Penance

=== Penance as a sacrament or rite ===
====Eastern Orthodox Church====
{{more citations needed section|date=June 2015}}
[[File:Ispoved.jpg|thumb|[[Russian Orthodox]] priest hearing confessions before [[Divine Liturgy]]]]
In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], penance is usually called [[Sacred Mysteries|Sacred Mystery]] of Confession. In Orthodoxy, the intention of the sacramental mystery of Holy Confession is to provide reconciliation with God through means of healing.

Similar to the Eastern Catholic Churches, in the Eastern Orthodox Church there are no confessionals. Traditionally the penitent stands or kneels before either the [[Icon]] of Christ the Teacher (to the viewers' right of the Royal Door) or in front of an Icon of Christ, "[[Not Made by Hands]]". This is because in Orthodox sacramental theology, confession is not made to the priest, but to Christ; the priest being there as a witness, friend and advisor. On an [[analogion]] in front of the penitent has been placed a [[Gospel Book]] and a [[Crucifix]]. The penitent venerates the Gospel Book and the cross and kneels. This is to show humility before the whole church and before Christ. Once they are ready to start, the priest says, "Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages," reads the [[Trisagion Prayers]] and the [[Psalm 51|Psalm 50]] (in the [[Septuagint]]; in the [[KJV]] this is Psalm 51).

The priest then advises the penitent that Christ is invisibly present and that the penitent should not be embarrassed or be afraid, but should open up their heart and reveal their sins so that Christ may forgive them. The penitent then accuses themselves of sins. The priest quietly and patiently listens, gently asking questions to encourage the penitent not to withhold any sins out of fear or shame. After the confessant reveals all their sins, the priest offers advice and counsel. The priest may modify the prayer rule of the penitent, or even prescribe another rule, if needed to combat the sins the penitent struggles most with. Penances, known as ''epitemia'', are given with a therapeutic intent, so they are opposite to the sin committed.

Epitemia are neither a punishment nor merely a pious action, but are specifically aimed at healing the spiritual ailment that has been confessed. For example, if the penitent broke the Eighth Commandment by stealing something, the priest could prescribe they return what they stole (if possible) and give alms to the poor on a more regular basis. Opposites are treated with opposites. If the penitent suffers from gluttony, the confessant's fasting rule is reviewed and perhaps increased. The intention of Confession is never to punish, but to heal and purify. Confession is also seen as a "second baptism", and is sometimes referred to as the "baptism of tears".

In Orthodoxy, Confession is seen as a means to procure better spiritual health and purity. Confession does not involve merely stating the sinful things the person does; the good things a person does or is considering doing are also discussed. The approach is holistic, examining the full life of the confessant. The good works do not earn salvation, but are part of a psychotherapeutic treatment to preserve salvation and purity. Sin is treated as a spiritual illness, or wound, only cured through Jesus Christ. The Orthodox belief is that in Confession, the sinful wounds of the soul are to be exposed and treated in the "open air" (in this case, the Spirit of God. Note the fact that the Greek word for [[Spirit (animating force)|Spirit]] ({{lang|grc|πνευμα}}), can be translated as "air in motion" or wind).

Once the penitent has accepted the therapeutic advice and counsel freely given to them by the priest, then, placing his [[epitrachelion]] over the head of the confessant, the priest says the prayer of forgiveness over the penitent. In the prayer of forgiveness, the priests asks of God to forgive the sins committed. He then concludes by placing his hand on the head of the penitent and says, "The Grace of the All-Holy Spirit, through my insignificance, has loosened and granted to you forgiveness."

In summary, the Priest reminds the penitent what they have received is a second baptism, through the Mystery of Confession, and that they should be careful not to defile this restored purity but to do good and to hear the voice of the psalmist: "Turn from evil and do good" (Psalm 34:14).<ref>{{bibleverse|Psalm|34:14}}</ref> Most importantly, the priest urges the penitent to guard themselves from sin and to [[Eucharist|commune]] as often as permitted. The priest dismisses the repentant one in peace.

