Penance
Penance is an experience of the gift of God's boundless mercy.Not onlydoes it [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).
~from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults | en español
Pray
Learn
- Explore the USCCA to learn about the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation and its impact on the individual and the life of the Church. | en español
- God's Gift of Forgiveness: A Pastoral Exhortation on the Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation | en español
- The Four Steps of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation | en español
- Why Should I Confess My Sins to a Priest? | en español
Act
- Penance: Reconciled to Right Relationship, Called to Heal and Restore | en español
- Rediscover the Sacrament of Penance: Resources for Individuals
- How to Go to Confession | en español
For diocesan and parish leaders:
Promoting Participation in the
Sacrament of Penance: Diocesan and Parish Resources