Dr. Luther’s Small Catechism lesson for the week of May 16, 2021:
[V] [CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION]
HOW THE PLAIN PEOPLE ARE TO BE TAUGHT TO CONFESS
What is confession?
Answer: Confession consists of two parts. One is that we confess our sins. The other is that we receive absolution or forgiveness from the confessor as from God himself, by no means doubting but firmly believing that our sins are thereby forgiven before God in heaven.
What sins should we confess?
Answer: Before God we should acknowledge that we are guilty of all manner of sins, even those of which we are not aware, as we do in the Lord’s Prayer. Before the confessor, however, we should confess only those sins of which we have knowledge and which trouble us.[1]