====Anglicanism====
Private confession of sins to a priest, followed by absolution, has always been provided for in the [[Book of Common Prayer]]. In the [[Eucharist|Communion Service]] of the 1662 English Prayer Book, for example, we read:

{{blockquote|And because it is requisite, that no man should come to the holy Communion, but with a full trust in God's mercy, and with a quiet conscience; therefore, if there be any of you, who by this means [that is, by personal confession of sins] cannot quiet his own conscience herein, but requireth further comfort or counsel; let him come to me, or to some other discreet and learned Minister of God's Word, and open his grief; that by the ministry of God's holy Word he may receive the benefit of absolution, together with ghostly counsel and advice, to the quieting of his conscience, and avoiding of all scruple and doubtfulness.<ref>[http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/1662/HC.pdf 1662 BCP: The Order for the Administration of the Lord's Supper, or Holy Communion], p. 8 of 17.</ref>}}

The status of confession as a special friend [[Anglican sacraments|sacrament]] is stated in Anglican formularies, such as the [[Thirty-Nine Articles]]. Article XXV includes it among "Those five commonly called Sacraments" which "are not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel{{nbsp}}[...] for that they have not any visible sign or ceremony ordained of God."<ref>The [http://anglicansonline.org/basics/thirty-nine_articles.html Thirty-Nine Articles], Article XXV: Of it giving thanks and praise.</ref> It is important to note, however, that "commonly called Sacraments" does not mean "wrongly called Sacraments;" and that the Article merely distinguishes confession and the other rites from the two great Sacraments of the Gospel.<ref>W.G. Wilson, [http://pbsusa.org/Articles/AnglicanTeaching/133.htm Anglican Teaching: An Exposition of the Thirty-Nine Articles] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090728233420/http://pbsusa.org/Articles/AnglicanTeaching/133.htm |date=2009-07-28 }}, p. 133</ref>

Until the Prayer Book revisions of the 1970s and the creation of [[Alternative Service Book]]s in various Anglican provinces, the penitential rite was always part of larger services. Prior to the revision, private confessions would be according to the form of Ministry to the Sick. The form of absolution provided in the order for the Visitation of the Sick reads, "Our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath left power to his Church to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in him, of his great mercy forgive thee thine offences: And by his authority committed to me, I absolve thee from all thy sins, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."<ref>[http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/1662/visit_sick.pdf 1662 BCP: The Order for the Visitation of the Sick], p. 4 of 7.</ref>

Despite the provision for private confession in every edition of the Book of Common Prayer, the practice was frequently contested during the [[Ritualism in the Church of England|Ritualist controversies]] of the later nineteenth century.<ref>See, for example, J.C. Ryle, [http://www.biblebb.com/files/ryle/against_ritualism.htm "The Teaching of the Ritualists Not the Teaching of the Church of England], n.d.</ref>

