Da Techguy's (no longer backup) Blog

With today’s air disaster this is an appropriate time to explain something called conditional absolution:

There are several ways to be absolved of sin. Baptism removes ALL previous sin but is done only once. The Sacrament of Confession removes sin. Outside of confession perfect contrition can also remove sin (perfect contrition: sorrow for sin due to love of God, Imperfect contrition is due to fear of hell) Absolution is given near the time of death, however when a plane is crashing its kinda hard for people to line up in front of a priest to get confession or absolution one at a time.

The priest can give conditional absolution to everyone on the plane on his own, it would apply to any person on the plane who would have if conscious of mortal sin sought absolution.

I wouldn’t suggest betting my soul on that situation.

Update 11/18/23: Noticed this post was getting some traffic lately and realized that I left out one thing. The sacrament of the sick (formally called the last rites) also give full absolution of sins which is why Priests can do it and not deacons.

Always available yourself of this sacrament during times of illness.