Why go to confession?

Only God forgives sins. But on the evening of Easter, the risen Jesus breathed on his apostles and gave them the power to forgive sins in his name. Catholics believe this continues in the sacrament of Reconciliation, also called Penance or confession.

Sin hurts our friendship with God and also the people around us and the whole Church. In confession, the priest stands both for Christ and for the Church: you hear, in a human voice, that you are forgiven.

It is simple: you think back over your life (an examination of conscience), you are sorry, you tell your sins to the priest, he may give some advice and a penance — a prayer or an act of repair — and he speaks the words of absolution. The priest may never reveal anything he hears: this seal is absolute.

In the first centuries, public penance for grave sins was long and could be received only once in a lifetime. From the sixth and seventh centuries, Irish monks spread a private, repeatable form of confession, which became the practice of the whole Western Church.

Catholics are required to confess serious sins at least once a year, but the Church warmly encourages confessing everyday faults as well, as a way of growing. Many people go once a month, or before great feasts.

The words of absolution say what happens: God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins… I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.