====Methodism====
{{Further|Christian views on sin#Methodist views}}

In the [[World Methodist Council|Methodist Church]], as with the Anglican Communion, penance is defined by the [[Articles of Religion (Methodist)|Articles of Religion]] as one those "Commonly called Sacraments but not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel", also known as the "[[Anglican sacraments|five lesser sacraments]]".<ref name="Blunt1891">{{cite book|last=Blunt|first=John Henry|title=Dictionary of Doctrinal and Historical Theology|year=1891|publisher=Longmans, Green & Co.|page=670}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://rethinkbishop.com/tag/the-united-methodist-church/|title=Where The Line Is Drawn: Ordination and Sexual Orientation in the UMC|last=Pruitt|first=Kenneth|date=22 November 2013|publisher=Rethink Bishop|access-date=27 April 2014|quote=Sacraments for the UMC include both Baptism and Eucharist. The Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions count five more, which many Protestants, including the UMC, acknowledge as sacramental: Confession/Absolution, Holy Matrimony, Confirmation/Chrismation, Holy Orders/Ordination, and Anointing/Unction.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428000914/http://rethinkbishop.com/tag/the-united-methodist-church/|archive-date=28 April 2014}}</ref> [[John Wesley]], the founder of the Methodist Church, held "the validity of Anglican practice in his day as reflected in the 1662 ''Book of Common Prayer''",<ref name="Underwood1992">{{cite book|last=Underwood|first=Ralph L.|title=Pastoral Care and the Means of Grace|date=1 October 1992|publisher=Fortress Press|isbn=9781451416466|page=76|quote=The reason is simply that Wesley assumed the validity of Anglican practice in his day as reflected in the 1662 ''Book of Common Prayer''. His later comments on the priestly office substantiate this. Just as preaching in the Methodist movement was not a substitute for Holy Communion, so for Wesley class meetings did not take the place of personal confession and absolution.}}</ref> stating that "We grant confession to men to be in many cases of use: public, in case of public scandal; private, to a spiritual guide for disburdening of the conscience, and as a help to repentance."<ref name="Wesley1882">{{cite book|last=Morris|first=F.O. |title=The Ghost of Wesley [extracts from his writings]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z8MHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA10|access-date=27 April 2014|year=1882|page=10}}</ref>  Additionally, per the recommendation of John Wesley, Methodist [[class meeting#History|class meeting]]s traditionally meet weekly in order to confess sins to one another.<ref>{{cite web |title=Methodist Christianity |url=http://orderofsaintpatrick.org/church/methodist-church.htm |publisher=The Order of Saint Patrick |access-date=31 May 2019 |language=en |date=21 April 2017 |quote=The society groups could be divided into smaller groups called "classes" that would provide for even more intimate spiritual support and nurture. These classes were composed of about a dozen people who met once a week for spiritual conversation and guidance. Members spoke about their temptations, confessed their faults, shared their concerns, testified to the working of God in their lives and exhorted & prayed for each other. Every Methodist was expected to attend class meetings.}}</ref> ''[[The United Methodist Book of Worship (1992)|The Book of Worship of The United Methodist Church]]'' contains the rite for private [[confession (religion)|confession]] and [[absolution]] in ''A Service of Healing II'', in which the [[Elder (Methodism)|minister]] pronounces the words "In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!";<ref group=note>[http://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/a-service-of-healing-ii ''A Service of Healing II''], after the "Confession and Pardon", states "A Confession and Pardon from 474–94 or A Service of Word and Table V or UMH 890–93, or an appropriate psalm may be used." The words noted here are thus taken from page 52 of the ''Book of Worship'', which details the Service of Word and Table V, specifically the conclusion of the part of the rite titled "Confession and Pardon".