a) What must we do to receive the sacrament of Confession worthily?
To receive the sacrament of Confession, we must: first, examine our conscience; second, be sorry for our sins; third, have the firm purpose of not sinning again; fourth, confess our sins to the priest, who will absolve us; and fifth, be willing to perform the penance the priest gives us.
The examination of conscience is a sincere effort to remember all the sins we have committed since our last good Confession. Contrition is heartfelt sorrow and aversion for the sins we have committed, with a firm purpose of not sinning again. Confession is the telling of our sins to obtain forgiveness (for mortal sins, we should include the approximate number of times or how often we have committed them; if we knowingly conceal a mortal sin in Confession, the sins we confess are not forgiven; moreover, we commit the mortal sin of sacrilege, which we should also confess).
Absolution is the judgment by which the priest, in the name of Jesus Christ, forgives the sins of the penitent, when he says, “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” to which the penitent answers, “Amen.” Sacramental satisfaction or penance is imposed by the confessor on the penitent, to make up for the offenses done by sinning and recover the virtues of a true disciple of Christ; it should be fulfilled as soon as possible, and could be in the form of prayers, offerings, works of mercy, service to our neighbors, voluntary sacrifices, and, above all, accepting with patience the cross that we should carry.
b) How could an Altar Server prepare himself better for Confession?
A very brief examination of conscience every night before sleeping will help us prepare for Confession.
This nightly examination of conscience can be done in around two minutes, by reflecting on three simple questions: What have I done well today (and thank God for using us as his instruments)? What have I done wrong today (and ask pardon from God)? And, what concrete good can I do tomorrow?