'Form' of Confession

The sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation is a whole consisting in three actions of the penitent and the priest's absolution. The penitent's acts are:

1. Repentance,
2. Confession or disclosure of sins to the priest,
and
3. the intention to make reparation and do works of reparation.

Repentance (also called contrition) must be inspired by motives that arise from faith. If repentance arises from love of charity for God, it is called "perfect" contrition; if it is founded on other motives, it is called "imperfect."

One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience. The confession of venial faults, without being necessary in itself, is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.

The confessor (priest) proposes the performance of certain acts of "satisfaction" or "penance" to be performed by the penitent in order to repair the harm caused by sin and to re-establish habits befitting a disciple of Christ. The Catechism explains:

"Absolution takes away sin, but it does not remedy all the disorders sin has caused. Raised up from sin, the sinner must still recover his full spiritual health by doing something more to make amends for the sin: he must "make satisfaction for" or "expiate" his sins. This satisfaction is also called 'penance'."

We must not forget, though, that the essential and most remarkable aspect of reconciliation is not the penance, but the conversion of heart - the desire and the will to turn back to God - which is a work of grace.

Finally, only priests who have received the faculty of absolving from the authority of the Church can forgive sins in the name of Christ.

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