Legal Definitions - letters of absolution

Definition: Letters of absolution were issued by an abbot in the past to release a member of their religious order from their vows of obedience. This allowed the member to enter another religious order.

Example: In medieval times, a monk who wanted to leave his monastery and join another order needed letters of absolution from his abbot. These letters were proof that he was no longer bound by his vows and could join a new order without any issues.

Explanation: The example illustrates how letters of absolution were used in the past to allow members of religious orders to switch to another order. The letters were important because breaking vows of obedience was considered a serious offense, and without the letters, the monk would be seen as a deserter and could face punishment.