The Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation, Confession) is a celebration of God’s Mercy, a Sacrament instituted by (and alive in) Jesus Christ. We please God when we do His will. When we fail to obey His Commandments, we confess our shortcomings to our Priests, and experience the joy of healing and forgiveness. Through acts of contrition, confession, and penance, sinners are reconciled to God and the Christian community. In the Sacrament of Penance, Jesus embraces us, and leads us back to God.