Absolution After Confession

[OnlySunshine]

I went to Confession today at a different Church besides mine since the other Church is closer. There were some things that occurred that made me feel a little uncomfortable and one of them was the Absolution. I prayed the Act of Contrition that the priest had next to him, and then the priest just said, "I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." I thought they had to say this whole thing:
[center]
[i]God, the Father of mercies,[/i]
[i]through the death[/i]
[i]and the resurrection of his Son[/i]
[i]has reconciled the world to himself[/i]
[i]and sent the Holy Spirit among us[/i]
[i]for the forgiveness of sins;[/i]
[i]through the ministry of the Church[/i]
[i]may God give you pardon and peace,[/i]
[i]and I absolve you from your sins[/i]
[i]in the name of the Father, and of the Son[/i]
[i]and of the Holy Spirit. (C.C.C. # 1449)[/i]


Maybe he was saying most of it while I was reciting the Act of Contrition? I'm not sure. I wasn't paying attention to his lips or what he was doing. Is this Confession valid?[/center]

Edited August 16, 2011 by Lil Red

[Jaime]

I have no doubt that its valid. I often am focused on my own words and thoughts during confession and I am not paying attention to what my priest is saying. You may have very well missed it. Next time, simply ask the priest if he could recite it again so that you can really take the words to heart! (and you will not be worried)

[cappie]

Rite of Penance

Penitent’s Prayer and the Priest’s Absolution

19. Next, through a prayer for God’s pardon the penitent expresses contrition and the resolution to begin a new life. It is advantageous for this prayer to be based on the words of Scripture.

Following the penitent’s prayer, the priest extends his hands, or at least his right hand, over the head of the penitent and pronounces the formulary of absolution, in which [b]the essential words are: I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. As he says the final phrase the priest makes the sign of the cross over the penitent.[/b] The form of absolution (see no. 46) indicates that the reconciliation of the penitent comes from the mercy of the Father; it shows the connection between the reconciliation of the sinner and the paschal mystery of Christ; it stresses the role of the Holy Spirit in the forgiveness of sins; finally, it underlines the ecclesial aspect of the sacrament, because reconciliation with God is asked for and given through the ministry of the Church