Penance

==== 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>