Valid Confession?

[James_2_24]

I was told by a priest today that a Priest in the confessional must say: “I absolve you of your sins…” in order for the Sacrament to be valid. This is because I have been to Priests who simply have said, “Your sins are forgiven”.

This Priest told me that he must say, “I absolve you of your sins”… just like the Eucharist would be invalid if the Priest said, “This is an oreo cookie…”

Is this correct?

 

[Maranatha]

Perhaps this would be a better question for the “ask an Apologist” forum.

 

[Madia]

No one can change the form or matter of the Sacraments. For example, a priest saying “This is HIS Body” instead of “This is MY Body” would be an invalid consecration since it is changing the form (words) of the Sacrament. If someone tries to substitute wine instead of water for a Baptism it would be invalid since the matter would have changed.

If a Priest simply says “your sins are forgiven” intead of “I absolve you…” the confession is invalid since the form has been changed. If someone does this then please bring up the subject and ask them to give you a proper absolution.