| A | B |
|---|
| 380. Whence has the priest the power to forgive sins? | The priest has the power to forgive sins from Jesus Christ; who said to His apostles and to their successors in the priesthood: Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you shall forgive; they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain; they are retained.' |
| 381. With what words does the priest forgive sins? | The priest forgives sins with the words: I absolve thee from thy sins in the name of the Father; and of the Son; and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.' |
| 382. What are the effects of the sacrament of Penance; worthily received? | The effects of the sacrament of Penance; worthily received; are: First; the restoration or increase of sanctifying grace; Second; the forgiveness of sins; Third; the remission of the eternal punishment; if necessary; and also of part; at least; of the temporal punishment; due to our sins; Fourth; the help to avoid sin in future; Fifth; the restoration of the merits of our good works if they have been lost by mortal sin. |
| 383. What else does the sacrament of Penance do for us? | The sacrament of Penance also gives us the opportunity to receive spiritual advice and instruction from our confessor. |
| 384. What must we do to receive the sacrament of Penance worthily? | To receive the sacrament of Penance worthily; we must: First; examine our conscience; Second; be sorry for our sin; Third; have the firm purpose of not sinning again; Fourth; confess our sins to the priest; Fifth; be willing to perform the penance the priest gives us. |
| 385. What is an examination of conscience? | An examination of conscience is a sincere effort to call to mind all the sins we have committed since our last worthy confession. |
| 386. What should we do before our examination of conscience? | Before our examination of conscience we should ask Gods help to know our sins and to confess them with sincere sorrow. |
| 387. How can we make a good examination of conscience? | We can make a good examination of conscience by calling to mind the commandments of God and of the Church; and the particular duties of our state of life; and by asking ourselves how we may have sinned with regard to them. |
| 388. What is contrition? | Contrition is sincere sorrow for having offended God; and hatred for the sins we have committed; with a firm purpose of sinning no more. |
