Everyone occasionally does things they regret or perhaps know they shouldn’t have done, and that’s why the Sacrament of Penance is so important. Commonly called Confession, the Sacrament of Penance is all about healing. Remember, no matter what you have done, God loves you and is ready to forgive you. But first you need to speak to God about what happened, and Catholics do that through a ritual of confession, penance and absolution.

The idea of confessing something you did wrong to someone might make you anxious or uncomfortable, and the Church understands this. That’s why Catholic priests are bound to a seal of confession. This means a Catholic priest can never repeat any sins you confess to him in the confessional to anyone for any reason. Penance is a sacrament of forgiveness and celebrates God’s love and mercy towards us.