Catholic Masses

  • Search for Mass Times
  • Catholic Faith Articles
    • News Briefs
    • Catholic Church
    • Vatican News
    • Catholic Gift Ideas
  • Online Masses
    • Daily Catholic Mass Online
      • Daily TV Mass from Toronto
      • EWTN Daily Mass
      • CTVN Daily Mass
      • Sunday Mass by the Passionists
      • Daily Mass (In Spanish)
  • Pray with Us
Home Test page Bishops in northeast Italy permit general absolution at Christmas due to pandemic

Bishops in northeast Italy permit general absolution at Christmas due to pandemic

Purple stole and confessional. Credit: Roman023_photography/Shutterstock.

Rome Newsroom, Dec 14, 2020 / 12:55 pm (CNA).- Catholic bishops in northeast Italy have said that the risk of illness amid the ongoing pandemic constitutes a “grave necessity” permitting priests to confer the Sacrament of Reconciliation under the “third form,” also called general absolution, before and during the Christmas season.

General absolution is a form of the Sacrament of Reconciliation which may be imparted, as defined by canon law, only in moments when death is believed to be imminent and there is no time to hear the confessions of individual penitents, or for another “grave necessity.”

The Apostolic Penitentiary, a dicastery of the Roman Curia, issued a note in March saying it believed that during the COVID-19 pandemic there were cases which would constitute grave necessity, and therefore make general absolution lawful, “especially in places that are most greatly affected by the pandemic contagion, and until the phenomenon subsides.”

A penitent who receives absolution in such a manner — sometimes known as collective absolution — must also individually confess his or her mortal sins when possible.

The bishops’ conference of Triveneto said last week that it had made the decision to allow the sacrament to be administered in this manner in their dioceses from Dec. 16 to Jan. 6, 2021 “due to a series of objective difficulties and also to avoid other infections and further risk to the health of the faithful and ministers of the sacrament.”

The decision was made in consultation with the Apostolic Penitentiary, which is responsible for issues related to the forgiveness of sins.

The bishops stressed the importance of keeping community penitential celebrations separate from the Mass and giving proper instruction on “the extraordinary nature of the form adopted for the sacrament.”

They also encouraged teaching Catholics about “the gift of forgiveness and God’s mercy, the sense of sin, and the need for a real and continuous conversion with the invitation to participate — as soon as possible — in the sacrament itself in traditional and ordinary ways and forms,” that is, individual confession.

Triveneto is a historic area in northeast Italy now encompassing three modern-day regions. It includes the cities of Verona, Padua, Venice, Bolzano, and Trieste. The area is also sometimes referred to as North-East or Tre Venezie


If you value the news and views Catholic World Report provides, please consider donating to support our efforts. Your contribution will help us continue to make CWR available to all readers worldwide for free, without a subscription. Thank you for your generosity!

Click here for more information on donating to CWR. Click here to sign up for our newsletter.


Catholic World Report

Dec 14, 2020CatholicMasses

Share this post:

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on PinterestShare on EmailShare on LinkedIn
Bishops: Getting COVID-19 vaccine is 'act of charity,' supports the common goodPapal envoy travels to Armenia in aftermath of 44-day war
You Might Also Like
 
Landmark abortion ruling published in Poland
 
French cases lead Focolare to promise investigation of handling abuse claims

You must be logged in to post a comment. - Log in

CatholicMasses
1 year ago Catholic News, Europe, Italy, News Briefs, pandemicCatholic Church, Europe, Italy, News Briefs, pandemic13
Find Mass Schedules Near You

CatholicMasses.org allows you to search for Catholic Churches to find Mass times near you!

This unique feature helps while traveling.  Now along with Mass times, schedules and Catholic news you can also watch daily Catholic Mass online with your friends.

Try our free resource to “find Roman Catholic Churches near me” today!

St Alphonsus Liguori praised the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as the best way to Honor God.  Join us as we celebrate Mass daily from various parishes around the world, online and offline, and please visit daily to pray with us as we recite the Rosary, offer daily scripture, readings, devotions and Catholic focused news. We bring you daily Catholic Mass from various parishes around the world and Catholic news.

Today’s Mass
Daily Mass Videos
  • Catholic Chicago
  • CatholicTVNetwork Daily Mass
  • Daily Mass from Toronto Canada
  • ETWN Daily Mass
  • Eucaristia en Vivo – Spanish Daily Mass
  • General Catholic Videos
  • Live video from Lourdes France
  • Masses from the Ascension Priests
  • Misa Hoy (en español)
  • National Shrine
  • News from a Catholic Perspective
  • News from CFN
  • Pope Francis and Vatican News
  • Rosary
  • Sunday Mass by the Passionists
What’s New
  • Historian: Church did not give ‘carte blanche’ for mistreatment of indigenous in Americas
  • South Africa: Bishops alarmed by the country’s neglect of rural areas and indifference to inequalities.
  • Pope: Ukrainians still suffering from a “cruel war”
  • Kansas woman arrested after allegedly striking pro-life teen ‘with fists’ to the head
  • Pope Francis: The desire for ‘eternal youth’ and ‘unlimited wellbeing’ is delusional conceit
About

Providing up to date online access to information exclusively about Catholicism.

Visit our site map | Privacy Policy | About Us Page.

Streaming Catholic Mass Online

Watch Catholic Mass Online Today.

Find Churches Nearby
Email-Subscription

Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest news and event postings.

2019 © Catholic Mass Search - Search Catholic Churches and find Mass times while traveling.
Privacy Policy | About Us Page.
Truemag theme by StrictThemes
Change Location
Find awesome listings near you!