John 20:23 (WEB)
If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”
Catechism · 6
The Liturgy - Work of the Holy Trinity
“Thus the risen Christ, by giving the Holy Spirit to the apostles, entrusted to them his power of sanctifying:” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Jn 20:21-23.
The Paschal Mystery in the Church's Sacraments
“…to his incarnate Son was committed to the apostles and through them to their successors: they receive the Spirit of Jesus to act in his name and in his person.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Jn 20:21-23; Lk 24:47; Mt 28:18-20.
The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation
“Further, by virtue of his divine authority he gives this power to men to exercise in his name.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Jn 20:21-23.
The Sacrament of Holy Orders
“To fulfil their exalted mission, "the apostles were endowed by Christ with a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit coming upon them, and by the imposition of hands they passed on to their auxiliaries the gift of the Spirit, which is transmitted down to our day through episcopal consecration."” — Catechism footnote: LG 21; Cf. Acts 1:8; 24; Jn 20:22-23; 1 Tim 4:14; 2 Tim 1:6-7.
The Seven Petitions
“We find the efficacious and undoubted sign of his forgiveness in the sacraments of his Church.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mt 26:28; Jn 20:23.
"I Believe in the Forgiveness of Sins"
“If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."” — Catechism footnote: Jn 20:22-23.
Fathers and councils · 44
Jerome
“But you say,the Church was founded upon Peter: althoughelsewhere the same is attributed to all the Apostles, and they all receive the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and the strength of the Church depends upon them…” — editor's note: S. Matt. xviii. 18: S. John xx. 22, 23.
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Catena Aurea on Luke
- Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
“(John 20:23.)” — the author cites it
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Ambrose of Milan
“For inasmuch as the Lord Jesus Himself said in the Gospel: “Receive ye the Holy Spirit: whosesoever sins ye forgive they are forgiven unto them, and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained,” who is it that honours Him most, he who obeys His bidding or he who rejects it?” — editor's note: S. John xx. 22, 23.
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Cyprian of Carthage
“And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith, unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.”” — editor's note: John xx. 21–23. [See notes of Oxf. edition on this letter.]
Read the whole comment“And again, in the Gospel, when Christ breathed on the apostles alone, saying, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose soever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them, and whose soever sins ye retain they are retained.”” — editor's note: John xx. 22, 23. [The two texts here quoted lie at the base of Cyprian’s own theory; (1) to Peter alone this gift to signify its singleness, (2) then the same…
Read the whole comment“Whose soever sins ye remit, they shall be remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they shall be retained.”” — editor's note: John xx. 21–23.
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Augustine of Hippo
“…inserted in this discourse, these are sayings which he has recalled for notice in other connections, and on occasions different from the present: just as John introduces the Lord’s words on the subject of the forgiveness of sins,—namely, those to the effect that they should be remitted to him to whom the apostles…” — editor's note: John xx. 23.
Read the whole comment“And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.”” — editor's note: John xx. 20–23.
Read the whole comment“And when He had risen from the dead, and had appeared to His disciples, “He breathed upon them, and said, Receive the Holy Ghost,” so as to show that He proceeded also from Himself.” — editor's note: John xx. 23
Read the whole comment“…Holy Ghost,” He immediately subjoined, “Whosesoever sins ye remit, they shall be remitted unto them, and whosesoever sins ye retain, they shall be retained.”” — editor's note: John xx. 22, 23.
Read the whole comment“…ye the Holy Ghost;” and when He had said, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost,” He subjoined immediately, “Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them;” that is, the Spirit remits them, not ye.” — editor's note: John xx. 23.
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John Chrysostom
“For when He says, “Whose soever sins ye retain they are retained, whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted” ( John xx. 23 ) when they have the keys of heaven, how can all be other than heavenly?” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“Ver.” — the author cites it
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Basil the Great
“…man who has committed the former sins is made good, through penitence, he to whom is committed by the loving-kindness of God the power of loosing and binding will not be deserving of condemnation, if he become less severe, as he beholds the exceeding greatness of the penitence of the sinner, so as to lessen the…” — editor's note: Here we see “binding and loosing” passing from the Scriptural sense of declaring what acts are forbidden and committed (Matt. xvi. 19 and xxiii. 4. See note of…
Read the whole comment““Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever ye retain, they are retained.”” — editor's note: John xx. 22, 23.
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Leo the Great
“…breathed on them and said: “Receive the Holy Ghost: whose sins ye have remitted they are remitted to them: and whose ye have retained, they shall be retained.”” — editor's note: S. John xx. 22, 23.
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Tertullian
“…this difference, we have not only already premised certain antithetical passages of the Scriptures, on one hand retaining, on the other remitting, sins; but John, too, will teach us: “If any knoweth his brother to be sinning a sin not unto death, he shall request, and life shall be given to him;” because he is…” — editor's note: Comp. John xx. 23.
Read the whole comment“…he must grant pardon to a brother sinning against him even “seventy times sevenfold,” of course He would have commanded him to “bind”—that is, to “retain”—nothing subsequently, unless perchance such (sins) as one may have committed against the Lord, not against a brother.” — editor's note: Comp. John xx. 23.
