Penance - USCCB

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Breadcrumb

Penance

Penance is an experience of the gift of God's boundless mercy. Not only does 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

• Act of Contrition | en español
• Examinations of Conscience

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