Ok, Quick Question About The Sacrament Of Penance

[Paladin D]

God forgives, the priest just absolves, right?

If so, why do I read most Catholic stuff that says the priest forgives? I'm just confused.

[Aloysius]

acting in the person of Christ, He grants Christ's forgiveness. "whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, whose sins you retain are thus reatained"... so by the authority of Christ he is granting forgiveness, or forgiving your sins. it's God's forgiveness he's dispensing though, so that's why it's God forgives, priests absolve.

[Paladin D]

Another quick question, what does absoltion mean in Catholic terms? Thanks in advance man. :cool:

[EcceNovaFacioOmni]

Another quickie in here: Does anyone know of a way to conivince somebody that when the priest says "... forgive us our sins and lead us to everlasting life" during the Mass that it isn't a free ticket out of Confession? I know somebody who thinks this to be true.

[Mary's Knight, La]

simple that is a prayer asking forgiveness and sanctification God's answer is confession

[the_rev]

Well according to Post Concilliar document after Vatican Two, the priest in the person of Christ, when he does the following:

Consecrates the Host to the body of Christ as Jesus did at the Last Supper.

Forgives sins, through the ministry of the church. Meaning he is in the person of Jesus, as Jesus casted demons out of people and also forgave them their sins, the preist is in the person of Christ.

[Aloysius]

i would say absolution is formally clensing the sins from the soul with real sacramental grace done by a priest acting in the person of Christ. it is a formal forgiveness process that completely cleanses you and makes you fully realize your forgiveness through powerful sacramental grace.

[the_rev]

I love confession, and experience more every month, since I travel a lot, I can go to confession because I go to priests I don't know!

[Rebirth flame]

Another quick question, what does absoltion mean in Catholic terms? Thanks in advance man.

Absolution, i believe, literally means: the act of absolving

Absolving is absolute forgiveness with penance.

when the priest says,"I absolve you of your sins in the Name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit. Amen," he's saying that through the Trinity, I grant you full forgiveness through your sins with penance, which means that we must show we're sorry for what we've done. :D

hope that helps alittle bit.

[PhatPhred]

Another quickie in here: Does anyone know of a way to conivince somebody that when the priest says "... forgive us our sins and lead us to everlasting life" during the Mass that it isn't a free ticket out of Confession?  I know somebody who thinks this to be true.

From the General Instruction on the Roman Missal, paragraph 51:

51. Then the priest invites those present to take part in the Act of Penitence, which, after a brief pause for silence, the entire community carries out through a formula of general confession. The rite concludes with the priest's absolution, which, however, lacks the efficacy of the Sacrament of Penance.