Penance

=====Sacrament of Penance=====
{{main|Sacrament of Penance (Catholic Church)}}
[[File:Исповедь берн собор.jpg|thumb|Confession in a [[Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church]]]]

According to the Catholic Catechism, "the process of repentance and conversion was described by Jesus in the parable of prodigal son."<ref name="Catechism of the Catholic Church">{{cite web|url=http://ccc.usccb.org/flipbooks/catechism/index.html#379/z|title=Catechism of the Catholic Church|website=ccc.usccb.org}}</ref> In the Catholic Church, the [[Sacraments (Catholic Church)|sacrament]] of penance (also called reconciliation, forgiveness, [[Confession (religion)|confession]] and conversion)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html#The |title=Celebration of the Christian Mystery Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 296 |publisher=Vatican.va |access-date=2012-09-20}}</ref> is one of the two sacraments of healing: Jesus Christ has willed that by this means the church should continue, in the power of the Holy Spirit, his work of healing and salvation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P45.HTM |title=Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1421 |publisher=Vatican.va |access-date=2012-09-20}}</ref> Reconciliation with God is both the purpose and effect of this sacrament.<ref name="ccc.usccb.org">{{cite web|url=http://ccc.usccb.org/flipbooks/catechism/index.html#387/z|title=Catechism of the Catholic Church|website=ccc.usccb.org}}</ref>

Through the priest who is the minister of the sacrament and who acts not in his own name but on behalf of God, confession of sins is made to God and absolution is received from God.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.catholic-truth.info/apologetics/confess.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060303185641/http://catholic-truth.info/apologetics/confess.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2006-03-03 |title=Catholic Apologetics on Catholic Truth – Penance |publisher=Catholic-truth.info |access-date=2012-09-20 }}</ref> In this sacrament, the sinner, placing themselves before the merciful judgment of God, anticipates in a certain way, the judgment to which they will be subjected at the end of their earthly life.<ref name="ccc.usccb.org"/>

Essential to the sacrament are acts both by the sinner (examination of conscience, contrition with a determination not to sin again, confession to a priest, and performance of some act to repair the damage caused by sin) and by the priest (determination of the act of reparation to be performed and [[absolution]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html#The |title=Celebration of the Christian Mystery Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 302-303 |publisher=Vatican.va |access-date=2012-09-20}}</ref> among the penitent's acts contrition holds first place. Serious sins ([[mortal sin]]s) must be confessed within at most a year and always before receiving Holy Communion, while confession of [[venial sin]]s also is recommended.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html#The |title=Celebration of the Christian Mystery Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 304-306 |publisher=Vatican.va |access-date=2012-09-20}}</ref>