Penance and the gift of forgiveness

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Good article here from Archbishop John C. Nienstedt:

The first reason is that, during his earthly ministry, Jesus himself always forgave sins in a one-on-one encounter with the penitent. While other miracles in the Gospels may have involved groups of persons, the gift of forgiveness is always given to an individual, who hears Jesus speak the words, “Go, your sins have been forgiven.”

Read full article here:
thecatholicspirit.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=738&Itemid=108