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That IS a good question. It is important for the receiver to remember that an apology is both a gift and an offering of a contract. As such, it makes sense to be a gracious receiver of an apology and also a strong participant in the composition of the contractual agreement. Therefore, first you accept the intentions behind the gift by saying "Thank you for apologizing" (rather than "Oh, that's alright.") and then you give helpful input on how you would like the healing process to progress.
As the receiver, you are responsible for giving the giver very specific feedback. You can accept part, all or none of the offered contract. For example, you could say anything from "Your apology is enough to make me feel better." or "I would appreciate it if you could talk with someone about why you did 'X'" to "I'm afraid you've missed the point entirely."
So remember, it usually takes two parties to create a well-designed apology contract.
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