Reconciliation is the liturgical celebration of God’s forgiveness of the sins of the penitent, who is thus reconciled with the Church. The acts of the penitent — contrition, the confession of sins, and satisfaction or reparation — together with the prayer of absolution by the priest, constitute the essential elements of the Sacrament of Penance.
Reconciliation addresses the disease (sinfulness) rather than the symptoms (sins). So, the sacrament calls us to more than prepared speeches or lists of sins. We are challenged to search deep into our heart of hearts to discover the struggles, value conflicts and ambiguities (the disease) which cause the sinful acts (the symptoms) to appear.
A listing of various types: on the left-hand side of the main page, under Sacraments - highlight Reconciliation. You will find information on how to make a good confession for various age groups and situations.