God created every man out of love and desires that all men reject sin and draw close to Him. Jesus Christ, the Son of the Almighty Father, came to earth as the Savior of man to reveal that God desires to forgive men of their sins and He died on the Cross so that every man might be forgiven. In His Infinite Mercy, God has graciously granted Catholic men the great blessing to be completely forgiven of their sins in the Sacrament of Penance.
God desires to forgive Sin
“The Gospel is the revelation in Jesus Christ of God’s mercy to sinners” (CCC 1846). Jesus calls men to repentance and new life (Mt 4:17), urges men to recognize their sins in the Lord’s Prayer (“forgive us our trespasses”), specifically grants power to His Church to forgive sins (Mt 16:19; Jn 20:22-23) and dies so that men might be forgiven of their sins (Rom 5:8; Heb 12:24).
God gives men the grace to confront their sin (CCC 1848), even those in mortal sin (CCC 1452). However, God does not force His mercy upon man and each man must personally confess his sin to God to receive His forgiveness and mercy (CCC 1847).
God offers the Sacrament of Penance to forgive Sin
Each time a Catholic man commits a mortal sin it requires “a new initiative of God’s mercy” through the Sacrament of Penance (CCC 1856). The Sacrament of Penance heals man of sin and reunites man with Christ and His Church (CCC 1440-1449). It is a great privilege of Catholic men to be able to receive forgiveness from sins by Christ in the Sacrament of Penance, also called Reconciliation or Confession (CCC 1441-1442). No Catholic man need ever die in a state of mortal sin, for the Sacrament of Penance is widely available and not difficult for those who desire forgiveness, cleansing of sin and to return to God.
Men receive great blessings in Penance
Great blessings flow to a Catholic man in monthly Confession. In the Sacrament of Penance, a man:
1) draws much closer to Christ Jesus, is forgiven of sin and saved from death (CCC 1446);
2) is freed from guilt and shame and regains his human dignity, peace, joy and happiness by being cleansed of sin;
3) is more able to battle temptation and is protected against future sin (CCC 1458);
4) returns to the heroic ascent to holiness (CCC 1430-1433);
5) is able to more fully receive graces from the Eucharist in the Mass;
6) regains his authority/credibility to lead his spouse and children to salvation in Confession; and,
7) becomes a much better husband, father, son, brother and friend for he more fully receives the graces of the Spirit (CCC 1433).