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Catena Aurea on John
- John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
The disciples, when they heard what Mary told them, were obliged either to disbelieve, or, if they believed, to grieve that He did not count them worthy to have the sight of Him. He did not let them however pass a…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on John
Wherein is shewn the infirmity of the Apostles. They assembled with doors shut, through that same fear of the Jews, which had before scattered them: Came Jesus, and stood in the midst. He came in the evening, because…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
Or because He waited till all were assembled: and with shut doors, that he might shew how that in the very same way he had risen again, i. e. with the stone lying on the scpulchre.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Some are strongly indisposed to believe this miracle, and argue thus: If the same body rose again, which hung upon the Cross, how could that body enter through shut doors? But if thou comprehendest the mode, it is no…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
The shut door did not hinder the body, wherein Divinity resided. He could enter without open doors, who was born without a violation of His mother’s virginity.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
It is wonderful that they did not think him a phantom. But Mary had provided against this, by the faith she had wrought in them. And He Himself too shewed Himself so openly, and strengthened their wavering minds by…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on John
And because their faith wavered even with the material body before them, He shewed them His hands and side: And when He had said this, He shewed them His hands and His side.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
The nails had pierced His hands, the lance had pierced His side. For the healing of doubting hearts, the marks of the wounds were still preserved.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
And what He had promised before the crucifixion, I shall see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, is now fulfilled: Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
The glory, wherewith the righteous shall shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father, i. e. in Christ’s body, we must believe to have been rather veiled than not to have been there at all. He accommodated His…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
All these things brought them to a most confident faith. As they were in endless war with the Jews, He says again, Then said Jesus unto them again, Peace be unto you.
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on John
A repetition is a confirmation: whether He repeats it because the grace of love is twofold, or because He it is who made of twain one.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
At the same time He shews the efficacy of the cross, by which He undoes all evil things, and gives all good things; which is peace. To the women above there was announced joy; for that sex was in sorrow, and had…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on John
The Father sent the Son, appointed Him to the work of redemption. He says therefore, As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you; i. e. I love you, now that I send you to persecution, with the same love wherewith…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
We have learnt that the Son is equal to the Father: here He shews Himself Mediator; He Me, and I you.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Having then given them confidence by His own miracles, and appealing to Him who sent Him, He uses a prayer to the Father, but of His own authority gives them power: And when He had said thus, He breathed on them, and…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
That corporeal breath was not the substance of the Holy Ghost, but to shew, by meet symbol, that the Holy Ghost proceeded not only from the Father, but the Son. For who would be so mad as to say, that it was one…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on John
But why is He first given to the disciples on earth, and afterwards sent from heaven? Because there are two commandments of love, to love God, and to love our neighbour. The spirit to love our neighbour is given on…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Some say that by breathing He did not give them the Spirit, but made them meet to receive the Spirit. For if Daniel’s senses were so overpowered by the sight of the Angel, how would they have been overwhelmed in…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
The love of the Church, which is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, remits the sins of those who partake of it; but retains the sins of those who do not. Where then He has said, Receive ye the Holy Ghost,…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on John
We must understand that those who first received the Holy Ghost, for innocence of life in themselves, and preaching to a few others, received it openly after the resurrection, that they might profit not a few only,…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
A priest though he may have ordered well his own life, yet, if he have not exercised proper vigilance over others, is sent to hell with the evil doers. Wherefore, knowing the greatness of their danger, pay them all…
Read the whole comment - Alcuin of YorkCatena Aurea on John
Didymus, double or doubtful, because he doubted in believing: Thomas, depth, because with most sure faith he penetrated into the depth of our Lord’s divinity.
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on John
It was not an accident that that particular disciple was not present. The Divine mercy ordained that a doubting disciple should, by feeling in his Master the wounds of the flesh, heal in us the wounds of unbelief.…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on John
But why does this Evangelist say that Thomas was absent, when Luke writes that two disciples on their return from Emmaus found the eleven assembled? We must understand that Thomas had gone out, and that in the…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
As to believe directly, (ἁπλῶς) and any how, is the mark of too easy a mind, so is too much enquiring of a gross one: and this is Thomas’s fault. For when the Apostle said, We have seen the Lord, he did not believe,…
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Cross-references · 25
Cited together in Catechism §1556.
Cited together in Catechism §1556.
Cited together in Catechism §1556.
Cited together in Catechism §1556.
Cited together in Letters Letter 217.
Cited together in Letters Letter 217.
Cited together in Letters Letter 217.
Cited together in Letters Letter 217.
Cited together in Catechism §1120.
Cited together in Catechism §1120.
Cited together in Catechism §1120.
Cited together in Catechism §1441.
Cited together in Catechism §1441.
Cited together in Catechism §1441.
Cited together in Ambrose of Milan on Luke 5:17–26 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Ambrose of Milan on Luke 5:17–26 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Ambrose of Milan on Luke 5:17–26 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Ambrose of Milan on Luke 5:17–26 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Ambrose of Milan on Luke 5:17–26 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Ambrose of Milan on Luke 5:17–26 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Ambrose of Milan on Luke 5:17–26 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Ambrose of Milan on Luke 5:17–26 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Ambrose of Milan on Luke 5:17–26 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Catechism §1441.
Cited together in Catechism §1120.