General Absolution at Mass

[surritter]

I’m reading a seventy-year-old book (by Fr. H. Thurston, SJ) and in recounting an episode from the time of St. Catherine of Siena, he mentions something about a priest during Mass, and states that the priest “turned round to give the general absolution before Communion…”

I know that general absolution in our time is reserved for very strict usage, but was that a normal part of the older form of Mass? Or is the terminology he uses referring to a different thing, like our Penitential Rite? (The story in question is not during a battle or other emergency, it’s a regular Mass.)

 

[tbtcom1213]

In the EF Mass at the point where the priest drinks from the chalice the servers (at low Mass or Missa Cantata) or deacon (at Solemn Mass) recite The Confiteor. After that the celebrant says misereatur vestri…Amen…then says Indulgentiam absolutionem…then "Ecce Agnus Dei ecce qui tollit peccata mundi…

 

[fulbert4605]

This could be the second Confiteor, which, yes, was used in the old Latin Mass regularly though it was done away with in the 1962 Missal, the final Missal with the Latin Mass. The Latin Masses of today that i have assisted at have included this second Confiteor, though i have heard some of them don’t.

Most properly the celebrant will not turn 180 degrees around to perfectly face the congregation since he is not supposed to turn his back on the Blessed Sacrament. Instead he should do a half turn, 90 degrees if you will, so the congregation is at one side, the Blessed Sacrament on the other to issue the Absolution.

P.May God grant you pardon, absolution, and remission of your sins in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit.

R.Amen.

 

[surritter]

But it’s not “general absolution” in the sense of the sacrament of Penance, right? I’m just thinking that it’s strange to use the term general absolution in that way.

 

[AJV]

But it’s not “general absolution” in the sense of the sacrament of Penance, right? I’m just thinking that it’s strange to use the term general absolution in that way.

The word “absolution” is used throughout the Traditional liturgical books, and does not always denote “Sacramental absolution” of penance. There is a rite for example, in the Rituale, called the “General Absolution” which may be used three or so years (can’t remember the exact stipulation without the book in front of me). But this rite is only the removal of/absolution from non-reserved excommunications and censures, and an indulgence (plenary) for sins. Likewise, in the traditional Missal, the word *Absolution *is placed before the first Misereatur and Indulgentiam said by the priest. For funerals, it denotes the prayers said for the dead (the rite is called the Absolution over the Coffin/Catafalque). In the Divine Office as well there are prayers called “Absolutions” recited before readings at Matins, but they have nothing to do with sacramental absolution.

 

[bpbasilphx]

But it’s not “general absolution” in the sense of the sacrament of Penance, right? I’m just thinking that it’s strange to use the term general absolution in that way.

Considering the usual Latin liturgical use at the time of St. Catherine, which has been described by others, this was probably a poor choice of words on the part of the author.

 

[Filioque]

Either a poor choice in words, or changes in meaning. After all many words in old english did not have the same context as it does today.

If the person who posted the OP, could relate a little more about the incident written. During the times related there were sometimes epidemics and warring between city states. Under circumstances like these it would be licit to offer a general absolution.

 

[surritter]

Either a poor choice in words, or changes in meaning. After all many words in old english did not have the same context as it does today.

If the person who posted the OP, could relate a little more about the incident written. During the times related there were sometimes epidemics and warring between city states. Under circumstances like these it would be licit to offer a general absolution.

No, nothing like that. The book is an investigation of the physical phenomena of mysticism, and this was recounting the story of St. Catherine of Siena’s gift of receiving Holy Communion – how shall I say this – without having the priest deliver the host. It would miraculously transport Itself from the altar to her mouth, sometimes even before the priest had eaten.

The author was quoting from a primary source that was describing an occasion of this at a Mass, so he probably had to translate it. Anyway, it just got me curious as to why there was something called a general absolution during a regular Mass.

 

[Filioque]

Well the only cases where it was done in a licit manner that I know of would be when there was imminent danger, plauge, troops ready to invade, or other serious or potential calamities.

 

[AJV]

The word “absolution” is used throughout the Traditional liturgical books, and does not always denote “Sacramental absolution” of penance. There is a rite for example, in the Rituale, called the “General Absolution” which may be used three or so years

Thee or so times a year…

 

[Filioque]

Is it connected with the practice of General Confession, as the older practice is a confession during which you confess all the sins you have committed from the age of reason to the present. (This is not to be confused with a general absolution.) General confessions are recommended for anyone entering a new phase in life or as recommended by a spiritual director. Usually practiced by Religious, and people of more advanced spirutal lives.

Was it possibly related to the Chapter of Faults, which some Religious Orders kept, where a member or members of the community would confess infractions of the Rule in a common setting.

Or was it in the context of the Newer Practice, individual confession of Mortal Sins to a Confessor who absolves the Mortal Sins, and then a general confession of venial sins, or faults in a communal setting with a General Absolution.

All rather tame when you consider the practice of the Early Church, which if still in effect would probably see a more drastic drop in confessions than seen after the 1970’s

 

[surritter]

Here’s the quotation. Again, it is a book from the 1930s, and in this passage the author is recounting a description of St. Catherine’s miraculous reception of Communion:

“Blessed Raymund…explains first of all how on one occasion he had travelled back with St. Catherine from Avignon and had reached Siena on St. Mark’s day utterly worn out with fatigue. It was not too late in the morning to say Mass, and so, in order to gratify her intense desire of receiving Communion, he put on his vestments and proceeded to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice, consecrating a small Host for her which lay on the corporal in front of him. When he turned round to give the general absolution before Communion he saw her face radiant and transformed with light. He was almost overpowered at the spectacle, and on once more facing towards the altar in order to take up the sacred particle he apostrophized It mentally, saying, ‘Come O Lord, to Thy spouse.’ ‘The thought,’ he goes on, ‘had hardly framed itself in my mind when, before I had touched It, the Sacred Host, as I clearly perceived, moved forward of Itself, the distance of three inches or more, coming close to the paten which I was holding in my hand.’ Whether It then leaped on to the paten, Raymund tells us he is unable to say. He was too startled by what he had already observed to notice or remember exactly.”

That’s it. All I’m saying is that when I was reading this, I found it curious that there was mention of a “general absolution.” But I think the answers given in the posts above make sense; I am just not familiar enough with the TLM to have known that.

 

[peary1]

I’m reading a seventy-year-old book (by Fr. H. Thurston, SJ) and in recounting an episode from the time of St. Catherine of Siena, he mentions something about a priest during Mass, and states that the priest “turned round to give the general absolution before Communion…”

I know that general absolution in our time is reserved for very strict usage, but was that a normal part of the older form of Mass? Or is the terminology he uses referring to a different thing, like our Penitential Rite? (The story in question is not during a battle or other emergency, it’s a regular Mass.)

We still have the Confiteor (“I Confess”) which is a general confession in the Mass. But to be absolved of mortal sin, one still needs to go to Confession.