Editing Absolution (section)

==Catholic Church==

===Theology of Absolution===
The Catholic Church teaches both that only God forgives sin and that Jesus Christ, who is God incarnate, willed his ministry of forgiveness of sins to continue through the ministry of his Church. "In imparting to his apostles his own power to forgive sins the Lord also gives them the authority to reconcile sinners with the Church."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catechism of the Catholic Church – IntraText |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P4C.HTM |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=www.vatican.va}}</ref>

Thus, the Catholic Church teaches that absolution is one of the acts of the Church's ordained minister in the [[sacrament of Penance]] wherein a baptized penitent with the proper dispositions can be assured of being forgiven.

Over the centuries the concrete sequence and manner in which the Church imparted the absolution of sins varied.  In the first centuries, Christians who had committed particular public [[mortal sins]] after their Baptism (namely, idolatry, murder, or adultery) seem to have had to confess their sins publicly and do lengthy public penance before they could receive absolution. [[St. Augustine of Hippo]] indicates that for non-public sins, there was a private celebration of the sacrament called ''correptio''. Over time, the public confession, penance, and absolution declined such that by the seventh century Irish missionaries spread the practice of privately granted immediate absolution after private confession of sins and before the completion of penance. This manner of receiving absolution became predominant over time. Notably, surviving Roman liturgical books preserve absolution formulas in a deprecatory form, rather than in a first person declarative form.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

During the era of [[Scholasticism]], Catholic theologians sought a deeper understanding of the sacrament of Penance and absolution. [[St. Thomas Aquinas]] (c.1224–1274) taught: "God alone absolves from sin and forgives sins authoritatively; yet priests do both ministerially, because the words of the priest in this sacrament work as instruments of the Divine power, as in the other sacraments: because it is the Divine power that works inwardly in all the sacramental signs, be they things or words, as shown above (III:62:4; III:64:2).<ref>{{Cite web |title=SUMMA THEOLOGIAE: The sacrament of Penance (Tertia Pars, Q. 84) |url=https://www.newadvent.org/summa/4084.htm#article3 |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=www.newadvent.org}}</ref> In ''Summa Theologiae'' III, q.84 ad3, Aquinas indicated the essential form of absolution which was being used as "I absolve you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." However, he seemed to suggest that to the essential words or ''sacramental form'', "I absolve you," a priest, at his discretion, might add "by the power of Christ's Passion," or "by the authority of God" to indicate his ministerial role. 
 
Two subsequent Councils of the Catholic Church reaffirmed the ''sacramental form'' of absolution of the Latin Church, namely, the 1439 decree "Pro Armenis" of Pope [[Eugene IV]] at the [[Council of Florence]] and the fourteenth session of the [[Council of Trent]] in 1551 which stated: "The holy synod doth furthermore teach, that the form of the sacrament of penance, wherein its force principally consists, is placed in those words of the minister, I absolve thee, et cetera: to which words indeed certain prayers are, according to the custom of holy Church, laudably joined, which nevertheless by no means regard the essence of that form, neither are they necessary for the administration of the sacrament itself.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fourteenth Session of the Council of Trent {{!}} EWTN |url=https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/fourteenth-session-of-the-council-of-trent-1480 |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=EWTN Global Catholic Television Network |language=en}}</ref> Post Tridentine theologians including [[Francisco Suarez]],<ref>Suarez, Disp., XIX, i, n. 24</ref> [[Francisco de Lugo]],<ref>Lugo, Disp., XIII, i, nn. 17, 18</ref> and [[Augustin Lehmkuhl]]<ref>Lehmkuhl, de Pœnit., 9th ed., 199</ref> taught that the absolution would still be valid if the priest were to merely say, "I absolve you from your sins",<ref>Absolvo te a peccatis tuis</ref> or "I absolve you",<ref>Absolvo te</ref> or words that are the exact equivalent.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=78 |title= "Absolution," The Catholic Encyclopedia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Catechism of the Council of Trent – The Sacrament of Penance |url=http://www.cin.org/users/james/ebooks/master/trent/tsacr-p.htm}}</ref>

Following the [[Second Vatican Council]] Pope [[Paul VI]] approved a revision of the ''Rite of Penance''. However, the pope again affirmed that the essential words pertaining to the absolution, that is, the form of sacrament necessary for the Sacrament of Penance to take effect, or, in the language of [[Canon law (Catholic Church)|Church law]] to be "sacramentally valid" are: "I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, ♱ and of the Holy Spirit.".<ref>"Ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis in nomine Patris, et Filii, + et Spiritus Sancti."</ref><ref>''The Roman Ritual: The Rite of Penance'', (Catholic Book Publishing Co.: New York, 1975) paragraph 18, pp. 20–21.</ref>

As in all sacraments, absolution can only be received by a penitent in the presence of the priest. Some Moral Theologians say the absolution of a penitent more than twenty paces away would be questionably valid. Phone absolutions are considered invalid. An unconscious person who is presumed to want absolution can be conditionally absolved by a priest.

