Throughout the Christian way of life, and especially in Lent, believers are called to examine their consciences and repent of their sins. The deeper the repentance, the greater the conversion of heart ...

“Receive the Holy Spirit,” said the risen Lord to his apostles. “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” The sacrament of Penance, ...

This year the National Day of Prayer will take place on Thursday, May 4. America suffers from increasing social crises that have physical and psychological aspects and which appear resistant to ...

Pope Francis leads an audience for priests who hear confessions in the basilicas of Rome and priests and seminarians attending a course on confession offered by the Apostolic Penitentiary, the Vatican ...

“I firmly resolve with the help of thy grace to confess my sins, do penance and amend my life. Amen.” Those words concluding the “Act of Contrition” prayer were recited for centuries by Catholics as ...

Lent is a time when a lot of people think about returning to the sacrament of reconciliation. But if it’s been a while, that can be kind of a daunting idea. What are the words I’m supposed to say, ...

Imagine that Michael, a practicing Catholic, committed a mortal sin yesterday. Normally, Michael would go to confession. But because of the coronavirus pandemic, he can't. It simply isn't available.

Perhaps in catastrophe lies the invitation to return to contrition — and in contrition, to seek mercy and hope for the sort of life that can come from the ashes. (Rohan Thomson / Getty Images) In the ...