How did our priests receive the power to forgive sins?

[saint_bernard]

How did our priests receive the power to forgive sins?

 

[Devon_Caffran]

These links should be helpful for understanding and explaining Confession. If you have any further questions or concerns that are not answered by these links, please [contact Catholic Answers (http://www.catholic.com/home/contact.asp) directly.
Recommended Reading:

• [Confession (http://www.catholic.com/library/Confession.asp)** by the Early Church Fathers**
• [Forgiveness of Sins (http://www.catholic.com/library/Forgiveness_of_Sins.asp)
• [The Fathers Know Best: Confessing to a Priest (http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1991/9101frs.asp)
• [A Confession to Make (http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2006/0609btb.asp)** by Tim Staples**
• [God Is too Hot to Handle (http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2000/0005fea4.asp): Protestant Misconceptions about Confession by Jason Shanks
• • Is Confession not necessary?*