Through this sacrament, we are released from our sins set free from them. A priest could refuse absolution only in rare cases, for example, if the person is not sorry for his or her serious sins or has no intention of avoiding them in the future, or when there is no confidence in God s forgiving Spirit. This is what Jesus referred to when he spoke of sin which cannot be forgiven. Unless there is true sorrow, there is no forgiveness. We must have confidence in God s mercy and pray to his Spirit for a contrite heart.
Some sins are so grave that the sinner is excommunicated.
Absolution in these cases must be sought from the Pope, the bishop or a priest authorized by them. The exception to this occurs in the danger of death when any priest, even one deprived of permission to hear confessions, can give absolution for all sin and excommunication. A penance is something which must be done or accepted to make up for confessed sin. It should correspond to the type of sins and their gravity. Generally penances take the form of prayer, acts of mercy or self-denial.