Absolution of sins most importantly forgives [[mortal sins]] (and, if one does not commit a mortal sin after having been validly absolved, enables one to die in the "[[State (theology)#The unitive way|state of grace]]", able to eventually enter heaven); but it also allows the valid and non-sinful reception of the sacraments (especially the [[Eucharist]] at [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]]), the lawful exercise of ecclesiastical offices and ministries by laity or clerics, and full participation in the life of the Church. However, for certain especially grave sins to be forgiven and for the accompanying Church penalties to be lifted, there are sometimes formal processes which must take place along with the absolution, which must then be given (depending on the seriousness of the type of sin) either by the Pope (through the [[Apostolic Penitentiary]]), the local Bishop, or a priest authorized by the Bishop.

Absolution forgives the [[culpability|guilt]] associated with the penitent's sins, and removes the eternal punishment ([[Hell]]) associated with [[mortal sin]]s. The penitent is still responsible for the temporal punishment ([[Purgatory]]) associated with the confessed sins, unless an [[indulgence]] is applied or, if through prayer, penitence and good works, the temporal punishment is cancelled in this life.

[[File:The Last General Absolution of the Munsters at Rue du Bois.jpg|thumb|A depiction of the general absolution given to the [[Royal Munster Fusiliers]] by Father [[Francis Gleeson (priest)|Francis Gleeson]] on the eve of the [[Battle of Aubers Ridge]].]]

===General absolution{{anchor|General}}<!-- [[General absolution]] redirects here -->===
General absolution, where all eligible Catholics gathered at a given area are granted absolution for sins without prior individual confession to a priest, is lawfully granted in only two circumstances:<ref name="ccliviivi">{{cite web |year=1983 |title=Code of Canon Law – The Celebration of the Sacrament |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3F.HTM |publisher=Libreria Editrice Vaticana}}</ref>{{rp|961}}
# there is imminent danger of death and there is no time for a priest or priests to hear the confessions of the individual penitents (e.g., to soldiers before a battle),
# a serious need is present, that is, the number of penitents is so large that there are not sufficient priests to hear the individual confessions properly within a reasonable time (generally considered to be 1 month) so that the Catholics, through no fault of their own, would be forced to be deprived of the sacrament or communion. The [[Bishop#Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Lutheran and Anglican churches|diocesan bishop]] must give prior permission before general absolution may be given under this circumstance. It is important to note that the occurrence of a large number of penitents, such as may occur on a pilgrimage or at penitential services is not considered as sufficient to permit general absolution. The second circumstance is thus envisaged more for mission territories where priests may visit certain villages only a few times a year, or military campaigns where combatants may not have a priest at a battle site.

For a valid reception of general absolution, the penitent must be contrite for all his mortal sins and have the resolution to confess, at the earliest opportunity, each of those mortal sins forgiven in general absolution. Anyone receiving general absolution is also required to make a complete individual confession to a priest as soon as possible.  An historical example is the absolution given by [[William Corby]] to the [[Irish Brigade (U.S.)|Irish Brigade]] during the [[Battle of Gettysburg]] in 1863. Contemporary examples of general absolution are the [[Three Mile Island accident|Three Mile Island nuclear accident]], where general absolution was granted to all Catholics endangered by the incident,<ref name="straight">{{cite web |author=Saunders |first=William |year=1998 |title=Straight Answers: Is General Absolution Allowed? |url=http://catholicherald.com/stories/Straight-Answers-Is-General-Absolution-Allowed,6730 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402151740/http://catholicherald.com/stories/Straight-Answers-Is-General-Absolution-Allowed,6730 |archive-date=2015-04-02 |access-date=2015-03-09 |publisher=Arlington Catholic Herald}}</ref> and the [[9/11 first responders|firefighters]], many of whom were Italian and Irish, who were granted general absolution by local priests before heading into the burning World Trade Towers on [[September 11 attacks|September 11, 2001]].<ref name="remembering">{{cite web |author=Pronechen |first=Joseph |year=2011 |title=Remembering 9/11 |url=http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/remembering-9-112 |website=National Catholic Register|publisher=[[EWTN News, Inc.]]}}</ref>

