Pr. Weedon: On Absolutions
Pr. Weedon posted a great summary of "alternative" absolutions. I'm not a huge fan of creating your own absolution or varying them week to week. Continuity is essential for the absoled to hear and trust in the words. When we hear foreign words, we hear a foreign absolution. These are interesting for those who like to see a progression of practice and perhaps even the influence of theological focus on the practical. Go to his post for the full summary:Weedon's Blog: On Absolutions Here is one of the better. Compare and contrast to your own!
The Absolution from HH (Herzog Heinrich, 1539 - ancestor of the LCMS liturgies): The almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ would be gracious and merciful to you. He wants to forgive you all your sins, and this because his dear Son Jesus Christ has suffered for them and died for them. In the name of that same Jesus Christ, because he has mandated me to do this, in the power of his words where he said: 'Whosoever sins you forgive, they are forgiven,' I say to you that all your sins are forgiven. They cannot hold you captive. They are altogether forgiven you as abundantly and completely as was won for you by Jesus Christ through his suffering and death, and which he commanded to be proclaimed in all the world through the Gospel, and this is now said to you, to comfort and strengthen you, as I now speak this to you in the name of the Lord Christ, for you to receive it gladly, setting your conscience at peace, as with a faith that cannot be shaken, your sins are surely forgiven you, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Go forth in peace."
