On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Jesus gave his Apostles the power to forgive sins. The sacrament of Penance is also known as the Sacrament of Confession or Reconciliation. It is Jesus through the priest who forgives your sins. As the penitent must make restitution or satisfaction for his sins, the priest gives a penance to the forgiven one, usually prayer, fasting, or almsgiving.
Confession gives one a wonderful sense of freedom and peace from the burden of sin.
Sorrow, affliction, and a desire for conversion follow the remorse of sin in those with a contrite heart. Some believe we can confess our sins privately to God. But man is a social being. The experience brings a sense of gratitude to our generous Lord for his love, compassion and mercy. As one is to be in the state of grace before receiving Holy Communion, the child makes his first Confession before his first Communion, generally at the age of reason.