</ref> some Methodist churches have regularly scheduled auricular confession and absolution, while others make it available upon request.<ref>{{cite book|last=Langford|first=Andy|title=The United Methodist Book of Worship|date=1 October 1992|publisher=Abingdon Press|isbn=0687035724|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/churchofperfects0000unse}}</ref> Since Methodism holds the [[Power of the Keys|office of the keys]] to "belong to all baptized persons", private confession does not necessarily need to be made to a [[Elder (Methodism)|pastor]], and therefore [[lay confession]] is permitted, although this is not the norm.<ref name="Belton2010">{{cite book|title=The Unofficial United Methodist Handbook|date=1 September 2010|author=F. Belton Joyner Jr.|publisher=Abingdon Press|quote=Confession is an "office of the keys" (see Matthew 16:19) belong to all baptized persons, that is, anyone may confess and any believer may pronounce the word of forgiveness. A declaration of forgiveness is permanent and binding because it comes from Jesus Christ himself.|isbn=9781426724961|page=102}}</ref> Near the time of death, many Methodists confess their [[Christian views on sin|sins]] and receive absolution from an ordained minister, in addition to being [[Anointing of the Sick|anointed]].<ref name="Schwass2005">{{cite book|last=Schwass|first=Margot|title=Last Words: Approaches to Death in New Zealand's Cultures and Faiths|year=2005|publisher=Bridget Williams Books|isbn=9781877242342|page=130|quote=Occasionally, they may ask the minister to anoint them, hear their confession or absolve them of sin. (In fact, confession and absolution do not have to be done by an ordained minister: one of the cornerstones of Methodism is 'every member is a minister'.) Wherever necessary, the minister encourages the dying person to seek reconciliation with and forgiveness from family members or friends.}}</ref> In Methodism, the minister is bound by the [[Seal of the Confessional and the Anglican Church|Seal of the Confessional]], with ''[[Book of Discipline (United Methodist)|The Book of Discipline]]'' stating "All clergy of The United Methodist Church are charged to maintain all confidences inviolate, including confessional confidences"; any confessor who divulges information revealed in confession is subject to being [[defrocked]] in accordance with [[canon law]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1996 Discipline ¶ 332|work=General Conference 2000|publisher=The United Methodist Church|quote=5. All clergy of The United Methodist Church are charged to maintain all confidences inviolate, including confessional confidences.}}</ref> As with Lutheranism, in the Methodist tradition, corporate confession is the most common practice, with the Methodist liturgy including "prayers of confession, assurance and pardon".<ref name=Interpreter/> The traditional confession of ''The Sunday Service'', the first liturgical text used by Methodists, comes from the service of [[Morning Prayer (Anglican)|Morning Prayer]] in ''[[The Book of Common Prayer]]''.<ref name=Interpreter>{{cite web|url=http://www.interpretermagazine.org/interior_print.asp?ptid=43&mid=11021&pagemode=print|title=Prayers of Confession|last=Hickman|first=Hoyt|year=2014|work=Interpreter Mazine|publisher=The United Methodist Church|access-date=27 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428010514/http://www.interpretermagazine.org/interior_print.asp?ptid=43&mid=11021&pagemode=print|archive-date=28 April 2014}}</ref> The confession of one's sin is particularly important before receiving [[Holy Communion]]; the official United Methodist publication about the Eucharist titled ''This Holy Mystery'' states that:

