Preparation for confession and holy communion. Basics of preparatory activities for the procedure

Today we will talk about:

Any operation- This is stress for the body. Many people are mistaken when they think that the success of the operation lies entirely on the shoulders of the doctor. This is a common misconception. Much also depends on the actions of the patient himself on the eve of the operation. What do you need to know when elective surgery is ahead? Will tell you about Medicine.

Surely many people do not even suspect that proper preparation before surgery and subsequent compliance with the rules of the postoperative regimen are important for the patient’s health. If a person does not adhere to certain rules that all patients preparing for surgery must strictly follow, the doctor may cancel it. In addition, such a negligent attitude towards your health can significantly change the work of the anesthesiologist for the worse; he may make a mistake and choose the wrong method of anesthesia and the drugs used for you. Therefore, in all medical institutions, doctors strongly advise adherence to strict rules for the preoperative and postoperative period.

Before entering the department

You will see when you learn that preparations begin weeks or even months before you are admitted to the hospital wing. Here everything depends on the patient himself, because the doctor will not be able to constantly monitor the patient’s lifestyle and ensure that he follows all his instructions. So, what is required of the patient before entering a medical facility:

I. General information

1. Before the operation, you must put your body on alert, that is, be as healthy as possible. Due to cough and ARVI, a specialist may well undergo surgery if your condition seems unsatisfactory to him. However, what should those who suffer from chronic illnesses do? Together with the doctor, achieve stable remission by the date for which the operation is scheduled.

2. Should be abandoned bad habits: from smoking, alcohol, taking drugs. It is best to avoid smoking cigarettes one and a half months before surgery. Drinking alcohol on the day of surgery is strictly prohibited, because it prevents the person from being anesthetized for a long time. In addition, it negatively affects the work of many internal organs. And you need your heart, kidneys, and liver to work at full capacity.

3. Try to lead healthy image life and eating right. Be sure to include vegetables, fruits, lean meats, and dairy products in your diet (unless you have personal recommendations from a doctor). If a specialist says that you need to lose a couple of extra pounds before going on the operating table, it’s better to listen to him. Obesity leads to frequent complications. A patient who maintains his body in good shape endures the postoperative period much easier than one who does not monitor his weight. Of course, you shouldn’t indulge in sweets, fast food, fatty and salty foods before surgery.

4. It is also better not to go under the knife with loose teeth and weak crowns. The fact is that the anesthesiologist must ensure airway patency during the operation. It sounds paradoxical, but your tooth can simply get lost. It will be worse if you swallow it.

5. Prepare all medications you take in advance. Doctors cannot know about every pill that makes you feel better. Be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you take. If you resort to alternative medicine (propolis tinctures, various decoctions and ointments), the doctor should also know about this.

II. Personal items

1. All jewelry (earrings, bracelets, rings, etc.) should be left at home. There is no need for you to wear them during surgery. They can interfere with specialists during work and even injure your skin.

2. You should be careful about what to take with you to the hospital. Firstly, do not forget about toiletries (soap, towel, toilet paper, shampoo, washcloth, etc.). You should also take your shaving accessories with you. If you are staying in a paid clinic, you may not need them, but in regular city hospitals it is better to bring everything with you, including dishes. Be sure to bring 1-2 mugs, a cup, a spoon, a fork, a knife, a boiler or small teapot, and tea leaves. Don't forget scissors and thread and needle. It is better to take comfortable clothes made from natural materials. Please note that it may get dirty or torn, so it is advisable to bring already worn clothes.

3. You will have enough free time before the operation. To calm down and distract yourself, take several books, magazines, Board games(chess, checkers, dominoes). Don't forget your phone or tablet. Take care of chargers. If your child is undergoing surgery, allow him to take his favorite toys into the department.

Before anesthesia

I. Hygiene and appearance

1. If you have not had any instructions from your doctor, be sure to take a shower with soap the evening before the morning surgery (or the afternoon before the evening surgery). Water treatments will help cleanse your skin of impurities invisible to the eye, which will reduce the risk of infection.

3. Before the operation, your skin should be cleansed of foundation, powder and makeup. It is not allowed to lie down on the operating table with a manicure, because the varnish may interfere with a special device to read data about the patient’s breathing.

4. Piercings, earrings, lenses, hearing aids should also be left in the room.

5. If the operation will be performed on a part of the body where there is hair, it should be thoroughly shaved before the operation. Your doctor should tell you about this. If no recommendations have been received from him, do not use the razor. You can make microscopic cuts that can easily become infected.

II. Food and medicine

1. Everything medications The medications you take must be agreed upon with your doctor and anesthesiologist. This is a very important question, because even Viagra can provoke a critical drop in blood pressure and a sharp deterioration in the patient’s condition during the operation.

2. If you are allowed to take any medication several hours before surgery, it is better not to take it with liquid.

3. The morning before you have surgery, you are not allowed to eat or drink any liquids, including drinking water. It is extremely important that your stomach is empty during the operation, otherwise your life will be in real danger.

