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St. Gabriel and All Angels

Absolution, one of the Seven Sacraments of the church catholic, comes from the Latin root words ab solvo, which mean "to loosen". This Sacrament is intended to help the person to discontinue from erroneous behavior, but, as, or more important, to be relieved and disconnected from the downheartedness and guilt that perpetuate of such behavior. Absolution provides an important feature in the life of the spiritual aspirant.

Absolution has commonly become known in just one of it's forms - confession - the telling of one's sins to a priest. The Liberal Catholic Church offers two additional, traditional forms of the Sacrament of Absolution.

The most frequently experienced is the "general absolution," the blessing which follows the beautiful Confiteor prayer at the beginning of Holy Eucharist and many other of our services. The priest absolves all those present, who, in the Confiteor, have acknowledged the human condition on the path of evolution - "...often we forget our (spiritual) heritage, and wander from the path which leads to righteousness...". But those who pray the Confiteor also acknowledge the essential fact of human origin - "Thou hast created man to be immortal, and made him to be an image of thine own eternity...".

Another form of Absolution is known as Holy Unction. This ancient rite is not unknown within other catholic churches, but is rarely practiced in the Western church. It does not include the confession of sins to a priest. Rather, it consists of being anointed with holy oil and receiving powerful blessings.

Invoking the name of the Blessed Trinity, the priest then says over the person, "I exorcise all influences of evil, that thou mayest be rightly purified to receive this sacrament of Holy Unction." The priests then anoints the forehead, top of the head, throat and nape of the neck with a holy oil, olem infirmum. Then, gently laying his hands upon the person's head, the priest prays "Christ, the Son of God, pour down his healing power upon thee, and enfold thee in the light of his love.'

Holy Unction is very popular among Liberal Catholics who have experienced it. A wonderful, blessed surprise awaits anyone who ventures to approach this valuable Sacrament. Very often it creates a distinct clearing of negative emotions and self-denigration, and in their place arises self-forgiveness, renewed hope and a fresh, positive attitude toward the present and future.

In the Liberal Catholic Church, the Sacraments of Jesus Christ are open to any and all who approach in reverence, whether members of the church or not, so you come, too!