Absolution

The word Absolution (Latin absolvere " detach " " acquit " ) means the forgiveness of sin after confession ( confession ) in a religious context.

Roman Catholic understanding

In the Roman Catholic Church, the absolution is in individual confession, the sacramental absolution of sins by a priest, who when speaking the formula of absolution: " " God, the merciful Father has reconciled through the death and resurrection of his Son the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins. Through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace. So absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. " Here the priest shall submit to the penitent hand on or stretches out a hand in blessing. With the absolution the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance comes to an end. Before, the sinner must repent of his actions and the serious intention to have improvement ( " good intention "). In danger of death, the priest may grant all penitent general absolution, without prior individual confession of sins. Be rescheduled The single commitment is serious sins award must, if the believer survives the emergency situation, as soon as possible (Canon 962 CIC).

The acquittal by a complicity in a sin against the sixth commandment ( adultery ) priest (so-called Absolutio criminalis ) is except in cases of danger of death is invalid ( can. 977 ) and draws for the priest as a latae sententiae excommunication according to ( can. 1378 § 1).

Evangelical Lutheran understanding

In the Evangelical Lutheran Church absolution is the final highlight of confession - the holy sacrament of Penance. The sins are exclusively determined by the ( ordained ) ministers to prior repentance and prayer of repentance by the penitent ( confession Santander) awarded laying on of hands in the name of God the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit ( at least for the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church ). Absolution can either occur as a private or individual confession to a priest, for example, in the sacristy or in the general confession in a penitential liturgy. Basically, the confession is but removed only by an ordained minister. In the member churches of the VELKD however, the confession can be removed from any baptized Christian, the legal persons only commissioned plays. The Lutheran churches (similar to the Large Catechism ) understand the confession and absolution as a return to - or re- crawl into the - Baptism ( reditus ad baptismum ). Baptism is therefore a necessary condition for the reception of absolution. Unbaptized can not be donated absolution. In addition to the Augsburg Confession of 1530 and their apology from the years 1530/1531 can also be found in the Small Catechism, Dr. Martin Luther, a statement to confession and an expiration of a Beichtvorganges. Martin Luther throughout his life confession very highly respected and practiced until the end. ( Quote: "The secret confession I will take my leave of anybody and did not want to give to the world treasures them because I know what she has given me strength and comfort I would have long since been overcome and choked off by the devil, if me. this confession would not have received. " ) From the confession with the peak of the forgiveness of sins is followed by the Lutheran understanding, to forsake sin and to improve life.