Did you know that “Confession” is biblically based? When Jesus appeared to his Apostles after His resurrection, he said to them:
“Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” After saying this, Jesus breathed on them and said “Receive the holy Spirit, Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20: 21-23).
With that action, Our Lord gave the Apostles, the first Bishops, the power to forgive our sins through what we now call the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which is the one and only tool we have for returning to a State of Grace. The Bishops passed on this power to Priests.
For more information on the essential Sacrament of Reconciliation, see Catechism of the Catholic Church 1423 and 1424.