided by and under the guidance of Keith Francis. Licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.