The proper belief of imminent danger of death is a sufficient rationale to administer the rite, even though the actual danger might not actually exist. The general absolution was licitly given by Honolulu Bishop [[Clarence Richard Silva]] to people at a church programme during the [[2018 Hawaii false missile alert]] as it was believed that direct nuclear attack from North Korea was imminent.<ref>{{cite news |title=Missile alert prompts Hawaii bishop to give rare 'general absolution' |url=https://catholicherald.co.uk/news/2018/01/18/missile-alert-prompts-hawaii-bishop-to-give-rare-general-absolution/ |access-date=5 March 2019 |work=Catholic Herald|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917090444/https://catholicherald.co.uk/news/2018/01/18/missile-alert-prompts-hawaii-bishop-to-give-rare-general-absolution/|archive-date=17 September 2018}}</ref>

===Latin Church===
[[File:When was your last confession.jpg|thumb|Traditional [[confessional]] from [[Sicily]].]]

Absolution is an integral part of the [[Sacrament of Penance (Catholic Church)|Sacrament of Penance]], in all Catholicism.<ref name="Catholic"/> To [[Validity and liceity (Catholic Church)|validly]] receive absolution, the penitent must make a sincere sacramental confession of all known [[mortal sin]]s not yet confessed to a [[priest]] and pray an [[act of contrition]] (a genre of prayers) which expresses both motives for sorrow and the resolve to not sin again. The priest then assigns a [[penance]] and imparts absolution in the name of the [[Trinity]], on behalf of [[Jesus Christ]], using a fixed sacramental formula.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

The formula of absolution used in the Pauline Missal, the Ordinary Form of the [[Roman Rite]], is as follows:

{{Blockquote|God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.}}

During a Spring 2021 meeting, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops made some adjustments to the text to make it a more accurate translation of the original Latin. After the USCCB changes they were approved by the Vatican's Dicastery (then-Congregation) for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in April 2022. The changes took effect on Ash Wednesday 2023 (February 22) and became mandatory on Divine Mercy Sunday 2023 (April 16).<ref name="Christian">{{cite news |last=Christian |first=Gina |date=2023-02-04 |title=New Translation Tweaks To Sacrament Of PEnance Take Effect This Lent |url=https://www.osvnews.com/2023/02/04/translation-tweaks-penance-take-effect-lent/ |work=OSV News |access-date=2023-02-14|ref=none}}</ref> The new text is follows:

{{Blockquote|God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and poured out the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God grant you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, ♱ and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<ref name="Christian">{{cite news |last=Christian |first=Gina |date=2023-02-04 |title=New Translation Tweaks To Sacrament Of PEnance Take Effect This Lent |url=https://www.osvnews.com/2023/02/04/translation-tweaks-penance-take-effect-lent/ |work=OSV News |access-date=2023-02-14|ref=none}}</ref>}}

There is a separate form used for the lifting of [[excommunication]]s and [[interdict]]s in the Pauline Missal; in the older form, the lifting of excommunications and interdicts is part of the same formula as that of the absolution. The older form approved for the [[Roman Ritual]] after the Council of Trent, the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, is as follows:

{{Blockquote|May our Lord Jesus Christ absolve you; and I, by His authority, absolve you from every bond of [[Excommunication in the Catholic Church|excommunication]] ([[Suspension (Catholic canonical penalty)|suspension]]) and [[interdict]], in as much as I am able and you require. Thereupon, I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, ♱ and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.}}

Both forms start with a deprecative absolution in the third person subjunctive, and then conclude with a first person indicative declarative absolution. This highlights the priest's God given authority as father, physician, teacher, and especially as judge with the power to bind and loosen.

The older prays that Christ absolve, then the priest absolves by Christ's authority and in the name of the three persons of the Holy [[Trinity]]. The newer prayer implies that "God the Father" or Trinity absolves when the priest prays that God might give pardon and peace, without using the word absolve, through the ministry of the Church.

====Ancillary Formulas====

This formula is preceded by two short prayers similar to those used at Extraordinary Form of the Mass after the [[Confiteor]].  First the priest prays, "May almighty God have mercy on you, and having forgiven your sins, lead you to eternal life. Amen." followed by "May the almighty and merciful Lord grant you indulgence, absolution, and remission of your sins. Amen." Both of these can be omitted for a just reason.

Another prayer which was prescribed, but could be omitted for a just cause in the pre-1970 Ritual is a short prayer for the spiritual well-being of the penitent which some priests still use when using the absolution approved by Pope Paul VI: "May the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the merits of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all the saints and also whatever good you do or evil you endure be cause for the remission of your sins, the increase of grace and the reward of life everlasting. Amen." This prayer shows the concepts of [[Merit (Catholicism)|merit]] and the [[Communion of Saints]] in the greater context of [[Grace (Christianity)|grace]] as understood in Catholic theology.

