You couldn't be more confused and less aware of it.
The sacrifice covers all sins and transforms us in to non-sinners. You're just wrong. Sadly, irretrievably, 16-years-wasted-to-learn-nothing, wrong.
People come away with cleansing "grace" for venial sins; but, just can't get to second base.
Duh, they go to confession for mortal sins. Duh. And this forgiveness also comes into the world via the Offering of the Eucharist during Mass. But not by partaking of the elements in communion.
So the sacrifice of Christ isn't enough to do it all - it must be done by the people themselves or their priests must impart to them graces through other "sacrements" to get them there.
People don't do it "themselves" and to seperate the actions of the sacraments from Jesus Himself and His Sacrifice is to totally miss the entire point. You're really hopelessly lost. Learn some humility and God may have mercy on your ignorance.
Yes, Dave, I am aware as I posted before of the treasury of graces from which the Church dispenses a little at a time to get people there.
No, Havoc, the Church grants us total forgiveness and utter perfection again and again. Being human we somehow find a way to mess it up with our petty selfishness. And then guess what? The Church is there to continue Christ's ministry and to make us whole again. There is no piecemeal approach. There is only forgiveness and grace.
SD