What is absolution?
In the Catholic faith, absolution is the act by which the confessor forgives the penitent’s sins. Absolution is granted by the priest at the end of confession, also known as the Sacrament of Reconciliation; it is one of the seven sacraments established by Jesus Christ as the foundations of the Church.
Definition and Explanation of Absolution
Definition of Absolution
In law, absolution refers to the act of exempting the perpetrator of an offense from criminal punishment.
In Catholicism, absolution refers to the act by which a priest forgives sins. Specifically, the confessor “releases” (absolvere means “to release,” “to untie”) the penitent from their sins, in the name of God.
Explanation of Absolution
To ask for absolution is to ask the priest to free us from our sins; he then acts in the name of Christ, in persona Christi capitis. Mortal sins, unlike venial sins, are those that lead to the death of the soul: they prevent the soul from entering Heaven after death, unless they are forgiven before death (CCC 1033). It is therefore imperative to have recourse to the Lord’s mercy, which is made tangible in confession crowned by absolution. It should be noted, however, that God may grant His mercy outside the sacrament of confession in certain cases (such as in perfect contrition, or for those who do not have access to a priest).
What does absolution mean for Catholics?
The Origin of Absolution in the Catholic Faith
The Sacrament of Penance and absolution have their origin in Christ’s words to Saint Peter: “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Mt 16:19), and were given to the apostles on the day of the Resurrection: “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20:22–23).
What is the formula for absolution?
After the penitent has confessed his sins to the priest, the priest extends his hands toward the penitent and pronounces this formula: “May God our Father show you His mercy! Through the death and Resurrection of his Son, he has reconciled the world to himself and has sent the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church, may he grant you forgiveness and peace! And I, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, forgive you all your sins.”
What does the Catechism of the Catholic Church say about absolution?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church clearly states: "'Individual, integral confession and absolution remain the only ordinary way for the faithful to reconcile themselves with God and the Church, unless physical or moral impossibility excuses from this kind of confession.' (OP 31) There are profound reasons for this. Christ is at work in each of the sacraments. He personally addresses every sinner: 'My son, your sins are forgiven.' (Mk 2:5) He is the physician tending each one of the sick who need him to cure them. (Cf. Mk 2:17) He raises them up and reintegrates them into fraternal communion. Personal confession is thus the form most expressive of reconciliation with God and with the Church." (CCC 1484)
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