III. Psychological side of the matter

1. Excitement and fear before an operation, even one planned in advance, is a normal human reaction that should not be embarrassed. In order not to worry and feel comfortable, try to collect as much competent information as possible about how such operations are carried out. Read a book, listen to your favorite music. If you are haunted by a persistent feeling of fear, talk to the doctor who will perform the operation.

After operation

After a successfully completed operation, the patient still has to recover from anesthesia. Gradually, muscle sensitivity will return to him and he will regain consciousness. To eliminate medications, the body will need time and concentration. Doctors say that patients recover from anesthesia in 4-5 hours. After that, about another 10-15 hours are spent half asleep. This reaction is completely normal and should not bother you or your loved ones.

What you need to know

• after anesthesia, you need to spend at least a day in a calm environment: you cannot run, jump, play active games, work with children, etc.;
• It is prohibited to handle any devices that can harm your health (chainsaw, lawn mower, etc.);
• after anesthesia, you should not drive, because your reaction speed will be noticeably slower, you may fall asleep while sitting in the driver’s seat;
• do not take any medications other than those prescribed by your doctor;
• alcohol (including beer, cider, cocktails, etc.) should be excluded for at least a few days, allow the body to recover and rest from the stress experienced;
• if you were discharged from the hospital after anesthesia (a minor operation was performed), ask a friend or relative to monitor your condition for 24 hours and tell the doctor if you get worse;
• Limit yourself in food and drink for the first 3-4 days; your diet should consist of broths, porridges with water, yoghurts, mousses, toast bread.

For the operation to be successful, do not forget that you must be directly involved in its preparation. Compliance with doctors' instructions will help avoid possible risks and complications.

Fasting is a specific period of time when people remove certain drinks and foods from their diet. People fast to cleanse their digestive system, lose weight, and in some cases for religious and spiritual purposes. These steps must be taken to prepare the body for the dramatic change in diet during fasting. Keep reading to learn how to prepare for Lent.

Steps

Part 1

Consult your doctor before starting a fast. People fast for a variety of reasons, but fasting can be harmful to health in some cases. Therefore, discuss your intention with your doctor and get professional advice due to this.

• Some medications you take may cause dangerous consequences for your body during fasting due to changes chemical composition blood.
• Fasting may not be suitable for people with certain health conditions, such as pregnancy, cancer, low blood pressure, and so on. Therefore, consult your doctor before starting a new diet.
• Your doctor may require a urine test or blood test before fasting.

1. Decide what type of fast you will follow and decide on its duration. There are hundreds various types posts Types of fasts include: water fasting, juice fasting, spiritual fasting, weight loss and so on. Some people fast for medical reasons. You must determine why you will follow a new diet for you.

   • The strictest type of fasting is fasting on the water. The fast can last from 1 to 40 days, depending on the specific goal (if you decide on 40 days, consult your doctor). 10 days is the optimal duration of fasting on the water. Spend the first and last couple of days on juices. Distilled water is more suitable option for this diet.
   • Try a juice fast. Juice fasting is a healthier option. Juices contain nutrients which are necessary for our body. 30 days is the optimal duration of a juice fast. Drink vegetable and fruit juices (do not mix them together), herbal tea and vegetable broth. Strain the juice from the fiber-containing pulp before drinking.
   • Try the Master Cleanse lemonade diet. “Master Cleanse” is a diet of freshly squeezed lemon juice, maple syrup and water. The duration of this diet is 10 days. This diet is easier on the body because you will still be getting calories (although not as many as before).
   • Fasting can last from 1 to 40 days, depending on the specific purpose and type of fast (fasting on juices, fasting on water, and so on). Monitor your body to see how it reacts to the fact that you deprive it of most of its calories.

2. Prepare for the changes that may occur in your body. Fasting helps remove toxins from your body (your body will cleanse itself even if you fasted for religious or spiritual reasons). Therefore, do not be surprised if at the beginning of fasting you feel tired and weak.

   • Fasting may cause side effects such as diarrhea, fatigue and weakness, bad smell bodies, headaches and much more. This is due to detoxification of the body.
   • If possible, combine fasting with your vacation so you can adjust to the changes in your body.

   Part 2

   Preparation for fasting

   1. Reduce your intake of all addictive substances 1-2 weeks before fasting. If you give up bad habits, it will be easier for your body to withstand long-term fasting. Gradually give up alcohol and, if possible, quit smoking.

      • This will reduce any potential withdrawal symptoms that may occur during the fast. In addition, the body quickly cleanses itself of waste and toxins.
      • Substances that cause addiction include: alcohol, caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea and soft drinks, cigarettes or cigars.

   2. Start changing your diet 1-2 weeks before starting your fast. Prepare your body for fasting; to do this, not only give up all bad habits, but also change your diet.

