Assessment of Religious Knowledge (ARK) Practice Exam

The sacrament of Penance primarily involves expressing sorrow for sins, which is a fundamental aspect of this sacrament in various Christian traditions, particularly within Catholicism. It emphasizes the need for personal contrition and the acknowledgment of one's moral failings before God. This reflection on one’s actions leads to true repentance, which is necessary for receiving forgiveness.

Through this sacrament, the penitent is not only confessing their sins but is also seeking to reconcile with God and the community. This inner sorrow is often accompanied by a commitment to change one's life and avoid future sin, underscoring the transformative purpose of the sacrament.

While other options touch upon aspects related to Penance, such as public rituals or sacrificial offerings, the core of the sacrament lies in the personal act of contrition and the desire for forgiveness, making the expression of sorrow for sins the most accurate representation of what Penance entails.