Ogólna absolucja sakramentalna

Abstract

According to the Council of Trent in order to get sacramental absolution it is necessary to confess all these grave sins committed after the baptism which have not been already absolved in the sacrament of penance. Solely either physical or moral impossibility can relieve one form this duty. The circumstances which make the confessions of sins impossible are defined by moral theology. The arisisng doubts have been also dealt with by the Apostolic See determining the circumstances under which it is possible to give sacramental absolution without previous confession of sins. And thus in 1915 and 1940 the Penitentiary explained that soldiers going to battle could be absolved by means of a general formula. According to the warrant ofi the Consistorial Congregation issued in 1939 it was possible to give general absolution also to civilians during air raids. To dispel the doubts the Penitentiary issued in 1944 the instructions ,,Ut dubia" concerning giving general absolution to many persons simultaneously. The instructions permittted to give general absolution not only in case of the danger of death but also in other serious and imperative circumstances. For example as a sufficient reason was recognized the situation in which members of the Church lacking this absolution would be deprived of sacramental grace and Holy Communion for a longer period of time although through no fault of theirs. Estimation of necessity in particular cases was left to the Ordinary of the locality. The 1944 Instructions provided permanent rules concerning general absolution. Yet nowadays the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith has considered it necessary to issue a new document concerning the matter. These are the Pastoral Norms of 16 June 1972 concerning general sacramental absolution. In their issue the Apostolic See was motivated by 1) difficulties of members of the Church in some regions in making individual confession caused by the lack of priests, 2) mistaken theories concerning the sacrament of penance, 3) wrong practice of giving sacramental absolution after previous general confession of sins. The document confirms the hitherto professed theories concerning the sacrament of penance according to which confession is necessary to get the absolution. Besides it defines in a more detail ed manner the circumstances under which it is possible or even necessary to give general absolution without previous confession. It is possible to give such an absolution also in serious circumstances other than the danger of death, i.e. when there are not enough confessors to confess individually all memebers of the, Church who therefore would be deprived of grace or Communion for a long period of time. The present norm determines the question of general absolution in a manner both more complete and adequate to the contemporary situations than the 1944 Instructions Permitting wider rage of general absolution the Apostolic See wants to meet pastoral needs, at the same time attempting to ensure the validity of the sacrament of penance and to prevent any errors and abuses. It is the duty of both priests and congregation to follow carefullty the Pastoral Norms issued lately.