First penance is a Sacrament of Healing, in which Jesus Christ, through the actions of a priest, forgives the sins of a baptized Catholic. This Sacrament brings us back to God. The sinner makes an examination of conscience, makes a confession of sins to the priest, expresses sorrow for sins, and resolves to avoid sin in the future, receives absolution, and does the assigned penance. Through the Sacrament of Penance, the penitent receives the forgiveness of sins, restoration of sanctifying grace, remittance of eternal punishment for mortal sin, actual graces to avoid sin in the future, reconciliation with God and His Church, and gains peace of conscience and spiritual consolation.