All sacraments (baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, reconciliation, marriage, holy orders and anointing of the sick) are signs representing the presence of Christ ministering to us in our various needs. In the very act of the sacrament, Christ is made present among us in both a spiritual way as well as in a physical way to effect a real transformation within us. As a result, all sacraments can only be administered in person, that is, when we too are fully present to Christ in the sacrament.

在告解庭中的保密是絕對的，無論在任何情况下，神父都不能以言語或行動使別人連繫到某人與某告明的罪；這包括不能說出告解的內容，也不能因着聽到的事情在告解外作出任何行動。有不少教導，為保證別人不會猜出任何關連，會甚至指明連聽過誰的告解也不能說。