      • Eliminate a few foods from your diet each day (refined sugar foods for the first couple of days, meat for the next two days, then dairy, etc.).
      • Reduce your intake of chocolate and other foods that contain refined sugar, as well as foods high in fat. In addition, try to minimize the consumption of carbonated drinks, sweets and baked goods.
      • Eat small meals to reduce stress on your digestive system. In addition, it will be easier for your body to adapt to the new state.
      • Reduce your intake of meat and dairy products as they force your digestive system to work harder.
      • Eat larger portions of cooked or fresh fruits and vegetables. This will have a beneficial effect on your health, the body will quickly cleanse itself of waste and toxins.

   3. Limit your diet 1-2 days before fasting. If you are sure that your body is ready for fasting, you can begin to act (if you do this gradually, it will be easier for your body to cope with stress).

      • Eat raw fruits and vegetables because they will cleanse and detoxify your body in preparation for fasting.

   4. Drink plenty of fluids. Drink only water and fruit and vegetable juices made from fresh fruits or vegetables. Increase your fluid intake a few days before starting your fast. The body should not suffer from dehydration. In addition, thanks to this, you will prepare your body for the fact that during fasting you will sit only on water or juices.

   5. Play sports. There is no need to engage in intense training, but moderate physical activity will have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the lymphatic and cardiovascular systems. Walking or doing yoga is great options physical activity for the body.

      • You will feel tired and weak even on the days when you are just preparing for fasting. Choose a training regimen that suits you.

   6. Get enough rest. Good dream and rest is the key to a successful fast. Get enough sleep at night and try to take time to rest during the day.

      • It is very important to prepare for fasting in advance. Take time to recover and relax, try to unload your busy schedule.

   Part 3

   Be ready for change

   1. Make sure you know what physical symptoms you will experience during your fast. Typically, the first few days are the hardest, so be patient. After a few days you will start to feel better.

      • During the first stage (usually the first two days) of fasting, you may experience headaches, dizziness, nausea, bad breath and a coated tongue. These are just signs that your body is detoxifying. In addition, you will feel hungry.
      • During the second stage (3–7 days), the skin may become oily and you may notice other changes in the skin. During this stage, your skin adjusts to your changed diet. In addition, you may feel stuffy in your nose.
      • The next stage will involve cleansing the intestines, which may result in diarrhea or loose stool. You may also see a lot of mucus in your stool, especially if you haven't eaten anything for several days. Be prepared for bad breath. Rest assured, this condition will pass when the body is cleansed of waste and toxins. You will feel weak because your body is not getting enough calories.

   2. Try to endure the entire fast. Very often people stop following the fast after a few days due to poor health. Unless you have serious medical contraindications (you should discuss this with your doctor), try to go all the way. Otherwise, your body will not receive any benefit. To make it easier for you to get to the end, follow these tips.

      • Set a goal. Before you start fasting, tell yourself why you decided to take this step. Do you need to improve your health? For religious reasons? Do you want to cleanse your body of waste and toxins? When you find it particularly difficult to fast, remind yourself of this reason.
      • Make a commitment. Promise a friend or family member that you will go all the way. If someone watches your progress, it will be more difficult for you to quit what you started.
   • Gradually change the type and amount of food in your diet as you get closer to the start of your fast.
   • Change your eating schedule 1-2 weeks before fasting to help reduce hunger.
   • Replace solid foods with softer, more easily digestible foods and fruits.
   • Don't overdo it with fasting. If the fast will last 3 days, take 3 days to prepare.

   Warnings

   • If you have diabetes, don't fast. Fasting causes sudden changes in blood sugar levels.
   • Fast under the supervision of a doctor, especially if you have health problems or plan to adhere to this diet for a long time.

Are you thinking about going to confession, but haven't decided to do it yet? Are you confused because you don't know how to properly prepare for this? Using the following below simple tips you can take your first steps.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR CONFESSION

Confession- the sacrament of reconciliation with God, when the penitent, in the presence of a witness-priest, reveals his sins to God and promises not to repeat them, and the priest prays for the forgiveness of the sins of the confessor. A confidential conversation with a priest, where you can discuss some details of your life and get answers to questions, should be distinguished from confession. Of course, some issues can be resolved during confession, but if there are a lot of questions or their discussion requires a long time, then it is better to ask the priest to set up a time for you to talk separately. Next, let's move directly to tips on preparing for confession.

1. Realize your sins. If you are thinking about confession, it means that you admit that in your life you did something wrong. It is with the awareness of one’s sins that repentance begins. What is sin and what is not? Sin is everything that contradicts God's will, or, in other words, God's plan for the world and man. God's plan for the world is revealed in Holy Scripture- Bible. A partial, most “concise” expression of God’s plan for the practical life of man are the commandments - the famous Ten Commandments given to Moses at Sinai. Jesus Christ summarized the essence of these commandments as follows: “ Love the Lord God with all your heart" and "love your neighbor as yourself" Before preparing for your first confession, it is useful to re-read Sermon on the Mount Savior (chapters 5-7 of the Gospel of Matthew) and the parable of Last Judgment, where Jesus Christ says that our lives will be judged on the basis of how we treated our neighbors.

