The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE. 409inculcated in those old and genuine editions of theBook of Common Prayer, which have not been enervated by being subjected to the prun ing-knife inthis country; and that the same practice is encouraged by an influential portion of the ProtestantEpiscopal church in England, and I will add, also,in the United States.borne, again, object to priestly absolution on theassumption that the exercise of such a functionwould be a usurpation of an incommunicable prerogative of God, who alone can forgive sins. Thiswas precisely the language addressed by the Scribesto our Saviour. They exclaimed "He : blasphemeth! who can forgive sins but God only?" Myanswer, therefore, will be equally applicable toold and modern objectors.It is not blasphemyfor a priest to claim the power of forgiving sins,since he acts as the delegate of the Most High.It would, indeed, be blasphemous, if a priest pretended to absolve in his own name and by virtueof his own authority. But when the priest absolvesthe penitent sinner, he acts in the name, and bythe express authority, of Jesus Christ; for he says:I absolve thee in the name of the Father, and ofthe Son, and of the Ghost."Holy Let it be understood, once for all, that the priest arrogates to himself no divine powers. He is but a feeble voice.It is the Holy Spirit that operates sanctityin thesoul of the penitent.1Mark ii. 7.35