General absolution

General absolution: The term for the special dispensation, granted in the war by the Pope, dispensing in special circumstances (e.g., when troops were on the eve of going into action) with the otherwise invariable rule of the Roman Communion that individual Confession must precede Absolution. It was confined to men actually about to go under fire. All others, and the survivors after an attack, had to conform to the regular rule as to Confession.