# Penance, Sacrament of ## Catechism of the Catholic Church The liturgical celebration of God's forgiveness of the sins of the penitent, who is thus reconciled with God and with the Church. The acts of the penitent--contrition, the confession of sins, and satisfaction or reparation--together with the prayer of [[absolution]] by the priest, constitute the essential elements of the Sacrament of Penance ([[1.2.3.10.pe#^ccc-980|980]], [[2.2.2.4.p46#^ccc-1422|1422]], [[2.2.2.4.p4c#^ccc-1440|1440]], [[2.2.2.4.p4c#^ccc-1448|1448]]). ## Ignatius Catholic Study Bible **Penance, Sacrament of** Authority to forgive sins given by God to men: [[matthew-09#^matthew-09-8|Mt 9:8]] Authority to forgive sins given by Jesus to Peter ("binding and loosing"): [[matthew-16#^matthew-16-18|Mt 16:18-19]] Authority to forgive sins given to the Twelve ("binding and loosing"): [[matthew-18#^matthew-18-15|Mt 18:15-18]]; [[john-20#^john-20-19|Jn 20:19-23]] Paul was given a ministry of reconciliation: [[2-corinthians-05#^2-corinthians-05-18|2 Cor 5:18]] Satisfaction for sins repented of: [[matthew-03#^matthew-03-8|Mt 3:8]]; [[luke-03#^luke-03-8|Lk 3:8]]; [[acts-of-the-apostles-08#^acts-of-the-apostles-08-22|Acts 8:22-23]] *See also* [[confession|Confession of sins]]; [[reconciliation]]; [[salvation]] ### Sources [[index-of-doctrines|Index of Doctrines]]