"Reconciliation"
Sin
"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured
out for many for the forgiveness of sins."
Matthew 26:28
What is the Sacrament of Reconciliation ?
The sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. This sacrament lies at the very heart of Christianity, it is the renewal of the love relationship between God and the person and the absence of that love relation with God, and namely loveliness is what believers call sin.
What is Sin ?
At the core of sin is a rejection of God and the refusal to accept his love. This is manifested in a disregard for his commandments. [385-390 CCC]
Sin is more than incorrect behavior; it is not just a psychological weakness. In the deepest sense every rejection or destruction of something good is the rejection of good in itself, the rejection of God. In its most profound and terrible dimension, sin is separation from God and, thus, separation from the source of life.
Catechism of the Catholic Church:
The recent Catechism of the Catholic Church reiterates this same teaching. "Only God forgives sins... by virtue of His divine authority He (Jesus) gives this power to men to exercise in His name.” (#1441) “In imparting to His apostles His own power to forgive sins, the Lord also gives them the authority to reconcile sinners with the Church." (#1444) The authority of binding (excluding from the Church) and loosing (receiving back into the Church) is a power ratified by God (Mt. 16:19 and Mt. 18:18).