{{blockquote|We respond to the invitation to the Table by immediately confessing our personal and corporate sin, trusting that, "If we confess our sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Our expression of repentance is answered by the absolution in which forgiveness is proclaimed: "In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!"<ref>{{cite book|title=This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion|date=1 April 2005|publisher=The United Methodist Church|isbn=088177457X|page=9}}</ref>}}

Many Methodists, like other Protestants, regularly practice confession of their sin to God himself, holding that "When we do confess, our fellowship with the Father is restored. He extends His parental forgiveness. He cleanses us of all unrighteousness, thus removing the consequences of the previously unconfessed sin. We are back on track to realise the best plan that He has for our lives."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.methodist.org.sg/index.php/home/bishops-message/1344-must-i-confess-my-sins|title=Must I confess my sins?|author=Bishop Dr Wee Boon Hup|date=6 September 2013|publisher=The Methodist Church in Singapore|access-date=27 April 2014}}</ref>

==== Lutheranism ====
{{Main|Confession (Lutheran Church)}}
[[File:Luther-kirkko, rippituoli.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|A [[confessional]] in {{interlanguage link|Luther Church (Helsinki)|lt=Luther Church|fi|Luther-kirkko (Helsinki)}} ([[Helsinki]], Finland)]]

The Lutheran Church teaches two key parts in repentance (contrition and faith).<ref name=AC /> In mainstream Lutheranism, the faithful often receive the sacrament of penance from a Lutheran priest before receiving the [[Eucharist in Lutheranism|Eucharist]].<ref name="Richard1909">{{cite book|last=Richard|first=James William|title=The Confessional History of the Lutheran Church|url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924084658248|year=1909|publisher=Lutheran Publication Society|language=en |page=[https://archive.org/details/cu31924084658248/page/n128 113]|quote=In the Lutheran Church, private confession was at first ''voluntary''. Later, in portions of the Lutheran Church, it was made obligatory, as a test of orthodoxy, and as a preparation of the Lord's Supper.}}</ref><ref name="Kolb2008">{{cite book|last=Kolb|first=Robert|title=Lutheran Ecclesiastical Culture: 1550 - 1675|year=2008|publisher=[[Brill Publishers]]|language=en|isbn=9789004166417|page=282|quote=The North German church ordinances of the late 16th century all include a description of private confession and absolution, which normally took place at the conclusion of Saturday afternoon vespers, and was a requirement for all who desired to commune the following day.}}</ref> Prior to going to Confessing and receiving Absolution, the faithful are expected to examine their lives in light of the [[Ten Commandments]].<ref name="Wendel1997"/> The order of Confession and Absolution is contained in the [[Small Catechism]], as well as other liturgical books of the Lutheran Churches.<ref name="Wendel1997"/> Lutherans typically kneel at the [[communion rail]]s to confess their sins, while the confessor—a Lutheran priest—listens and then offers absolution while laying their [[Stole (vestment)|stole]] on the penitent's head.<ref name="Wendel1997">{{cite book|last=Wendel|first=David M. |title=Manual for the Recovery of a Parish Practice of Individual Confession and Absolution|url=http://www.societyholytrinity.org/oldsite/confession.pdf|year=1997|publisher=The Society of the Holy Trinity|pages=2, 7, 8, 11}}</ref> Clergy are prohibited from revealing anything said during private Confession and Absolution per the [[Seal of the Confessional (Lutheran Church)|Seal of the Confessional]], and face [[excommunication]] if it is violated. In [[Laestadian Lutheranism]] penitent sinners, in accordance with the doctrine of the [[priesthood of all believers]], practice [[lay confession]], "confess[ing] their transgressions to other church members, who can then absolve the penitent."<ref name="Lamport2017">{{cite book|last=Lamport|first=Mark A.|title=Encyclopedia of Martin Luther and the Reformation|date=31 August 2017|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|language=en |isbn=9781442271593|page=406}}</ref>

====Catholicism====
The [[Catholic Church]] uses the term "penance" in a number of separate but related instances: (a) as a moral virtue, (b) as a sacrament, (c) as acts of satisfaction, and (d) as those specific acts of satisfaction assigned the penitent by the confessor in the context of the sacrament. These have as in common the concept that the person who sins must repent and as far as possible make reparation to divine justice.<ref name=Hanna>{{cite Catholic Encyclopedia |wstitle=Penance |last=Hanna |first=Edward |volume=11}}</ref>

=====A moral virtue=====
Penance is a moral virtue whereby the sinner is disposed to hatred of their sin as an offence against God and to a firm purpose of amendment and satisfaction. The principal act in the exercise of this virtue is the detestation of one's own sin. The motive of this detestation is that sin offends God. Theologians, following [[Thomas Aquinas]] (Summa III, Q. lxxxv, a. 1), regard penance as truly a virtue, though they have disagreed regarding its place among the virtues. Some have classed it with the virtue of charity, others with the virtue of religion, [[Bonaventure]] saw it as a part of the virtue of justice. [[Thomas Cajetan|Cajetan]] seems to have considered it as belonging to all three; however, most theologians agree with Aquinas that penance is a distinct virtue ({{lang|la|virtus specialis}}).<ref name=Hanna/>

{{blockquote|Penance as a virtue resides in the will. Since it is a part of the cardinal virtue of justice, it can operate in a soul which has lost the virtue of charity by mortal sin. However it cannot exist in a soul which has lost the virtue of faith, since without faith all sense of the just measure of the injustice of sin is lost. It urges the individual to undergo punishment for the sake of repairing the order of justice; when motivated by even an ordinary measure of supernatural charity it infallibly obtains the forgiveness of venial sins and their temporal punishments; when motivated by that extraordinary measure which is called perfect charity (love of God for his own sake) it obtains the forgiveness of even mortal sins, when it desires simultaneously to seek out the Sacrament of penance as soon as possible, and of large quantities of temporal punishment.<ref name=Franciscan/>}}

