Editing Absolution (section)

==Anglican Communion==
{{Main|Anglican sacraments}}
In the [[Church of England]] and in the [[Anglican Communion]] in general, formal, sacramental absolution is given to penitents in the sacrament of penance now formally called the Reconciliation of a Pentitent and colloquially called "confession." There is also a general absolution given after general confessions in the offices of Morning and Evening Prayer and after the general confession in the Eucharist.

Often, physical actions accompany an absolution. A priest or bishop makes the [[sign of the cross]] over the [[Wiktionary:congregation|congregation]]. Those receiving the absolution may make the sign of the cross as well.

At minimum, Anglican [[Book of Common Prayer|prayer books]] contain a formula of absolution in the [[daily office]]s, at the [[Eucharist]], and in the [[Anointing of the Sick|visitation of the sick]]. The first two are general, akin to the liturgical absolution in use in the Roman Church; the third is individual by the very nature of the case.<ref name="Catholic"/> The offices of the earliest [[Book of Common Prayer|Books of Common Prayer]] contained an absolution that read both as assurance of pardon, placing the agency with God ("He [God] pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent"), and as priestly mediation (God "hath given power and commandment to his ministers to declare and pronounce to his people...the absolution and remission of their sins"). The following is the form of absolution for the sick in the Book of Common Prayer:
"OUR Lord Jesus Christ, who hath left power to his Church to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in him, of his great mercy forgive thee thine offences: And by his authority committed to me, I absolve thee from all thy sins, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."

Canada's Book of Alternative Services nuances the words of absolution slightly: "Our Lord Jesus Christ, who has left power to his Church to forgive sins, absolve you''' through my ministry''' by the power of his Holy Spirit  and restore you to the perfect peace of the Church".<ref>BAS, p. 168</ref>

Absolution during [[Morning Prayer (Anglican)|Morning Prayer]]:
{{Blockquote|text=ALMIGHTY God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness, and live; and hath given power, and commandment, to his Ministers, to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the Absolution and Remission of their sins : He pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel. Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us true repentance, and his Holy Spirit, that those things may please him, which we do at this present; and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure, and holy; so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. <br />People: Amen|title=The Absolution, or Remission of sins, to be pronounced by the Priest alone, standing; the people still kneeling.}}Absolution during [[Holy Communion]]:
{{Blockquote|text=ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him; Have mercy upon you; pardon and deliver you from all your sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.<br />People: Amen.|title=Then shall the Priest (or the Bishop, being present,) standing up, and turning himself to the people, pronounce this Absolution.}}
Absolution during [[Visitation of the Sick]]:
{{Blockquote|text=OUR Lord Jesus Christ, who hath left power to his Church to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in him, of his great mercy forgive thee thine offences: And by his authority committed to me, I absolve thee from all thy sins, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.<br />Sick: Amen.}}
If no priest be present the person saying the service shall read the Collect for the Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity:
{{Blockquote|text=GRANT, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord.<br />People:Amen.}}Of Publick Confession and Absolution<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nicholls |first=William |url=http://archive.org/details/bim_eighteenth-century_a-supplement-to-the-comm_nicholls-william_1711 |title=A supplement to the Commentary on The book of common-prayer, &c. Containing, I. A Commentary on all the occasional offices, ... II. To which is added an introduction to the liturgy ... III. Offices out of the several protestant liturgies, ... By Will. Nicholls, D.D.  1711 |date=1711 |others=Internet Archive}}</ref> – [[William Nicholls (theologian)|William Nicholls]]:
{{Blockquote|text=According to this thy Confession, which thou hast here made openly, before the face of God and this his Holy Church, I will in the name of God, and by vertue of my most holy Office, according to the command of Jesus Christ, and his most express and efficacious Words, declare the thee N. N. the remission of this Sin N. whereof thou art convicted, and of all thy other Sins, in the name of God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, Amen.<br />Go in the peace of God, and sin no more.|title=And then laying his Hand upon the Penitent, shall thus absolve him (or her) in this Form.}}
Of Confession and Absolution<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nicholls |first=William |url=http://archive.org/details/bim_eighteenth-century_a-supplement-to-the-comm_nicholls-william_1711 |title=A supplement to the Commentary on The book of common-prayer, &c. Containing, I. A Commentary on all the occasional offices, ... II. To which is added an introduction to the liturgy ... III. Offices out of the several protestant liturgies, ... By Will. Nicholls, D.D.  1711 |date=1711 |others=Internet Archive}}</ref> – [[William Nicholls (theologian)|William Nicholls]]:
{{Blockquote|text=For as much as from the bottom of thy heart thou art. Sorry for, and dost detest thy sins, and with a firm faith dost fly to the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, moreover promising that by the Grace of God thou wilt hereafter live a more holy and godly life; in the Name and Authority of God, by vertue of my Office, and from the power which is given me by God from above to remit sins upon earth, I do declare to thee the forgiveness of all thy sins, in the Name of God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.<br />May God who has begun a good work in thee perfect it even to the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, and keep thee in a true and lively Faith to the end of thy life, through Jesus Christ. Amen.|title=Minister shall lay his hand upon him, and in the Name of the Holy Trinity, he is to declare to him the pardon of all his sins.}}