[Salvation]

Here are the actual words of the priest in Absolution. You get only one guess as to who forgives a Catholic's sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation!

Did you guess?

Here's the answer (the highlighting/bolding is mine):

 

1449 The formula of absolution used in the Latin Church expresses the essential elements of this sacrament: the Father of mercies is the source of all forgiveness. He effects the reconciliation of sinners through the Passover of his Son and the gift of his Spirit, through the prayer and ministry of the Church:

God, the Father of mercies,
through the death and the resurrection of his Son
has reconciled the world to himself
and sent the Holy Spirit among us
for the forgiveness of sins;
through the ministry of the Church
may God give you pardon and peace,
and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[chs68]

Thank you for your post.

But now I am confused.

Earlier, another poster directed me to John 20: 21-23, and said this about that portion of Scripture: "In John 20:21, before He grants them the authority to forgive sins, Jesus says to the apostles, "as the Father sent me, so I send you." As Christ was sent by the Father to forgive sins, so Christ sends the apostles and their successors forgive sins."

You understand my confusion, I trust.

Did Christ grant the apostles and their successors the authority to forgive sins, or didn't He?