General Absolution

[Teelynn]

From what I know, as long as you were not harboring mortal sin, and only had venial sins, this would do the trick. Mortal sins would be forgiven but you would have to go to individual confession ASAP. So strictly speaking, yes, it is valid.

Tee

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Explain to me:
If the priest has no authority to do a general absolution except in dire circumstances…how can the absolution still be valid?

The Absolution is in a sense “conditional”, if they die before having a chance to go to Sacramental Confession the guilt of their sins is forgiven. Otherwise it is not, especially if they have the opportunity to go to Sacramental Confession and choose not to.

 

[Al_Masetti]

I read a Civil War account, in which both sides were lined up ready for battle, and immediately before one side charged into the other, a Catholic Chaplain rode a horse down between the two lines giving General Absolution to everyone.

As most folks know, the number of fatalities in those battles was astronomical.

 

[Elzee]

Where would I go to find out, under what situations, general absolution is allowed?

 

[chevalier]

Can. 960 Individual and integral confession and absolution constitute the only ordinary means by which a member of the faithful conscious of grave sin is reconciled with God and the Church. Only physical or moral impossibility excuses from confession of this type; in such a case reconciliation can be obtained by other means.
Can. 961 §1. Absolution cannot be imparted in a general manner to many penitents at once without previous individual confession unless:
1/ danger of death is imminent and there is insufficient time for the priest or priests to hear the confessions of the individual penitents;
2/ there is grave necessity, that is, when in view of the number of penitents, there are not enough confessors available to hear the confessions of individuals properly within a suitable period of time in such a way that the penitents are forced to be deprived for a long while of sacramental grace or holy communion through no fault of their own. Sufficient necessity is not considered to exist when confessors cannot be present due only to the large number of penitents such as can occur on some great feast or pilgrimage.
§2. It belongs to the diocesan bishop to judge whether the conditions required according to the norm of §1, n. 2 are present. He can determine the cases of such necessity, attentive to the criteria agreed upon with the other members of the conference of bishops.

Here. The following canons are also important to read, I believe.

 

[John_Lilburne]

More recent instructions (than the 1983 Code of Canon Law) are in the 2002 Motu Proprio Misericordia Dei which is at vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/motu_proprio/documents/hf_jp-ii_motu-proprio_20020502_misericordia-dei_en.html .

This was referred to by Pope Benedict in the 2007 Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis at vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_ben-xvi_exh_20070222_sacramentum-caritatis_en.html :
“21. … I ask pastors to be vigilant with regard to the celebration of the sacrament of Reconciliation, and to limit the practice of general absolution exclusively to the cases permitted,
(footnote 61: Cf. John Paul II, Motu Proprio Misericordia Dei (7 April 2002): AAS 94 (2002), 452-459.)
since individual absolution is the only form intended for ordinary use.
(footnote 62: Together with the Synod Fathers I wish to note that the non-sacramental penitential services mentioned in the ritual of the sacrament of Reconciliation can be helpful for increasing the spirit of conversion and of communion in Christian communities, thereby preparing hearts for the celebration of the sacrament: cf. Propositio 7.)”

 

[AdvanceAlways]

We had a big thread about this going on, I’ll try to dig it up…

 

[Elzee]

Thank you! Exactly what I needed.
God bless!