The confession (or disclosure) of sins, even from a simply human point of view, frees us and facilitates our reconciliation with others. Through such an admission man looks squarely at the sins he is guilty of, takes responsibility for them, and thereby opens himself again to God and to the communion of the Church in order to make a new future possible." (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1455)
“Whose sins you forgive, are forgiven; whose sins you retain are retained” - John 20:23 (The risen Christ to the apostles)
“If we say we have never sinned, we make God a liar and there is no truth in us” - 1 John 2:4
“I have come to call not the self-righteous, but sinners” - Mark 2:17 (Jesus to the Pharisees)
“The Son of Man (Jesus) has come to search out and save what was lost” - Luke 19:10 (Jesus to the Pharisees)
“There will likewise be more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent” - Luke 15:7 (Jesus, the Good Shepherd).
“Let us eat and drink for this son of mine was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and is found” - Luke 15:24, 32 (The Merciful Father – God to the Prodigal Son)
“Woman, is there no one here to accuse you? Neither will I accuse you. Go and from now on, avoid this sin” - John 8:11 (Jesus to the woman who committed adultery)
“Father, forgive them. For they do not know what they are doing” - Luke 23:34
“The sins of my youth and my frailties remember not, O Lord” - Psalm 25:7
“Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; In the greatness of your compassion, wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt; and of my sins, cleanse me. For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always.” - Psalm 51:3-5
“For I do not the good I should do, but the evil I should avoid.
What a wretched man I am” - Romans 7:19
“Whoever brings a sinner back from the error of his way will save his own soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." - James 5:20
“If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly,
he should pray to God, who will give him life. There is such a thing as deadly sin” - 1 John 5:17
“If your brother sins against you seven times a day and seven times a day turns back to you saying ‘I am sorry’, forgive him” - Luke 7:4 (Jesus to Peter)