Not only does the Sacrament of Penance free us from our sins but it also challenges us to have the same kind of compassion and forgiveness for those who sin against us. We are liberated to be forgivers. We obtain new insight into the words of the Prayer of St. Francis: "It is in pardoning that we are pardoned."

Jesus entrusted the ministry of reconciliation to the Church. The Sacrament of Penance is God's gift to us so that any sin committed after Baptism can be forgiven. In confession we have the opportunity to repent and recover the grace of friendship with God. It is a holy moment in which we place ourselves in his presence and honestly acknowledge our sins, especially mortal sins. With absolution, we are reconciled to God and the Church. The Sacrament helps us stay close to the truth that we cannot live without God. "In him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28).

-Taken from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Jesus sent his twelve apostles to proclaim the Kingdom and to call people to repentance and conversion, and the Risen Christ transmitted His own power of reconciliation to them: “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive, are forgiven them” (John 20: 22-23). The Church today continues to preach the Gospel, invite people to conversion, and administer the sacrament of the remission of sins. 

During Confession: 

• The acts of the penitent (the person making the Confession) are contrition, confession and satisfaction. The act of the priest is absolution.
• Perfect contrition arises from love of God; imperfect contrition results from other motives.
• The penitent, after an examination of conscience, needs to confess all mortal sins. Though it is not necessary to confess venial sins, the Church strongly recommends it because it can lead to self-examination, healing and spiritual growth.
• The priest gives a penance to repair the harm due to sin and to restore the penitent’s commitment to be a disciple of Christ.
• We are reconciled with God and His Church, which gives us peace of mind and spiritual consolation, remits the eternal punishment due to mortal sin, and empowers us to face spiritual challenges.

“We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures;
we are the sum of the Father's love for us
and our real capacity to become the image of his Son.”

-Saint John Paul II