At times, for various reasons, it may not be possible to get to a priest for the Sacrament of Penance. And, that sacrament can only be done in person, never remotely. Yet the Church, ever-caring for her flock, is not unmindful of this situation. Thus it is possible for just cause to make a spiritual confession. This is the form and order recommended.
Preparation
Prepare quietly before God. Find a private place, stand before your icons if you have them, light a lamp or candle if that helps, and recollect yourself. Do not try to manufacture emotion. The aim is truth, humility, and repentance.
Introduction
Begin with customary opening prayers.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Then the Trisagion prayers, the Lord’s Prayer, and perhaps several repetitions of the Jesus Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Psalm 51
3Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.
4Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
5For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always before me.
6To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee: that thou mayst be justified in thy words, and mayst overcome when thou art judged.
7For behold I was conceived in iniquities; and in sins did my mother conceive me.
8For behold thou hast loved truth: the uncertain and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast made manifest to me.
9Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.
10To my hearing thou shalt give joy and gladness: and the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice.
11Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
12Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bowels.
13Cast me not away from thy face; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
14Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and strengthen me with a perfect spirit.
15I will teach the unjust thy ways: and the wicked shall be converted to thee.
16Deliver me from blood, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall extol thy justice.
17O Lord, thou wilt open my lips: and my mouth shall declare thy praise.
18For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it: with burnt offerings thou wilt not be delighted.
19A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
20Deal favourably, O Lord, in thy good will with Sion; that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.
21Then shalt thou accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations and whole burnt offerings: then shall they lay calves upon thy altar.
Prayer of Manasseh
Ascription of Praise
O Lord Almighty, God of our ancestors, of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and of their righteous offspring; you who made heaven and earth with all their order; who shackled the sea by your word of command, who confined the deep and sealed it with your terrible and glorious name; at whom all things shudder, and tremble before your power, for your glorious splendor cannot be borne, and the wrath of your threat to sinners is unendurable; yet immeasurable and unsearchable is your promised mercy, for you are the Lord Most High, of great compassion, long-suffering, and very merciful, and you relent at human suffering. O Lord, according to your great goodness you have promised repentance and forgiveness to those who have sinned against you, and in the multitude of your mercies you have appointed repentance for sinners, so that they may be saved. Therefore you, O Lord, God of the righteous, have not appointed repentance for the righteous, for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who did not sin against you, but you have appointed repentance for me, who am a sinner.
Confession of Sins
For the sins I have committed are more in number than the sand of the sea; my transgressions are multiplied, O Lord, they are multiplied! I am not worthy to look up and see the height of heaven because of the multitude of my iniquities. I am weighted down with many an iron fetter, so that I am rejected because of my sins, and I have no relief; for I have provoked your wrath and have done what is evil in your sight, setting up abominations and multiplying offenses.
Supplication for Pardon
And now I bend the knee of my heart, imploring you for your kindness. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge my transgressions. I earnestly implore you, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me! Do not destroy me with my transgressions! Do not be angry with me forever or store up evil for me; do not condemn me to the depths of the earth. For you, O Lord, are the God of those who repent, and in me you will manifest your goodness; for, unworthy as I am, you will save me according to your great mercy, and I will praise you continually all the days of my life. For all the host of heaven sings your praise, and yours is the glory forever. Amen.
Examination of Conscience
Ask yourself concretely where you have sinned against God and neighbor: pride, anger, resentment, lust, dishonesty, greed, envy, judgment, neglect of prayer, misuse of speech, lack of mercy, failure to forgive, and so forth. Avoid obsessive self-analysis. Name actual sins rather than vague statements such as “I am a terrible person.”
General Confession
I confess to Almighty God, to Blessed Mary Ever-Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the Saints that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed (Here strike the breast thrice.) through my fault, through my own fault, through my own most grievous fault. Therefore, I beg Blessed Mary Ever-Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints to pray to the Lord our God for me.
Confession
In a private location, confess the sins aloud (unless otherwise necessary to retain discretion and privacy) to God. Speaking quietly aloud can be helpful because it prevents confession from remaining abstract. This can begin with: “Lord, before thee I confess that I have sinned by…” followed by an honest naming of the sins. This is sufficient. Do not make excuses or blame other people, but neither should you exaggerate.
Petition for Forgiveness and Healing
Lord Jesus Christ, I have sinned against thee in these things. Forgive me according to thy mercy. Cleanse me, heal me, and give me strength not to return to these sins.
Intention to Repentance
Repentance means more than feeling sorry. If restitution, apology, reconciliation, breaking off a sinful situation, or changing a habit is necessary, resolve to do what you reasonably can.
Penance
Options include a certain reasonable number of recitations of the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary, the rosary, or the chotki. You may also make several prostrations if physically able, though this should not be done during the Paschal season. However, you should not invent a severe penance for yourself. Beyond what is suggested here, assigning penance is only properly under pastoral guidance.
Conclusion
End by entrusting yourself to God’s mercy:
O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
Final Thought
Remember that Christ receives those who return to Him. The goal with a spiritual confession is not to remain psychologically crushed after confessing, but to turn toward Christ with humility and hope.