returning Catholic, a question

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LoveMercyGrace

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This is concerning the sacrament of reconciliation or confession.

Is the priest, when he absolves you, suppose to place his hands on your head as he absolves

you? My last confession, he remained seated across from me and made sign of the cross

and gave me penitence, but he never touched my head.
 
I don’t think that the priest is required to lay hands. That’d be a bit of a problem with the screen confessionals, after all.
 
It is allowed in the form of Confession found in your typical diocesan parish. Usually this happens as part of a blessing after the absolution (when the priest may say something along the lines of “May any good you do and any evil you suffer be cause for the remission of the punishment for your sins.” But you may want to actually ask a priest. He would be a bit more knowledgeable.
 
LoveMercyGrace said:
This is concerning the sacrament of reconciliation or confession.

Is the priest, when he absolves you, suppose to place his hands on your head as he absolves

you? My last confession, he remained seated across from me and made sign of the cross

and gave me penitence, but he never touched my head.
Click to expand...
He is not required to touch you in order for you to receive a valid absolution or penance. It is a beautiful gesture but is not required.
 
Considering face to face confession was virtually unheard of for hundreds of years…

No, it is not required that the confessor touch the penitent.
 
In very strict interpretation of sacramental symbology, the Laying on of Hands is used in Ordination and Confirmation. Appointing is used in Baptism which also requires physical contact. I have never witnessed it but I believe that Laying on of Hands is part of the Sacrament of the Sick.
It is not a formal part of the Sacrament of Penance. Ordinarily the priest hold his hands out above the penitent while granting absolution.
as others have said, the traditional Confessional box would make laying on of hands impossible.
 
aemcpa said:
Considering face to face confession was virtually unheard of for hundreds of years…

No, it is not required that the confessor touch the penitent.
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In the Byzantine rite, in which confession is always face to face, the priest places his stole, a sign of his authority, on the head of the penitent. I’ve never had a priest lay his hands on my head when confessing in the Roman rite.
 
To the best of my knowledge, saying “I absolve you” (ego te absolvo) is the only thing necessary on the priest’s part for a valid confession.
 
Scottgun said:
To the best of my knowledge, saying “I absolve you” (ego te absolvo) is the only thing necessary on the priest’s part for a valid confession.
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I believe the “I absolve you” is only one piece (albeit a key piece) in the overall blessing formula:

CCC 1449
The formula of absolution used in the Latin Church expresses the essential elements of this sacrament: the Father of mercies is the source of all forgiveness. He effects the reconciliation of sinners through the Passover of his Son and the gift of his Spirit, through the prayer and ministry of the Church:

God, the Father of mercies,
through the death and the resurrection of his Son
has reconciled the world to himself
and sent the Holy Spirit among us
for the forgiveness of sins;
through the ministry of the Church
may God give you pardon and peace,
and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
 
RocketRM said:
I believe the “I absolve you” is only one piece (albeit a key piece) in the overall blessing formula:

CCC 1449
The formula of absolution used in the Latin Church expresses the essential elements of this sacrament: the Father of mercies is the source of all forgiveness. He effects the reconciliation of sinners through the Passover of his Son and the gift of his Spirit, through the prayer and ministry of the Church:

God, the Father of mercies,
through the death and the resurrection of his Son
has reconciled the world to himself
and sent the Holy Spirit among us
for the forgiveness of sins;
through the ministry of the Church
may God give you pardon and peace,
and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Click to expand...
Of that formula, only “I absolve you” (“ego te absolvo”) is essential; i.e. absolutely required for the absolution to be valid.
 
aemcpa said:
Considering face to face confession was virtually unheard of for hundreds of years…

No, it is not required that the confessor touch the penitent.
Click to expand...
My confessions were almost all face to face since I converted 3 years ago.

Personally I think face to face confessions are harder for the penitent, and I prefer those.

No, the priest never touched me to give the absolution. Just the sign of the cross, and that’s it.
 
aemcpa said:
Of that formula, only “I absolve you” (“ego te absolvo”) is essential; i.e. absolutely required for the absolution to be valid.
Click to expand...
Good to know… that’s the part I’m listening for before saying “Thanks Father!”
 
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