2. Don’t use “sin lists.” Recently, among believers (as they say, “churched”, that is, more familiar with church tradition, and in practice - with parachurch superstitions) various kinds of “lists of sins” are common. They rather harm the preparation for confession, because they very successfully help turn confession into a formal listing of “what-is-sin.” In fact, confession should not be formal under any circumstances. In addition, among the “lists of sins” there are some completely curious examples, so it is better not to consider brochures of this kind seriously at all.

The only exception may be the most a brief “memo” of the main sins, which are often not recognized as such. An example of such a memo:

A. Sins against the Lord God:

- disbelief in God, recognition of any significance for other “spiritual forces”, religious doctrines, in addition to Christian faith; participation in other religious practices or rituals, even “for company,” as a joke, etc.;

- nominal faith, not expressed in any way in life, that is, practical atheism (you can recognize the existence of God with your mind, but live as if you were an unbeliever);

- the creation of “idols,” that is, placing something other than God in first place among life values. Anything that a person really “serves” can become an idol: money, power, career, health, knowledge, hobbies - all this can be good when it occupies the appropriate place in the personal “hierarchy of values”, but when it comes first , turns into an idol;

- turning to various kinds of fortune tellers, sorcerers, sorcerers, psychics, etc. - an attempt to “subdue” spiritual forces magically, without repentance and personal effort to change life in accordance with the commandments.

b. Sins against one's neighbor:

- neglect of people, resulting from pride and selfishness, inattention to the needs of one’s neighbor (a neighbor is not necessarily a relative or acquaintance, it is every person who happens to be next to us in this moment);

- condemnation and discussion of the shortcomings of others (“ You will be justified by your words and you will be condemned by your words", says the Lord);

- prodigal sins of various kinds, especially adultery (violation of marital fidelity) and unnatural sexual relations, which is incompatible with being in the Church. The so-called so-called, widespread today, also refers to prodigal cohabitation. “civil marriage”, that is, cohabitation without marriage registration. It should, however, be remembered that a registered but unmarried marriage cannot be regarded as fornication and is not an obstacle to remaining in the Church;

— Abortion is the taking of the life of a human being, essentially murder. One should repent even if the abortion was done for medical reasons. Inducing a woman to have an abortion (by her husband, for example) is also a serious sin. Repentance for this sin implies that the repentant will never knowingly repeat it again.

— appropriation of someone else’s property, refusal to pay other people’s labor (ticketless travel), withholding wages subordinates or hired workers;

— lies of various kinds, especially slandering one’s neighbor, spreading rumors (as a rule, we cannot be sure of the veracity of rumors), inability to keep one’s word.

This is an approximate list of the most common sins, but we emphasize once again that you should not get carried away with such “lists”. When further preparing for confession, it is best to use the Ten Commandments of God and listen to your own conscience.

3. Talk only about sins, and your own. In confession you need to talk about your sins, without trying to minimize them or show them as excusable. It would seem that this is obvious, but how often do priests, when accepting confession, hear, instead of confessing sins, everyday stories about all their relatives, neighbors and acquaintances. When in confession a person talks about the grievances caused to him, he evaluates and condemns his neighbors, essentially justifying himself. Often in such stories, personal sins are presented in such a light that it would seem completely impossible to avoid them. But sin is always the fruit of personal choice. It is extremely rare that we find ourselves in such conflicts when we are forced to choose between two types of sin.

4. Don’t invent a special language. When talking about your sins, you shouldn’t worry about how to call them “correctly” or “church wise”. We must call things by their proper names, in ordinary language. You are confessing to God, who knows even more about your sins than you do, and calling sin as it is will definitely not surprise God.

You won't surprise the priest either. Sometimes penitents are ashamed to tell the priest this or that sin, or there is a fear that the priest, having heard the sin, will condemn you. In fact, over the years of ministry, a priest has to listen to a lot of confessions, and it is not easy to surprise him. And besides, all sins are not original: they have practically not changed over thousands of years. Being a witness to sincere repentance of serious sins, the priest will never condemn, but will rejoice at the person’s conversion from sin to the path of righteousness.

5. Talk about serious things, not trifles. There is no need to start confession with such sins as breaking the fast, not going to church, working on holidays, watching TV, wearing/not wearing certain types of clothes, etc. First of all, these are definitely not your most serious sins. Secondly, this may not be a sin at all: if a person has not come to God for many years, then why repent of not keeping fasts if the very “vector” of life was directed in the wrong direction? Thirdly, who needs endless digging into everyday minutiae? The Lord expects from us love and giving of the heart, and we told him: “I ate fish on a fast day” and “embroidered on a holiday.”

The main focus should be on our relationship with God and our neighbors. Moreover, by neighbors, according to the Gospel, we mean not only people who are pleasant to us, but everyone who has met us on the path of life. And above all, our family members. Christian life for family people it begins in the family and is checked by it. Here is the best field for cultivating Christian qualities: love, patience, forgiveness, acceptance.

6. Start changing your life even before confession. Repentance on Greek sounds like “metanoia”, literally “change of mind”. It is not enough to admit that you have committed such and such offenses in life. God is not a prosecutor, and confession is not a confession. Repentance must be a change in life: the penitent intends not to return to sins and tries with all his might to keep himself from them.

