We, Catholics believe that the Church heals in the Sacrament of Penance. The Sacrament of Penance (or Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession) is for spiritual healing. Catholics believe Jesus left the Sacrament of Penance because only God’s grace can heal a wounded soul.
Penance helps Catholics atone for sins they’ve committed. Catholics think of sin like a bacteria or virus to the soul. When a person lies, cheats, steals, or murders, it’s like his soul is infected with millions of deadly germs. Sinning not only breaks God’s laws — the Ten Commandments, for example — but wounds the sinner spiritually.
Just as tumors are benign or malignant, Catholics believe that sins are venial or mortal. Venial sins inflict a slight wound to the soul, but other sins are so intrinsically evil that they’re considered deadly. They’re called mortal sins, because they can kill grace. The Church believes that mortal sins can’t be forgiven and the soul damns itself to hell without absolution from a priest.