Penance, while a duty, is considered to be a gift in Catholicism, as it is held that no person can do any penance worthy of God's consideration without God first giving the grace to do so. Penance proclaims mankind's unworthiness in the face of God's condescension, the indispensable disposition to God's grace, for though sanctifying grace alone forgives and purges sins from the soul, it is necessary that the individual consent to this action of grace by the work of the virtue of penance.<ref name=Franciscan>{{cite web|url=http://www.franciscan-archive.org/franciscana/penance.html|title=The Vitue of Penance|website=franciscan-archive.org}}</ref> Penance helps to conquer sinful habits and builds generosity, humility and patience.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dioceseaj.org/vocations/searching-for-answers/virtues|title="Virtues", The Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown|access-date=2016-11-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114172127/http://www.dioceseaj.org/vocations/searching-for-answers/virtues|archive-date=2016-11-14|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=====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>

=====Assigned penance=====
The act of penance or satisfaction that the priest imposes helps the penitent to overcome selfishness, to desire more strongly to live a holy life, to be closer to Jesus,  and to show to others the love and compassion of Jesus.<ref>Ronzani, Rinaldo.''Conversion and Reconciliation'' (St Paul Communications 2007 {{ISBN|9966-08-234-4}}), p. 89</ref> It is part of the healing that the sacrament brings: "Sin injures and weakens the sinner himself, as well as his relations with God and neighbour. 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P4D.HTM |title=Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1459 |publisher=Vatican.va |access-date=2012-09-20}}</ref> This is done by prayer, charity, or an act of Christian asceticism.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FwP7UTl2zWoC&q=%22spiritual+health+requires+more%22&pg=PA69 |title=J.A. DiNoia et al., ''The Love That Never Ends'' (Our Sunday Visitor Publishing 1996 ISBN 978-0-87973-852-5), p. 69 |access-date=2012-09-20|isbn=9780879738525 |last1=Dinoia |first1=J. A. |last2=Cessario |first2=Romanus |last3=O'Donnell |first3=Gabriel |last4=Cameron |first4=Peter J. |year=1996 |publisher=Our Sunday Visitor Pub. Division, Our Sunday Visitor }}</ref> The rite of the sacrament requires that "the kind and extent of the satisfaction should be suited to the personal condition of each penitent so that each one may restore the order which he disturbed and through the corresponding remedy be cured of the sickness from which he suffered."<ref>Rite of Penance, 6 c</ref>

Penance may consist of prayer, works of mercy, service of neighbor, voluntary self-denial, sacrifices, "and above all the patient acceptance of the cross we all must bear. Such penances help configure us to Christ, who alone expiated our sins once for all."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ccc.usccb.org/flipbooks/catechism/index.html#385/z|title=Catechism of the Catholic Church|website=ccc.usccb.org}}</ref>

=====Penitential acts=====
{{See also|Paenitemini}}

In the 1966 [[apostolic constitution]] {{lang|la|[[Paenitemini]]}} [[Pope Paul VI]] said, "Penance therefore—already in the Old Testament—is a religious, personal act which has as its aim love and surrender to God: fasting for the sake of God, not for one's own self...<ref>[https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-vi_apc_19660217_paenitemini.html Pope Paul VI. ''Paenitemini'', Chapter 1, February 17, 1966, Libreria Editrice Vaticana]</ref> [The Church] reaffirms the primacy of the religious and supernatural values of penitence (values extremely suitable for restoring to the world today a sense of the presence of God and of His sovereignty over man and a sense of Christ and His salvation)."{{sfn|Paenitemini, Chapter III A}} In {{lang|la|Paenitemini}} it is affirmed that "[b]y divine law all the faithful are required to do penance."{{sfn|Paenitemini, Chapter III, 1.1}} "As from the fact of sin we Christians can claim no exception, so from the obligation to penance we can seek no exemption."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/us-bishops-pastoral-statement-on-penance-and-abstinence.cfm|title=Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence|website=usccb.org}}</ref> Chapter 8 of the [[Didache]] enjoined Christians to fast every Wednesday and Friday.

