General Absolution Question

[HAnne]

This question is actually from my husband - a Cradle Catholic who is coming home. I’m very happy for him and trying to help in any way that I can.

His question involves a genuine General Absolution situation. He is a combat veteran who was given the sacrament of General Absolution MANY times during his combat tour…such is the life of a man willing to die for others.

When it comes to his first confession, does he backdate to the last General Absolution or his last one on one confession? He’s a bit confused and not certain which way he’s supposed to go.

Also, when he goes to confession, if he should use the date of his last “one on one”, should he let the priest know that he has received General Absolution on X date or not?

Thank you so much in advance from our family to yours.

 

[1ke]

As you can see, one who receives general absolution must follow that up with individual confession as soon as possible. Therefore, your husband should confess all his sins since his last good confession. However, he should also explain his situation to the priest in the confessional including his time away from the church.

Can. 962 §1. For a member of the Christian faithful validly to receive sacramental absolution given to many at one time, it is required not only that the person is properly disposed but also at the same time intends to confess within a suitable period of time each grave sin which at the present time cannot be so confessed.

§2. Insofar as it can be done even on the occasion of the reception of general absolution, the Christian faithful are to be instructed about the requirements of the norm of §1. An exhortation that each person take care to make an act of contrition is to precede general absolution even in the case of danger of death, if there is time.

Can. 963 Without prejudice to the obligation mentioned in ⇒ can. 989, a person whose grave sins are remitted by general absolution is to approach individual confession as soon as possible, given the opportunity, before receiving another general absolution, unless a just cause intervenes.

 

[HAnne]

As you can see, one who receives general absolution must follow that up with individual confession as soon as possible. Therefore, your husband should confess all his sins since his last good confession. However, he should also explain his situation to the priest in the confessional including his time away from the church.

Can. 962 §1. For a member of the Christian faithful validly to receive sacramental absolution given to many at one time, it is required not only that the person is properly disposed but also at the same time intends to confess within a suitable period of time each grave sin which at the present time cannot be so confessed.

§2. Insofar as it can be done even on the occasion of the reception of general absolution, the Christian faithful are to be instructed about the requirements of the norm of §1. An exhortation that each person take care to make an act of contrition is to precede general absolution even in the case of danger of death, if there is time.

Can. 963 Without prejudice to the obligation mentioned in ⇒ can. 989, a person whose grave sins are remitted by general absolution is to approach individual confession as soon as possible, given the opportunity, before receiving another general absolution, unless a just cause intervenes.

Thank you so much! I knew it had to be in the Canons, but had no idea where to look. He was well catechized as a youth/young adult, but due to a traumatic brain injury often has a hard time remembering some of the intricacies.

Thank you again for your help!!!

 

[uxordepp]

We have had a problem with the abuse of General Absolution in our military ordinariate. For this I would just like to clarify something.

General Absolution is legitimate in times of grave necessity…something causing immediate danger (I always think of the Titanic going down) and with the provisions in the Canons cited. It is also legitimate if there are large numbers of people, such as soldiers being deployed, and not enough priests to hear individual confessions within the time available. Again, those present must be aware of the need to go to individual confession as soon as possible.

What is not okay is a priest giving General Absolution (with no further counsel) at a particularly well-attended Mass, such as Easter Sunday or Christmas. We had this going on for several years. Fortunately, it seems this abuse is dying out.

But I just wanted to clarify in case anyone was wondering about it.

And I am happy to hear your husband is coming home!

 

[HAnne]

We have had a problem with the abuse of General Absolution in our military ordinariate. For this I would just like to clarify something.

General Absolution is legitimate in times of grave necessity…something causing immediate danger (I always think of the Titanic going down) and with the provisions in the Canons cited. It is also legitimate if there are large numbers of people, such as soldiers being deployed, and not enough priests to hear individual confessions within the time available. Again, those present must be aware of the need to go to individual confession as soon as possible.

What is not okay is a priest giving General Absolution (with no further counsel) at a particularly well-attended Mass, such as Easter Sunday or Christmas. We had this going on for several years. Fortunately, it seems this abuse is dying out.

But I just wanted to clarify in case anyone was wondering about it.

And I am happy to hear your husband is coming home!

Thank you so much. This is why I made certain I stated at the beginning that this was a “genuine” General Absolution. All instances occurred during his combat duty and immediately before a situation where it was “likely some would not return”.

The other General Absolutions I have an extreme problem with. Having been the spouse of a Catholic who received “genuine” General Absolution it aggravates me to no end to have the very rare version of this sacrament given in times of extreme danger and uncertainty pandered about like candy on Christmas morning. It demeans the validity of the sacrament for those receiving it in true emergencies.

Thank you so much for the clarification in words I’m not yet capable of intelligently expressing. Here’s hoping after a few years I am able to explain these things to others as well as my many CAF friends have for me!

 

[uxordepp]

Hi Anne

I actually noticed that your were quite clear about the situation in which General Absolution was used. Brava! Yes soldiers going off to battle is why GA was created, I think!

When we used to have ‘regular’ General Absolution, it broke my heart. I was in the choir, so we would often be present at more than one Mass at a time such as Easter. General Absolution became a joke among some who were present for more than one. It was SO wrong. We were never even counselled to go to a private confession afterward. The whole thing became like a group carwash.

We haven’t had one in nearly 10 years now, and I am under the understanding that in our (Canadian) military generally, they are much less common now. I guess i wasn’t the only one complaining.