What does «absolución (religión)» mean in Spanish?
- Originally, a juridical term (absolutio) that was adopted by the Christian churches to express the forgiveness of sin or of certain consequences of sin, by virtue of the power granted by Christ to the Church. The foundation of this power is found in the Gospel of St. Matthew (18:18) and in the Gospel of St. John (20:21-23). According to the first, Christ authorizes the Church to establish norms or conditions of relationship among men, since what she binds or looses on Earth will be bound or loosed in Heaven. The second goes even further by presenting the risen Christ conferring the Holy Spirit on his apostles. After having enlightened them with this spiritual discernment, he confers on them authority to forgive or retain sin. In St. Luke (24:47) this faculty is justified by the sufferings of the Redeemer. From the end of the second century, the Church made use of such power, especially in the case of persons excommunicated for notorious and very serious sins, such as murder and theft. Such persons were subjected to long and severe penances, but could be absolved by the bishop, who reintegrated them into the bosom of the Church through the imposition of hands and prayer.