Section — Prümmer, Manuale Theologiae Moralis
§ 3. What Conditions Are Required For Absolution
495. 1. On the part of the one absolving, there is required:
a) Legitimate power, concerning which enough has already been said in the preceding paragraph.
b) A free will.
For an absolution extorted by force or by grave fear unjustly inflicted is not valid;109 indeed, one who thus extorted absolution incurred a (new) excommunication,110 which, however, no longer appears to be in force today.
- On the part of the one to be absolved, there is required:
a) That he be a subject.
According to the discipline in force, not only vagrants but also travelers can be absolved from censures imposed by law just as natives can, because the law expressly establishes this.111
b) That he seek absolution.
Thus, at least, ordinarily, since otherwise the contumacy of the sinner is not so efficaciously broken.112 One seeking absolution, however, must faithfully confess the delict with the circumstances changing its species, and especially must declare all the cases; otherwise the absolution is valid only for the case expressed. But if the absolution was general - as it is customarily - it is also valid for those omitted in good faith, except a censure reserved in the most special manner to the Holy See; it is not valid, however, for those omitted in bad faith.113
c) That he make satisfaction to the injured party, if any injury has been done to property, honor, reputation, and so forth.
But if suitable satisfaction is morally impossible, the person to be absolved must seriously promise that he will seek pardon or afterward make satisfaction according to his ability.114
d) That he repair any scandal which may have arisen.
The manner of this reparation is to be determined according to the prudent judgment of the confessor or superior.
e) That he firmly promise that he wishes to carry out the mandates of the Church, which perhaps prescribes special means for satisfaction or amendment.
f) That a salutary penance be imposed and received, and indeed in addition to the sacramental penance.
This penance is sometimes determined by the bishop or by the Holy See; otherwise the confessor can determine it, with regard had to the condition of the penitent and of the delict committed. In general it ought to be a grave penance.
109 Ibid., c. 2238.
110 c. unic., I 20 in VIo; St. Alphonsus, Theol. mor. l. 7, n. 119; cf. above, I, n. 71.
111 Code of Canon Law, c. 2253, n. 3.
112 Cf. St. Thomas, Suppl. q. 24, a. 2.
113 Code of Canon Law, c. 2249, § 2. Cf. above, n. 428.
114 Cf. c. 8, X 1, 36; Council of Trent, sess. 24, c. 12, de reform.
496. You ask: What is intended by the clause customarily added in faculties granted: "those things which must be imposed by law having been imposed"? This clause requires nothing other than that the one to be absolved: a) recede from contumacy; b) furnish, or at least seriously promise, the satisfaction due to the injured party; c) repair public scandal, if any was present; d) have recourse by letter to the superior, if at any time the faculty of absolving is given with that burden.
It is indeed not certain that an absolution is valid which has been given without all the clauses inserted into the indult of absolving having been observed; nevertheless, a solidly probable opinion affirms that the absolution is valid, provided that a certainly essential clause has not been neglected.115
115 Cf. St. Alphonsus, loc. cit., n. 121.