Mercy and Forgiveness

"In the sacrament of Penance, God extends his forgiveness to us in a very personal way.  Through the ministry of the priest, we come to our loving Savior with the burden of our sins.  We confess that we have sinned against God and our neighbor.  We manifest our sorrow and ask pardon from the Lord. Then, through the priest, we hear Christ say to us: 'Your sins are forgiven' (Mark 2:5); 'Go, and do not sin again' (John 8:11).  Can we not also hear him say to us as we are filled with his saving grace: 'Extend to others seventy times seven, this same forgiveness and mercy?' "

St. John Paul II