Absolution

Absolution is the act of granting forgiveness or release from an obligation, blame, or penalty. The word comes from the Latin absolutio, meaning a setting free, and from absolvere, meaning to set free or acquit. In religious contexts, absolution refers to the forgiveness of sins or moral fault by a divine power, often enacted through a formal ritual or spoken declaration.

In Christianity, absolution commonly denotes forgiveness conferred by God. In sacramental traditions, a priest, bishop, or other authorized minister pronounces absolution as part of rites such as the sacrament of reconciliation or penance. Conditions typically emphasized include contrition, confession of sins, and, in some traditions, satisfaction or penance. The exact form and theology of absolution vary: Catholicism teaches that absolution is the tangible effect of God’s forgiveness mediated through the priest; Protestant denominations may emphasize faith in Christ and personal repentance, with forgiveness proclaimed in worship or through scripture. The Orthodox Church also administers absolution within repentance and confession, with variations in rite and liturgical language. In broader religious usage, absolution can simply mean the removal of guilt through divine mercy, independent of a formal sacrament.

In secular or legal language, absolution or acquittal is a judicial declaration that a person is not guilty of a charged offense, thereby releasing them from legal responsibility. More generally, absolution can describe exoneration in ethical, social, or professional contexts.

Historically, the authority to grant absolution has been tied to ecclesiastical and legal systems, influencing concepts of penance, mercy, and social reconciliation.