Absolution
Absolution in a liturgical church refers to the pronouncement of God's forgiveness of sins.
- "No man taketh away sins (which the law, though holy, just and good, could not take away), but He in whom there is no sin."
- Bede
- "He alone can remit sins who is appointed our Master by the Father of all; He only is able to discern obedience from disobedience."
- St. Clement of Alexandria
- "It is not the ambassador, it is not the messenger, but the Lord Himself that saveth His people. The Lord remaineth alone, for no man can be partner with God in forgiving sins; this office belongs solely to Christ, who taketh away the sins of the world."
- St. Ambrose
- "It appertaineth to the true God alone to be able to loose men from their sins."
- St. Cyril
- "Neither angel, nor archangel, nor yet even the Lord Himself (who alone can say "I am with you"), can, when we have sinned, release us, unless we bring repentance with us."
- St. Ambrose