The sacrament of reconciliation is penance, a sacrament that frees us from the sins of baptism. When Jesus said to the Apostles, "Receive the Holy Spirit, and the sins you forgive will be forgiven, and the sins you retain will be retained" was the first time Jesus Christ created penance. Absolving sins with penance is an absolution given by the priest. Absolution is forgiveness granted by the priest. There are steps to follow to receive the sacrament of penance: self-examination, self-accusation, going to the priest to confess sins, accomplishing the work of atonement...