Such repentance begins some time before confession, and coming to church to see the priest already “captures” the change taking place in life. This is extremely important. If a person intends to continue sinning after confession, then maybe it’s worth postponing confession? It is necessary to stipulate that when we talk about changing life and renouncing sin, we mean first of all the so-called “mortal” sins, according to the word of the Apostle John, that is, incompatible with being in the Church. With such sins Christian church

Since ancient times, she considered renunciation of faith, murder and adultery. Sins of this kind can also include the extreme degree of other human passions: anger towards one’s neighbor, theft, cruelty, etc., which can be stopped once and for all by an effort of will, combined with the help of God. As for small, so-called “everyday” sins, they will largely be repeated after confession. One must be prepared for this and accept it humbly as an inoculation against spiritual exaltation: there are no perfect people among people, only God alone is sinless. « 7. Be at peace with everyone. Forgive and you will be forgiven ", says the Lord. - " By which court you judge, you will be judged " And even more powerfully: “" If we ask God for forgiveness, then we ourselves must first forgive the offenders. Of course, there are situations when asking for forgiveness directly from a person is physically impossible, or this will lead to an aggravation of an already difficult relationship. Then it is important to at least forgive on your part and not have anything against your neighbor in your heart.

Some practical recommendations. Before you come to confession, it would be a good idea to find out when confession is usually held in the church. In many churches they serve not only on Sundays and holidays, but also on Saturdays, and in large churches and monasteries - on weekdays. The greatest influx of confessors occurs during Lent. Of course, the Lenten period is primarily a time of repentance, but for those who come for the first time or after a very long break, it is better to choose a time when the priest is not very busy. It may turn out that confession is held in the church on Friday evening or Saturday morning - on these days there will probably be fewer people than during Sunday services. It’s good if you have the opportunity to personally contact the priest and ask him to set a convenient time for you for confession.

There are special prayers that express a repentant “mood.” It is good to read them the day before confession. Penitential canon Lord Jesus Christ is printed in almost any prayer book, except the shortest ones.

During confession, the priest may assign you penance: abstaining from communion for a while, reading special prayers, bowing to the ground or doing acts of mercy. This is not a punishment, but a means to overcome sin and receive complete forgiveness. Penance can be prescribed when the priest does not meet the proper attitude towards serious sins on the part of the penitent, or, conversely, when he sees that the person has a need to do something practically to “get rid of” the sin. Penance cannot be indefinite: it is appointed for a certain time, and then must be terminated.

As a rule, after confession, believers take communion. Although confession and communion are two different sacraments, better preparation combine for confession with preparation for communion.

If these little tips helped you prepare for confession, thank God. Do not forget that this sacrament must be regular. Don't put off your next confession for many years. Confession at least once a month helps to always be “on our toes”, to be attentive and responsible in our daily life, in which, in fact, our Christian faith should be expressed.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR HOLY COMMUNION

A reminder to a Christian who wishes to approach the Holy Chalice to receive communion of the life-giving Body and Blood of Christ the Lord.

An Orthodox Christian who wishes to begin the Holy Sacrament of Communion must remember that in order for Communion to the Lord not to be “in court and condemnation,” a Christian must fulfill a number of essential and disciplinary conditions. Disciplinary conditions are not strictly mandatory, and in the event of extraordinary circumstances (for example, in the event of a serious illness of a person or his dying condition) are not enforced. However, Orthodox Christians should remember that the development of these disciplinary conditions was great experience life of the Church, and therefore, under normal circumstances, this external preparation (attendance at divine services, fasting, home prayer, etc.) is also mandatory.

1. Awareness of meaning. A person must be absolutely aware of where and why he has come. He came to enter into Communion with God, to become a partaker of the Divine, to unite with Christ, to taste the Lord’s Supper for his sanctification and cleansing from sins, and not to perform a religious ritual, “drink compote” or have dinner. The Apostle Paul puts it this way: “ Next, you gather together in a way that does not mean eating the Lord's supper; for everyone hastens to eat his food before others, so that some are hungry, and others get drunk. Have you no houses to eat and drink? Or do you neglect the church of God and humiliate the poor? What should I tell you? Should I praise you for this? I won't praise you"(1 Cor. 11:20-22).

2. Sincere desire. A person must have a completely sincere desire to unite with Christ. This desire must be alien to all hypocrisy, and it must be combined with the Fear of God: “ The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord"(Prov. 9:10). A person must remember that “whoever eats this Bread or drinks this Cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord"(1 Cor. 11:27).

3. Mental peace. A person approaching the Chalice must have peace of mind, that is, a state alien to malice, enmity or hatred against anyone. In such a state, it is impossible for a believer to approach the Sacrament. Our Lord Jesus Christ said: “ So, if you bring your gift to the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift"(Matt. 5:23-24).

