From a reader:
Forgive the scrupulosity of the question: At my most recent confession, the priest, who I confess to with some regularity on and off, absolved as follows – while making the sign of the cross: I absolve you from your sins in the Name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
While that seems substantially correct, are the words "and the" necessary for validity? i.e. the Father AND THE Son AND THE Holy Spirit? Was it a valid absolution? I presumed, with some doubt, that it was valid at that time.
If it was not valid, do any serious sins confessed therein have to be re-confessed in a subsequent confession?
I believe that absolution was valid.
This is another example of why priests should SAY THE BLACK and DO THE RED.
People should never have to doubt that they were validly absolved, even for a moment.
If you confess regularly to a priest who regularly does something a little dodgy with the form of absolution, I would politely bring it up, and that it has been a point of concern for you. I think people are within their rights to have the form of absolution spoken as it is in the book.
