The Sacrament of Penance is one of two sacraments of healing (the other being the Anointing of the Sick). Penance is a sacrament of forgiveness and celebrates God’s love and mercy towards us. It is about acknowledging and naming those times when we know we have done wrong, and then making peace and restoring the relationships with those who have been affected by our poor choices.

The Sacrament of Penance is celebrated through the Rites of Reconciliation.

Penance involves the individual acknowledging their sins and receiving the forgiveness of God through the ministry of the priest.

Through this process, a person is reconciled with the Church, renews his or her Baptism, and continues to live as a disciple of Jesus.

Why so many different names for the same sacrament?

The names emphasise different aspects of the sacrament.

Penance refers to our remorse, sorrow and resolution to amend our life with God’s help. Confession refers to the act by which we tell our sins to the priest.

Reconciliation refers to the goal of the celebration which is that sinners are reconciled to God and the Church. The ritual is called the Sacrament of Penance, but is appropriate to refer to it with any of these titles.

What are the different ways that Reconciliation can occur?

There are three different forms that the Sacrament of Penance can take.

1. First form or Rite of Reconciliation is when we individually confess our sins to the priest.
2. Second form or Rite of Reconciliation is a celebration that occurs within the Church with the whole community and involves individual confession and absolution.
3. Third form or Rite of Reconciliation is also centred on the gathering of the community but is designed for situations where there is a grave necessity.

When will my child be prepared for the Sacrament of Penance?

In the Archdiocese of Brisbane children will celebrate a simple Second Rite of Reconciliation as part of their preparation for First Holy Communion. They will be formally prepared for the Sacrament when they are a little older and have a greater understanding, at about ten years old.

Can a priest tell someone else about what they have heard in Confession?

When a person confesses their sins to a priest in the Sacrament of Penance, a very sacred trust is formed. The priest must maintain absolute secrecy about anything that a person confesses. This secrecy is called “the seal of confession”. Under no circumstances is the priest allowed to break this sacred seal.

Evangelisation Brisbane and Liturgy Brisbane have developed the following resources to assist with preparation for Penance in the Archdiocese of Brisbane.

Evangelisation Brisbane:

my Sacramental Journey: Penance

‘my Sacramental Journey: Penance’ is a 16 page passport designed for children as they prepare for the Sacrament of Penance – First Rite for Reconciliation. The passport guides children using scripture, prayer, and journaling, and offers a call to action as they develop their understanding of forgiveness. Available to purchase through the Evangelisation Brisbane online store.

my Sacramental Journey: Eucharist to Penance

‘my Sacramental Journey: Eucharist to Penance’ is a 12 page book designed for children to use on the journey between the Sacraments of Eucharist and Penance as they live the Eucharist in their family, parish, school and community. Available to purchase through the Evangelisation Brisbane online store.

Parish Guide

A downloadable resource designed for parish sacramental teams to guide children through four sessions in preparation for the Sacrament of Penance – First Rite for Reconciliation. Each session includes an aim, leader background information, a description of suggested activities, and a ritual.
Download from the Evangelisation Brisbane online store.

Parent Guide

A downloadable resource designed to invite parents into conversation with their children as they prepare for the Sacrament of Penance – First Rite for Reconciliation. The guide includes background information and an explanation of what the children experienced during each session. There are suggestions for what parents can do at home to support their children, and suggested family sharing time.
Download from the Evangelisation Brisbane online store.

Liturgy Brisbane:

Our Family Prepares – Penance

This workbook from Liturgy Brisbane is designed to be used in a family setting with the child and parents working together. It is the only available resource for preparing 10 year olds for the individual rite of penance. It enables the parish to view the record of the journey and receive the parents’ discernment of readiness. Available to purchase through the Liturgy Brisbane online store.