====Funeral Rites====
{{See also|Absolution of the dead}}
The Roman Rite has other prayers for forgiveness which are not considered sacramental absolutions. For example, the [[absolution of the dead]] is a series of prayers said after the [[Requiem Mass]], that is the Funeral Mass. The prayers are in the form of a collect (with a short ending when the body is not present). The absolution of the dead does not forgive sins or confer the sacramental absolution of the Sacrament of Penance. Rather, it is a series of prayers offered and united with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, beseeching God that His Son's perfect sacrifice and prayers be accepted to aid the deliverance of the person's soul from suffering the temporal punishment in [[Purgatory]] due for sins which were forgiven during the person's life. The absolution of the dead used in the [[Tridentine Mass]] is:

{{blockquote|Let us pray. God, to Whom it is proper is always to have mercy and to spare, we humbly entreat You for the soul of Your servant N., whom You have commanded today to go forth from this world: that You would not deliver him (her) into the hands of the enemy, nor forget him (her) forever, but command him (her) to be taken up by the holy Angels, and to be led to our homeland of paradise, so that since he (she) had believed and hoped in You, he (she) may not undergo the pains of hell, but may possess eternal joys. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.}}

When the body is a not present, a different absolution prayer used is:
{{blockquote|Let us pray. Absolve, we ask, O Lord, the soul of Your servant N., so that dead to the world he (she) live for You: and whatever through the frailty of the flesh he (she) committed through human interaction, wipe away by the forgiveness of Your most merciful piety. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.}}

====Non-sacramental absolutions====

Prayers of absolution with various prescribed wordings may also be offered by priests to groups of people outside of a mass.

Each Nocturn of the Office of [[Matins]] of the pre-[[Liturgy of the Hours]] Roman Breviary contains a short absolution the prescribed psalm.

===Eastern Catholic Churches===
The Catholic Church also includes twenty-three [[Eastern Catholic Churches]] ''[[sui iuris]]'', which are in union with the Latin Catholic Church but retain their own distinct rites and customs, among which are included prayers of absolution.

==== Byzantine Catholic Churches ====
The [[Byzantine Rite]] derives originally from Antioch but developed in the city of Constantinople and then spread to the Slavic lands.

===== Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church =====
In the Ruthenian Church, the priest places his [[epitrachilion]] (stole) over the penitent's head and imposes his hands, while saying the prayer of absolution:
:May our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, through the grace and mercies of his love for humankind, forgive you all your transgressions. And I, an unworthy priest, by his power given me, forgive and absolve you from all your sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
An alternate prayer of absolution possible is:
:May God, who pardoned David through Nathan the prophet, when he confessed his sins, and [[Denial of Peter|Peter weeping bitterly for his denial]], and the sinful woman weeping at his feet, and the publican and the prodigal son, may that same God forgive you everything through me, a sinner, both in this world and in the world to come, and set you uncondemned before his terrible judgment seat. Having no further care for the sins you have confessed, go in peace.

====== Rutheninan non-sacramental absolutions ======
In the Ruthenian ''Office of Christian Burial'' there is a non-sacramental "prayer of absolution" of the dead at the cemetery as follows:
:May our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, Who has given His divine authority to His holy Disciples and Apostles to bind and loose the sins of the fallen, and from whom, in turn, we have received the obligation to do likewise, forgive you, spiritual child, N., whatever you have committed in your life deliberately or through human frailty, now and forever. Amen.<ref>''Office of Christian Burial with Divine Liturgy'' (Pittsburgh: Byzantine Seminary Press, 1977), 17.</ref>

===== Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church =====
The [[Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church]] prescribes a similar form in English. The priest may place his ''epitrachelion'' (stole) over the penitent's head and makes the sign of the cross on his or her head, then says:
:May our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, by the grace and mercies of His love for us, pardon you, my child, N., all your faults, and I, an unworthy priest, by His authority given me, pardon and absolve you of all your sins, in the name of the ♱ Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stsophiaukrainian.cc/resources/howtoconfess/|title = How to Confess}}</ref>

