ho has wilfully concealed a mortal sin in confession must,
besides repeating all the sins he has committed since his last worthy
confession, tell also how often he has unworthily received absolution
and Holy Communion during the same time.

Q. 800. {218} Why does the priest give us a penance after Confession?
A. The priest gives us a penance after Confession, that we may satisfy
God for the temporal punishment due to our sins.

Q. 801. Why should we have to satisfy for our sins if Christ has fully
satisfied for them?
A. Christ has fully satisfied for our sins and after our baptism we were
free from all guilt and had no satisfaction to make. But when we
wilfully sinned after baptism, it is but just that we should be obliged
to make some satisfaction.

Q. 802. Is the slight penance the priest gives us sufficient to satisfy
for all the sins confessed?
A. The slight penance the priest gives us is not sufficient to satisfy
for all the sins confessed: (1) Because there is no real equality
between the slight penance given and the punishment deserved for sin;
(2) Because we are all obliged to do penance for sins committed, and
this would not be necessary if the penance given in confession satisfied
for all. The penance is given and accepted in confession chiefly to show
our willingness to do penance and make amends for our sins.

Q. 803. {219} Does not the Sacrament of Penance remit all punishment due
to sin?
A. The Sacrament of Penance remits the eternal punishment due to sin,
but it does not always remit the temporal punishment which God requires
as satisfaction for our sins.

Q. 804. {220} Why does God require a temporal punishment as a
satisfaction for sin?
A. God requires a temporal punishment as a satisfaction for sin to teach
us the great evil of sin and to prevent us from falling again.

Q. 805. {221} Which are the chief means by which we satisfy God for the
temporal punishment due to sin?
A. The chief means by which we satisfy God for the temporal punishment
due to sin are: Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving; all spiritual and corporal
works of mercy, and the patient suffering of the ills of life.

Q. 806. What fasting has the greatest merit?
A. The fasting imposed by the Church on certain days of the year, and
particularly during Lent, has the greatest merit.

Q. 807. What is Lent?
A. Lent is the forty days before Easter Sunday, during which we do
penance, fast and pray to prepare ourselves for the resurrection o