4. Churchness. And, finally, the last essential condition: a person must not violate the canons of the Church, excommunicating him from Communion and the Church, that is, be within the limits of faith and moral life permitted by the Church, since “ grace is given to those who do not violate the limits of faith and do not transgress the traditions of the fathers"(Message to Diognetus).

5. Confession. Russian tradition Orthodox Church requires mandatory confession before Communion : « Let man test himself, and in this way let him eat from this Bread and drink from this Cup. For whoever eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks condemnation for himself, without considering the Body of the Lord. That is why many of you are weak and sick, and many are dying."(1 Cor. 11:28-29). Confession before Communion can take place either the night before or in the morning before the Liturgy., and in necessary cases (holidays, priests’ workload due to large crowds of people, etc.), several days before Communion.

6. Liturgical fast. Before communion ancient tradition The Church needs the so-called liturgical fast, or fasting before communion, which consists of from 24 o'clock on the night before communion they do not eat or drink anything, for it is customary to approach the Holy Chalice on an empty stomach . On days of festive night services (Easter, Christmas, etc.) it should be remembered that the duration of liturgical fasting by definition Holy Synod cannot be less than 6 hours. The question arises: if someone, while fasting for communion of the Holy Mysteries, while washing himself or while in the bathhouse, reluctantly swallowed a little water, should he receive communion? As St. Timothy of Alexandria answers in his canonical letter: “ Must. For otherwise Satan, having found an opportunity to remove him from Communion, will more often do the same"(answer 16). In doubtful cases, in the morning before the service, you should seek advice from the priest.

7. Body fasting. Anyone who wishes to receive communion must try to adequately prepare for this holy sacrament. The mind should not be overly distracted by the trifles of life and have fun. During the days of preparation, if circumstances permit, one should attend church services and do household chores more diligently. prayer rule. The means to such a more focused spiritual life is fasting (in church practice it is called fasting): the body is prescribed abstinence and restriction in food (meat and dairy) . Physical fasting before Communion usually lasts for several days. and the general rule here is this: the less often a person receives communion, the stricter and longer the physical fast should be, and vice versa. The amount of physical fasting is also determined by family and social circumstances (life in a non-church family, hard physical and intellectual work), and under these conditions it naturally decreases. Let us note that for Christians who observe one-day and multi-day fasts, during Bright Easter Week, physical fasting before communion is, as a rule, completely abolished.

8. Bodily cleanliness. There are certain requirements for bodily cleanliness for men and women. First general requirement There is renunciation of physical marital relations on the eve of Communion . The ancient ascetic tradition also prescribes, unless absolutely necessary, for men to abstain from Communion on the day after an overnight involuntary discharge, and for women during Women's Day and 40-day postpartum period : « It is not forbidden to pray, no matter what state someone is in and no matter how disposed they are, to remember the Lord and ask for help. But let him who is not entirely pure in soul and body be prohibited from approaching what is the Holy of Holies."(Second canonical rule of St. Dionysius of Alexandria).

9. Attendance at worship services and home prayer. Because temple worship allows you to better prepare for the liturgy ( common cause- Greek), on the eve of Communion, a healthy person must come to church and pray with everyone else at the evening service .

Home prayer includes except the usual morning and evening prayers , reading Follow-up to Holy Communion (after morning prayers in the morning).

The evening before Communion is also provided reading the three canons:

• Canon of repentance to the Lord,
• Prayer canon to the Most Holy Theotokos, And
• Canon to the Guardian Angel

Those who wish, according to their personal zeal, can also read other prayers, for example, the Akathist to the Sweetest Jesus.

Alexander Bozhenov
Patriarchal Center spiritual development children and youth

Submit a church note (commemoration)

Brothers and sisters, now you can order requirements from the list offered to you right here on the website

Nowadays, the development of information technology makes it possible to submit memorial donations remotely. On the website of the Holy Resurrection Church (old) in Vichug, such an opportunity also appeared - submitting notes via the Internet. The process of submitting a note takes just a few minutes...

Viewed (30911) times

Preparation for Confession- test of conscience before.

Unlike a magical rite of purification, which allows for blind execution of the instructions of a “sacred” sorcerer or magician, the Sacrament of Repentance implies the presence of faith, awareness of personal guilt before God and others, and a sincere and conscious desire to free oneself from the power of sin.
The Sacrament of Repentance cannot be approached mechanically. Forgiveness and remission of sins is not a legal act of declaring a sinner innocent. Everyone who has gone to confession at least once in their life could pay attention to what prayer is being read over them: “reconcile and unite the saints of your Church.” Through the Sacrament of Repentance, a person is reconciled with, restores himself as a member.

Repentance for sin consists of 3 stages: Repent of the sin as soon as you have committed it; remember him at the end of the day and again ask God for forgiveness for him; confess it in the Sacrament of Repentance (Confession) and receive permission from this sin.

It is necessary to distinguish from the Sacrament of Penance:
- confidential spiritual conversation with a priest;
- a repentant conversation before (not mandatory).

Where and when can I go to confession?

You can confess anywhere on any day of the year, but it is generally accepted to confess at a scheduled time or by agreement with. The person confessing must be baptized.

