Confession and Penance?

[avemarisstella1]

So I am considering a conversion to Catholicism, and my evangelical father is questioning me about the need for penance. Does the Catholic Church teach that the act of penance is necessary for forgiveness, or does forgiveness already come to us by the priest’s absolution? I was told before that penance is more about “repairing spiritual damage” as it were. Thanks for anyone’s help!

 

[avemarisstella1]

Thanks for your help!

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Does the Catholic Church teach that the act of penance is necessary for forgiveness,

No.

or does forgiveness already come to us by the priest’s absolution?

Yes.

I was told before that penance is more about “repairing spiritual damage” as it were.

Correct.

The priest also sometimes gives a penance that he thinks will draw the person closer to God.

 

[poche]

what is most important here is that you need to be sorry for your sins and have a firm purpose of amendment that is the intention to never do that sin again. Also there may be a need for restitution.