Reconciliation (or Confession) liberates us from sins that trouble our hearts and makes it possible to be reconciled to God and others. We are asked to look into our souls and with an honest and unblinking gaze, identify our sins. This opens our minds and hearts to God, moves us toward communion with the Church and offers us a new future.
In confession, by naming our sins before the priest, who represents Christ, we face our failing more honestly and accept responsibility for our sins. It is also in confession that a priest and penitent can work together to find the direction needed for the penitent to grown spiritually and to avoid sin in the future.
When we have examined our consciences and have taken responsibility for our sins, we then confess them to the priest. We must confess our mortal sins in kind and number. The Church strongly recommends confessing venial sins though this is not strictly necessary.
There are three rites of Reconciliation: