Father Mike Responds to 'General Absolution'

If you're Catholic, you know the drill: we sin, we break our relationship with God, and then he offers us the incomprehensible mercy to restore that relationship with him. You can see this beautiful grace most Saturday afternoons at parishes around the world in the Sacrament of Reconciliation—or, Confession.

But have you heard of "general absolution"? Is it a way to skip the confession line and get "bulk forgiveness"?

Today, Fr. Mike dispels the confusion around general absolution and redirects us to the true source of reconciliation that Christ has given his Church.

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[sandyjeannette]

Fr Mike is the only priest I know of who has the gift of giving advice we don't want to hear without making us mad at him.

[lalagomez]

My priest refused to hear my confession, because I would have to confess the same sin day after day - long story short, I have since received an annulment from my previous marriage. I have been away from the Church for many years and when Father refused me confession I've been pretty gun-shy to try again. We have a new Priest -- asking prayers for the courage to try again 🙏🏼🙏🏼

[PrairieDad]

One time when I was a teenager, we wanted to go to confession before Sunday mass but there had been a storm that left frozen rain all over. My brother and I went to scrape and shovel the ice off the church's entrance and sidewalk so people could get in. By the time we were done mass was starting and confessions were over. Our priest had to leave right after mass to say mass in another town that day, but he found out what happened and right before he left he said, in essence, that he absolved us of our sins and that our penance was done by clearing the ice.

[Rodgerdodger]

I was received into the church today. Videos like this led me to where I'm at now. Thank you for all you do!

[colleenlongua]

Well said. I can't imagine being Catholic without individual reconciliation. It's a huge gift and so many people treat it like a box to check.

[michelleferrao]

Thank you Fr Mike 💫
"When you approach the confessional, know this, that I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I Myself act in your soul.

Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy. Tell souls that from this fount of mercy souls draw graces solely with the vessel of trust.

If their trust is great, there is no limit to My generosity 🌻
~Jesus to St Faustina

[lbi]

As usual, you hit the nail on the head! It's pretty obvious that general absolution is not the same as direct act of confession. Tell it like it is, Father!

[vandabutcher]

I start and end my days with Father Mike may God Bless him. Keep spreading the word
Of God, and making the videos I learn so much from them.

[ransomcoates]

Father is always the most inspiring when he is preaching quite directly pure Roman orthodoxy.

[rockanne]

You were so beautifully sweet about this, Father. Thank you.

[ruthortega]

Great explanation as usual father Mike. Thank you for the humor you put into serious topics. You are great. Your videos are awesome, you are too.

[kimlinford]

Father, Thank you, you have such a wonderful way of speaking, I love listening to you and I have started practicing being Catholic again. I have prayed through the years and said the rosary, but I haven't been to church or confession in years. I am very nervous about going, to confession but once again I am feeling motivated from listening to you. I am praying that I keep feeling this way. Thank you so much. I am praying for you too.

[ontheway]

Father, you presented this topic so well and with so much clarity and love. Thank you for all you do!

[noradsouza]

That's sweet of you to clarify. When I was in Kenya, the Irish Fathers who were there running an excellent catholic high school, gave general absolution in their church every Sunday, they never cared to hear confessions. For us non Kenyans it was quite hard to understand, but I am sure they had their reasons. Besides going for confession over here, I feel and desire and compelled to take a "general absolution" from you through your podcast because "it is you" and you make such a compelling case asking the faithful to come for confession. I am so blessed to know you online. Thank you from Canada.

[cynthiakane]

Thank you Father Mike for the clarification on General confession! Then going to confession every couple months trying to get better at going once a month and I thought General confession was for everything I had forgotten about. So thank you for the clarity of having to speak my sin out loud to the priest and for each mortal sin that I remember. Please continue feeding your sheep I look forward to your podcasts🙏🙏🙏

[GeneralLust]

On Lenten Season, In the Philippines, where people are mostly Catholic, where Chruches has masses every hour from 4AM to 7PM.

If our Priests and do not use General Absolution, you would have to listen for 24/7, until the end of Lent and still not finished.

[jeffreybabino]

Hi Fr Mike thank you for what you do for bringing mass to people that might not get to go you are doing a great thing god bless you and thank you for what you do god bless you ✝️amen

[Finnegan]

Go to daily Mass, it safeguards us from moving towards mortal sin by helping us with our wicked tendencies and destroys our venal sins
Daily Mass! 🔥

[hershey]

We have a retired priest who will often absolve everyone who is in line if "confession time" runs out. He will ask anyone who has committed a mortal sin to go to one-on- one confession, however. It's what he's doing a loophole, of sorts? God bless you, Fr. Mike; I pray that you are constant in your obedience to and counsel from the Holy Spirit! You are a steadfast shepherd!!

[claujff]

True charity, clarifying and correcting with love and without judging, thank you fr. Mike. I have you in my prayers, please pray for me and my family🕯🙏🕊