What is penance, and why do you need to do it? The Sacrament of Penance, also called reconciliation or confession, is the means through which God grants pardon for sins. In the sacrament, the contrite penitent discloses his or her sins to a Catholic priest who grants sacramental absolution. The penitent resolves to not sin again and performs an act of satisfaction, usually called a penance, and which could take the form of three Hail Marys, for example.* . Through the priest, God grants his pard

The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation

Pocket Guide the Sacrament of Reconciliation

This Day in Catholic History | November 18, 1626 St. Peter’s Basilica was completed. Planning began in the 15th Century by Pope Nicholas V and then Pope Julius II, and principal designers were Michelangelo, Donato Bramante, Carlo Maderno, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini. This St. Peter’s Basilica was built to replace the old St. Peter’s Basilica that was built by Constantine the Great in the 4th Century. It’s the largest Catholic Church by interior measure and is one of the greatest works of Renaissanc