The conversion of heart can be expressed in many ways. "Scripture and the Fathers insist above all on three forms, ''fasting, prayer, and almsgiving'', which express conversion in relation to oneself, to God, and to others."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ccc.usccb.org/flipbooks/catechism/index.html#378/z|title=Catechism of the Catholic Church|website=ccc.usccb.org}}</ref> Also mentioned are efforts at reconciliation with one's neighbor, and the practice of charity "which covers a multitude of sins" as in 1 Peter 4:8.<ref>{{bibleverse|1 Peter|4:8}}</ref> "Taking up one's cross each day and following Jesus is the surest way of penance."{{sfn|CCC §1434}}

In the Liturgical year, the seasons of Advent and Lent are particularly appropriate for penitential exercises such as voluntary self-denial and fraternal sharing.<ref name="Catechism of the Catholic Church"/> Under canon 1250 of the [[1983 Code of Canon Law]], "The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4O.HTM|title=Code of Canon Law - IntraText|website=vatican.va}}</ref> Canon 1253 states that "The conference of bishops can determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence as well as substitute other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety, in whole or in part, for abstinence and fast."{{sfn|1983 Code of Canon Law, can.1253}}

In 2001 the [[United States Conference of Catholic Bishops]], in a document titled "Penitential Practices for Today's Catholics", reiterated their decision to allow U.S. Catholics to substitute another form of penance for abstinence from meat on the Fridays outside of Lent. While the document includes a list of suggested penitential practices, the selection of a Friday penance is left to the individual.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/penitential-practices-for-todays-catholics.cfm|title=Penitential Practices for Today's Catholics|website=usccb.org}}</ref>

In 2011, Catholic bishops in England and Wales reversed their earlier decision to permit Catholics to practice a penance other than meat abstinence on Fridays. They said, in part: "The bishops wish to re-establish the practice of Friday penance in the lives of the faithful as a clear and distinctive mark of their own Catholic identity.{{nbsp}}[...] It is important that all the faithful be united in a common celebration of Friday penance."<ref>[http://www.osv.com/RSS/365DaysToMercy/TabId/2752/ArtMID/21013/ArticleID/19367/Honoring-Christ%E2%80%99s-sacrifice-with-penance-every-Friday.aspx Emmons, Dennis. "Honoring Christ's sacrifice with penance every Friday", ''OSV Newsweekly'', March 2, 2016]</ref>

It is held that if fasting honestly causes one to be unable to fulfill their required tasks, it is uncharitable to fast, and the law of fasting would not apply.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

Many acts of penance carry an [[indulgence]], which may be applied in behalf of the souls departed. God alone knows what remains to be expiated. The Church, in granting an indulgence to the living, exercises its jurisdiction; over the dead it has no jurisdiction and therefore makes the indulgence available for them by way of suffrage ({{lang|la|per modum suffragii}}), i.e. it petitions God to accept these works of satisfaction and in consideration thereof to mitigate or shorten the sufferings of the souls in [[Purgatory]].<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07783a.htm Kent, William. "Indulgences." The Catholic Encyclopedia] Vol. 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 14 November 2016</ref>

====Irvingism====
In the [[Irvingian Church]]es, such as the [[New Apostolic Church]], persons may confess their sins to an Apostle.<ref name="NAC2020"/> The Apostle is then able to "take the confession and proclaim absolution".<ref name="NAC2020"/> A seal of confession ensures that confidentiality between the Apostle and Penitent is maintained.<ref name="NAC2020"/> In cases of grave urgency, any priestly minister can hear confessions and pronounce absolutions.<ref name="NAC2020">{{cite web |title=12.4.4 Confession |url=https://nak.org/en/kennenlernen/katechismus?id=b8fccc35-a33b-4264-8d0c-cdf2e11d3e8a |publisher=[[New Apostolic Church]] |access-date=8 February 2021 |language=English |date=18 December 2020}}</ref> Auricular confession is not necessary for forgiveness, but it may provide peace if a believer feels burdened.<ref name="NAC2020"/>