"Absolvo te...": the Institution of the Grace of Penance as a Sacrament

+

Low Sunday ("Dominica in albis")

On the same day of Our Lord's Resurrection, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them...: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained (Jn. 20.19,22-23). Of Old, the priest of the Lord could only pray for the pardon of the sins of the people (cf. Num. 14.20; 15.25,28). Now, the priest* of the Lord is given the power to retain or forgive the sins of the penitent in the Name of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and by the application of His Most Precious Blood!**
---
* That the Apostles were made priests: We have an altar (St. Paul to the Hebrews, 13.10) on which they offer the Living Bread (Jn. 6.51) - the unbloody Sacrifice of the Lord and Savior as priest according to the Order of Melchisedech (Heb. 6.20).

** For all things... are cleansed with Blood: and without shedding of Blood [now, on the traditional Christian high altar, in a mystical manner] there is no remission (Heb. 9.22).
---

See also: On the Sacrament of Penance - "Absolvo te... (II)" by Ignis Dei