Tag Archives: absolution

ASK FATHER: If the priest says an invalid absolution and I drop dead after… what happens to me?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Father, a question – if a penitent is in a state of mortal sin, and they go to confess their sins to a priest, and the penitent does everything necessary on their part for the sacrament … Read More

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8 Comments

ASK FATHER: When giving me absolution, Father did not say “ALL your sins”. Was that invalid?

From a reader…. QUAERITUR: At my last Confession, during the absolution, the priest said: “I absolve you from your sins, in the name, etc.” Note that he did not say “from ALL your sins”. Does this mean the absolution is … Read More

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ASK FATHER: I have heard of “Apostolic Pardon” but “Apostolic Blessing”?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I have heard of “Apostolic Blessing” — is that the same thing but with a different name (eg: “reconciliation” == “confession” == “Sacrament of Penance”)? I’ve written about the IMPORTANT Apostolic Pardon quite a few times. … Read More

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6 Comments

In time of Coronovirus a priest foolishly suggests confession by phone. FAIL!

UPDATE 28 March 2020: The CDW instructed the USCCB that mobile phones should not be used to amplify vocal exchanges between confessor and penitent, when the penitent is at least a little distant from, but still with, the priest.  CNA … Read More

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11 Comments

ASK FATHER: What about confession if the virus gets really bad and we are all locked down?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I just read that Italy is taking the measure of locking down the entire country, 60 million people, until 3 April.  I don’t know if this is irrational panic or not.  Let’s say that it is.  … Read More

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18 Comments

ASK FATHER: Am I still forgiven if I don’t to my assigned penance?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I saw a tweet about a question on confession.  The person said the penance she got from the priest in confession was hard but she didn’t completely do it.  She wanted to know if she was … Read More

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12 Comments

ASK FATHER: Did Francis say something heretical about God and our sins?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: You always [write] about going to confession and that’s great!  But I read in a Catholic Herald article that in a speech about confession Pope Francis said that God ‘forgets’ our sins.   How can that be?  Is … Read More

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24 Comments

ASK FATHER: Absolution at jail through glass, phone in visitor’s room

From a priest… QUAERITUR:  I’m a priest who occasionally gets asked to hear confessions in a jail where the only way to speak to a person is through glass and a telephone headset. Without using the phone, one can barely hear the other … Read More

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25 Comments

ASK FATHER: Penance given in confession was too vague

From a reader… QUAERITUR: In line with your recent ASK FATHER postings on Confession, I have a question about vague penance given in Confession. We attend the local TLM and it is difficult to make it to Confession because the lines are always … Read More

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29 Comments

ASK FATHER: Father doesn’t make Sign of the Cross when giving absolution

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Whether an absolution is valid if the priest prays the form of the sacrament correctly, but does not make the sign of the cross. This might just be scruples, but recently, I went to confession to … Read More

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7 Comments

When was the last time you heard those words?

A correspondent sent the following, which I offer for your consideration: Our Lord speaking to St. Faustina in the Diary of Divine Mercy: “He who refuses to pass through the door of My mercy must pass through the door of … Read More

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19 Comments

ASK FATHER: Will SSPX priests be able to absolve validly after the Year of Mercy closes?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I’ve been searching through the Internet, and since I’ve found absolutely nothing regarding this matter, I’ve thought I might as well just send this question to you so that you can be the first (hopefully) to write about it. … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, GO TO CONFESSION, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, SSPX, Year of Mercy | Tagged , , , ,
12 Comments

ASK FATHER: The priest said: “I give you the absolution …”

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Reverend Father, If a priest in the confessional says “I give you the absolution in the name of the Father and the Song and the Holy Spirit” Is the absolution valid since he did not say … Read More

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31 Comments

ASK FATHER: Confession on a train when going through another diocese

From a reader… A priest from Diocese X and a lay person travel by train to some place.  During the trip the latter feels the need to confess sacramentally. The train at that moment is in Diocese Y, where the priest has no … Read More

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23 Comments

ASK FATHER: Another nitwit priest changes words of absolution. Wherein Fr. Z rants.

From a reader… QUAERITUR: During my recent confession, the words the priest used to absolve me was: “I release you from your sins in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” Is it a big deal saying “release” … Read More

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POPE FRANCIS FOR YEAR OF MERCY GRANTS THAT SSPX PRIESTS CAN VALIDLY ABSOLVE!

Huge news. This was under embargo till noon, Rome time, which must be honored. [UPDATE: The Bollettino is now available HERE] The Year of Mercy begins 8 December 2015 until 20 November 2016. It is about to be announced that the Holy Father has sent … Read More

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136 Comments

ASK FATHER: The Apostolic Pardon and You

From a reader… QUAERITUR: What does apostolic pardon mean? The Apostolic Pardon, or Benediction, forgives temporal punishment due to our sins, not the sins themselves. If anything remains from our lives, provided we die in the state of grace, for … Read More

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22 Comments

ASK FATHER: I’m haunted. Was I not really absolved? Am I still excommunicated?

Fathers and seminarians, pay attention! From a reader… The Pope is sending out special priests who can absolve abortion. Does this mean that priests are giving absolution for something they cannot? Is the absolution then invalid? What does that mean for reception of … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Emanations from Penumbras, GO TO CONFESSION, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries | Tagged , , , ,
13 Comments

Feedback and a confessional story

From a reader… I went to confession! It had been 10 years. Your encouragement helped me get up the nerve to go. The hardest part was actually going to the church. I wrote down every single thing I wanted to … Read More

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12 Comments

ASK FATHER: Dressing up for confession

From a reader… QUAERITUR: A blessed Holy Week to you! I just had a question about proper attire for confession. We hear a lot about attire for Mass, rightly so, but I’m wondering if we should dress up for other sacraments, like confession? … Read More

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