absolution

[jfoges]

I have a confessor who says “God absolves you of your sins” instead of “I absolve you of your sins”. Does this impact the validity of the sacrament of penance? Please provide documentation for your answer. Thanks.

 

[bpbasilphx]

This is the gist of the Eastern absolution formulas. If it’s valid in the East, it’s valid in the West.

 

[katy]

I don’t think either East or West is supposed to be changing the appropriate wording just because they like it better.

 

[Aramis]

I don’t think either East or West is supposed to be changing the appropriate wording just because they like it better.

Both are valid; one mode is traditional to the west, the other to the east. Not supposed to mix and match, but both are valid.

 

[FrDavid96]

I have a confessor who says “God absolves you of your sins” instead of “I absolve you of your sins”. Does this impact the validity of the sacrament of penance? Please provide documentation for your answer. Thanks.

It is valid (the Sacrament is real, and you are absolved).
It is also illicit (a violation of the laws of the Church).

The only exception would be that if the priest in question is in fact an Eastern Catholic priest–as others have said. Allow me to add an important explanation, though:

Depending upon the specific Eastern Church there might be no distinction between the Western and Eastern forms for Confession. Therefore, if an Eastern priest (who does not have faculties for the Latin Rite) is hearing confessions, he is bound to use his own church’s formula. In that case, the only difference you would hear are those words “God absolves you” (or similar).