Confession, also called 

reconciliation or penance, in the Judeo-Christian tradition, the

acknowledgment of sinfulness in public or private, regarded as necessary to obtain
divine forgiveness.

In the Sacrament of Penance, the priest represents Christ, who desires to reconcile you
with the Father. It is important for you to reveal to the priest any mortal sins you may
have committed. While it is good for you to confess even venial sins, it is not necessary
for you to do so since venial sins are also forgiven by receiving Holy Communion or by
saying a good Act of Contrition. Mortal sins are only forgiven in Confession to a priest.
This a formal act of humility and love.

Sin harms our relationship with God and damages our communion with the Church.
Conversion of heart is the beginning of our journey back to God. Liturgically this
happens in the Sacrament of Penance. In this Sacrament, the penitent receives the
merciful judgment of God and is engaged on the journey of conversion that leads to
future life with God. 

As a young Augustinian, I encourage everyone to re-think the importance of the

sacrament of confession in their lives because this sacrament maintains a good sense
of balance in a world that makes no sense without Christ!