===== Melkite Greek Catholic Church =====
In the [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church]], after the penitent confesses his sins, the priest may say some words and assigns a penance. Then, he raises his right hand over the head of the penitent and pronounces the words of absolution:
:Our Lord and God Jesus Christ, Who gave this command to His divine and holy disciples and apostles; to loose and to bind the sins of people, forgives you from on high, all your sins and offenses. I, His unworthy servant, who have received from these Apostles the power to do the same, absolve you from all censures, in as much as I can and am able, according to your need of it. Moreover, I absolve you from all your sins which you have confessed before God and my unworthiness. In the name ♱ of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The following may be said by the priest, but is not required for absolution:
:God, through Nathan the prophet, forgave David his sins; and [[Denial of Peter|Peter shedding bitter tears over his denial]]; and the Adulteress weeping at his feet; and the Publican and the Prodigal Son. May this same God, through me, a sinner, forgive + you everything in this life and in the life to come. And may you stand uncondemned before His awesome judgment-seat, for His Name is blessed forever and ever. Amen.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Melkite Absolution prayer |url=http://www.byzcath.org/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/63504 |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=The Byzantine Forum |language=en}}</ref>

====== Melkite non-sacramental absolutions ======
In the Melkite "Order of Funeral for the Dead" there is a non-sacramental absolution of the dead:
:Let us ask the mercies of God, the kingdom of heaven, and the forgiveness of his (her) sins through Christ, our immortal King and God. Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord have mercy.
O God of all spirits and all flesh, Who have destroyed death, overcome the Devil, and given life to the world: grant, O Lord, to the soul of your servant N., who has departed from this life, that it may rest in a place of light, in a place of happiness, in a place of peace, where there is no pain, no grief, no sighing. And since You are a gracious God and the Lover of mankind, forgive him (her) every sin he (she) has committed by thought, or word, or deed, for there is not a man who lives and does not sin: You alone are without sin, Your righteousness is everlasting, and Your word is true. You are the Resurrection and the Life, and the Repose of Your departed servant (or handmaid), N., O Christ our God, and we give glory to You, together with Your eternal Father and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.<ref>''Byzantine Melkite Euchologion,'' (St. Paul Printing Press, Jounieh, Lebanon, 1977) pp. 130–131</ref>

==== Non-Byzantine Catholic Churches ====
The following prayers are utilized by Eastern Catholic Churches which adhere to the [[Alexandrian Rite|Alexandrian]], [[West Syriac Rite|Western Syrian]], or [[East Syriac Rite|Eastern Syrian]] rites.

===== Coptic Catholic Church =====
The [[Coptic Catholic Church]] uses the "Absolution of the Son" as the form of sacramental absolution.<ref>Irenee-Henri Dalmais, O.P., ''The Eastern Liturgies'' (London: Burns & Oates, 1960), pp. 101.</ref>

===== Maronite Church =====
While the [[Maronite Church]] previously had its own native forms of absolution, the current practice is to use the form of the Roman Rite developed after the Second Vatican Council.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://saintsharbelnj.org/reconciliation|title = Saint Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church}}</ref>

===== Syro-Malabar Catholic Church =====
The [[Syro-Malabar Church|Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]] follows the [[Malabar rites|Malabar Rite]]. After the penitent confesses his or her sins and the priest gives timely advice and a penance, the priest has a few optional absolution prayers to choose from. Stretching out his right hand over the penitent, he says: 
:By the grace of the Lord who sanctifies the repentant sinners, you are absolved of all your sins. In the name of the Father and of the Son ♱ of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
:This prayer uses the passive voice and indicative mood to declare the person forgiven. Another option, uses the active voice and subjunctive mood to pray that the person may be forgiven.
:May the Lord, who sanctifies the repentant sinners, absolve you from your sins and make you worthy of eternal life. In the name of the Father and of the Son ♱ and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
A third option is in the active voice with an imperative or command:
:Lord, You who take away the sins and sanctify the sinner, graciously wash away the stains of this servant and make him (her) clean. By Your grace, freed from all sins, may he (she) be found worthy of eternal life. Now, always ♱ and forever. Amen.
After the absolution, the priest continues with a blessing:  
:May God, who made you reconciled with Himself, bless you to live in communion with the Church and your brethren. May He help you carry out the renewal of life you have begun. Go in peace. 
Meanwhile, there is still another prayer for giving absolution to someone in danger of death which uses a deprecative form: 
:May the Lord, who sanctifies the repentant sinners, forgive your sins and make you worthy of eternal life. In the name of the Father and of the Son ♱ and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<ref>Irenee-Henri Dalmais, O.P., ''The Eastern Liturgies'' (London: Burns & Oates, 1960), pp. 97.</ref>

===== Chaldean Catholic Church =====
Before their recent reform of their Liturgy, [[Chaldean Catholic Church|Chaldean Catholics]] used the form of absolution from the ''Roman Ritual'', but translated into [[Syriac language|Syriac]].