The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation (as it is called in the  Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC]) is one of the means by which our relationship with Jesus Christ and the Church is healed, restored, and ultimately strengthened. The sacrament is known by several names: the liturgical book that contains the rite is called the  Rite of Penance, but it is commonly referred to as "confession," "Penance," or "Reconciliation." Those different names focus attention on the various elements of the sacrament: confessing sin, doing penance, reconciling the sinner. Some of those elements require the work and effort of the penitent (the one confessing), but the principal act of forgiving and reconciling belongs to God alone. There are four primary actions in the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, all of which contribute in some way to the healing that takes place:  confession of sin; expression of  contrition or sorrow for sin; doing  penance ("satisfaction"), which expresses a desire to avoid sin; and  absolution from sin. Essentially there are two "movements" in the sacrament: our movement toward God and God's toward us