Editing Absolution (section)

====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.