Canon 718

In the sacrament of penance, the Christian faithful who committed

sins after baptism, internally led by the Holy Spirit, turn back

to God, moved by the pain of sin, intent on entering a new life

through the ministry of the priest, having themselves made a confession and accepted an appropriate penance, obtain forgiveness

from God and at the same time are reconciled with the Church

which they injured by sinning; by this sacrament they are brought

to a greater fostering of the Christian life and are thus disposed for receiving the Divine Eucharist.