God is merciful. Through Reconciliation (confession), God forgives us for all of our sins. We are inclined to sin, and, through this sacrament, God frees us from the burden of our wrongdoings; he “washes us clean.” By His grace, we have the opportunity to reconcile with Christ again and again. His infinite love allows us to forget about our past mistakes and start anew with a clean slate after receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation.

Jesus gave priests the authority to forgive (absolve) sins. Of course, God himself absolves sins; however, He prefers that we have a personal encounter with a priest. By acknowledging our sins to these Church leaders, we take responsibility for our actions, and we experience Christ’s unconditional love for us, his children. Reconciliation strengthens us in our faith and helps us refocus and work toward living more like Christ. Ultimately, confession brings us closer in relationship with God.