The practice of confessing our sins is an expression of trust and submission to the will of God in our lives.  It is also an act of humility that helps us move forward in the life of grace and brings us closer to God himself.  By virtue of our Baptism, we are all called to be saints and therefore we should make it our effort to live our lives as saints.  Through the teaching of Scripture and the Church we are given the target to which we must aim in this life.  Confession is the remedy for our failures.

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But our sins also have a social dimension.  Through Baptism we are part of the communion (community) of the Church.  Our sins not only affect our relationship with others and with ourselves, but also with the Church. As St. Paul reminds us “If one part of the body suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it” (1 Cor 12:26).  Through our sin the Church (the mystical Body of Christ) suffers as our soul suffers – Communion is either damaged or broken.  When we receive the absolution of Confession the soul is honoured by the grace of the Holy Spirit and the Church rejoices with it as we return to Communion as One.