It is better not to come to your first confession or confession after a long break on Sundays or holy days. church holidays when churches are full of worshipers and there is a long line for confession. It is also advisable to come to the Sacrament in advance.

The First Confession should not be combined with the First Communion in order to fully experience the impressions of this great event in our lives. However, this is only advice.

How to prepare for Confession?

When preparing for confession, in contrast to preparing for the Sacrament of Communion, church charter does not require any special or special prayer rule.

Before going to confession it is appropriate:
— Focus on prayers of repentance.
- Carefully examine thoughts, thoughts, deeds; note, if possible, all your sinful traits (as an auxiliary aid, also include those accusations that came from relatives, friends, and other people).
— If possible, ask for forgiveness from those who were offended by sin, offended by inattention, indifference.
— Consider the plan for confession, and, if necessary, prepare questions for the priest.
— In case of serious sins or rare confessions, additional fasting may be recommended.

— Sins are confessed from the moment of the last confession; if they have never been confessed, then from the moment of Baptism.
— In the Sacrament, all sins are forgiven, with the exception of those intentionally hidden. If you forgot to name some minor sin, then don’t worry. The sacrament is called the Sacrament Repentance, but not " The sacrament of listing all sins committed".
- You need to confess first of all what you are ashamed of! Tactically, confession should always be very substantive and specific. You can’t repent of being “proud”—it’s pointless. Because after your repentance, nothing changes in our lives. We can repent of having looked arrogantly or said some words of condemnation to a specific person. Because, having repented of this, next time we will think whether it is worth doing this. You cannot repent “in general,” in the abstract. A substantive confession allows you to simultaneously draw up a plan to combat certain passions. At the same time, pettiness should be avoided; there is no need to list a large number of sins of the same type.
— Do not use crafty generalizations. For example, under the phrase treated one's neighbor unfairly can be understood as both involuntary grief and murder.
— There is no need to describe sexual sins in detail, it is enough to name them. For example: sinned (,).
— When preparing for and during Confession, self-justification should be avoided.
— If you do not feel your sins, it is recommended to turn to God with “ Lord, grant me to see my sins».

Is it possible to write down sins so as not to forget them at confession?

What to do if you do not consider yourself a sinful person? Or if the sins are common, like everyone else’s.

You should compare yourself first of all with, then your own spiritual health will not look so rosy.
A clear conscience is a sign of a short memory...

Is it worth confessing if you are likely to commit some sins again?

Is it worth washing if you know for sure that you will get dirty again? Repentance is a desire to be reborn, it does not begin with confession and does not end with it, it is a matter of a lifetime. Repentance is not only a listing of sins before the testimony of a priest, it is a state of hating sin and avoiding it.
Repentance should not just be an emotional release, it is a systematic, meaningful work on oneself, with the goal of becoming closer to God in one’s qualities, becoming like Him in . Orthodoxy has an inexhaustible ascetic heritage, compiled by holy ascetics, which must be studied for proper organization.
Our goal is not just to be cleansed of sins and passions, but to acquire. It’s not enough, for example, to stop stealing, you need to learn mercy.

Gross sins have already been overcome and at each confession one has to repeat almost the same sins. How to get out of this vicious circle?

Bishop Tikhon (Shevkunov): “For people who have been churched for a long time, the “list” of sins, as a rule, is approximately the same from confession to confession. There may be a feeling of some kind of formal spiritual life. But at home we often sweep the floor, and, thank God, we don’t have to rake out the Augean stables every time. This is just not a problem. The trouble is that you begin to notice how the lives of some Christians become more and more boring over the years. But it should be the other way around: it should become more and more rich and more and more joyful.”

However, you don’t need to be complacent about the fact that you can’t overcome all sins; you just need to realize that not all sins and passions can be overcome instantly. This is a systemic problem, the solution of which is .

I have very difficult life circumstances, I’m afraid that a simple priest will not understand me.

The Lord will understand in any case. There is a good story about this: .

God wanted us to repent not before the sinless Angels, but before people. We should be ashamed of committing sin, not repenting. If a person sincerely hated his sins, then he will not be ashamed to confess them to the priest.

Sometimes you can notice that some parishioners, with amazing pedantry and scrupulousness, confess to the slightest violations church rules or lack of reverence for sacred things, with the same amazing constancy they remain quite harsh and unpeaceful in relations with the people around them.
Priest Philip

Some matches are more important than others. Whether you're facing an old rival or playing in a qualifying match for a major tournament, it's important to prepare yourself mentally and give your team players the confidence to win. There are many simple steps that can help you prepare yourself. Also, an athlete or coach is able to encourage the entire team. At the same time, it is important not to overdo it so that anxiety does not deprive you of the necessary concentration. Learn to control yourself and relieve tension.

Steps

Psychological preparation

Stay active. Keep your body in good shape to ensure mental tone. Get up and start moving. If sitting is necessary (for example, on a bus), find other ways to stay active. Examples:

• walking at a brisk pace;
• warm-up jogging;
• jumping with arms and legs spread;
• imitation of drumming;
• clenching your fists and raising your arms to the music.

1. Give yourself encouraging words. Support what's needed emotional condition using encouraging phrases during training and warm-up. Recite words in your head or say them out loud to increase physical activity and kill two birds with one stone. Phrases should not be long. Focus on positive phrases and simply keywords with active verbs:

   • "Do not stop!"
   • “Show them all!”
   • "Forward!"
   • "Attack!"

2. Recharge yourself with music. Listen to music. Create a list of songs with inspirational lyrics (the classic "Eye of the Tiger") or catchy, energetic music (like " Lust for Life"). Don't listen to slow songs. The music should be full of energy like fast rock, punk, hip-hop or dance music.

3. Do not overdo it. Remember: after preparation, you still have to play the match. It is necessary not to burn out and understand how much effort will be required. How to avoid overexertion before playing:

   • do not consume caffeine and energy drinks in large quantities;
   • Warm up as directed by your trainer;
   • try to get enough sleep the night before the game;
   • Avoid excessive physical activity.

   Team spirit

   1. Get together outside of training. Spend the day or evening before the game in a special way to make the match stand out from the rest. Do something new together to become closer and more united. Organize a dinner, go on a trip, or watch an uplifting movie at the cinema.

      • It is not necessary to choose exactly the day or evening before the match. Your schedules may simply not coincide, or the coach may want everyone to be well rested before the game. The main thing is that the meeting itself takes place shortly before the match.
      • You can make the upcoming match the main topic of the evening if conversations help build your team spirit. You can also save the conversations for practice and just have fun. The idea is to bond and build team spirit, regardless of the chosen activity.

   2. Watch old matches together. Have someone videotape all matches throughout the season. Then, before the big match, get together as a team and review the best moments from past games. Review your best game or create a slice best moments from different matches.

      • This can be done on any day preceding the match. Schedule a viewing after one of your practices, host a special team meeting, or even watch the video while driving to a game or in the locker room.

   3. Sing as a team. Remember: music inspires achievements. As well as active actions. So why not combine both strategies to prepare and build team spirit at the same time.

      • Have fun singing any songs on the bus on the way to the match to build camaraderie.
      • Choose a team anthem (or several) to serve as your warm-up rally song to help energize you before the meet.

   4. Give a pep talk. Focus your partners' attention on the upcoming meeting with encouraging words. This can be done at training, a team meeting, on match day, or even all three. The speech should be short (no more than a couple of minutes), since a long monologue can tire or cool the partners’ ardor. Also:

      • Focus on positive statements. Don't focus on the negative aspects. For example, if you haven't won for a long time, then don't remember past results. In such a situation, it is better to focus on the most recent successful training sessions.
      • Say simple things. Avoid strategic aspects and specific recommendations for individual players. Say general phrases like: “Victory is in our pocket,” and: “We are the best.”
      • Focus on the team, not individuals. There is no need to highlight star players and make their burden heavier so as not to unsettle your partners. In addition, the pronoun “we” will strengthen the rest of the players’ faith in themselves.

   Self control

   1. Treat an important match as just another game. Whether it's a qualifying match or against key rivals, it's important to remember that it's no different from other important matches. Eliminate the word “key” from the phrase “key match.” Focus only on the internal components of the match that are important for winning, and not on the external surroundings of the game and emotions.

      • Keep this in mind during your motivational speech. Don't bother your partner with thoughts about the price of victory. Leave out the special circumstances and talk about the match like any other game.

   2. Neutralize your fears. Think about what might make you nervous during a match. Recognize that such aspects do not have magical power over you, and agitation is solely your reaction, and not a magical spell. Challenge yourself to face your fears well before the big game. On match day, strengthen your faith in yourself: remember all the obstacles you managed to overcome. For example:

      • If you doubt some aspect of your ability (making a 3-point shot in basketball or saving a penalty in football), then practice those aspects in training.
      • if a certain family member, friend or important person makes you nervous, then invite him in advance to practices, less important games, or even just watch you warm up at home.

   3. Focus on your successes. When thinking about yourself or your team, build your self-confidence by thinking about your successes this season. Focus on the game, not the results. Also, do not confuse these two different concepts if the season cannot be called successful. Always focus on improving your personal skills and team interactions, regardless of the overall number of wins.

      • Throughout the season, everyone has downturns and setbacks. Think less about failure and more about your ability to quickly recover and get back on your feet. Tell yourself that falling is not a big deal if you are willing to get back up again and again.
      • Remember: losing doesn't always mean you played poorly. Sometimes in lost matches we show our best game. Recognize this fact and look beyond the results.

   4. Eliminate other sources of stress. Follow your sports diet to ensure you're eating right the next few days and on game day. Also remember to rest in the previous week. A few days before the match, remove all distractions that could interfere with proper preparation. For example:

      • Set two alarms, confirm all aspects of your travel arrangements, and prepare and pack your sportswear, accessories and equipment so you won't be late on match day.
      • Take care of distractions like homework and paying bills ahead of time so you don't have to worry about them during the game.