One Priest alone can pardon me,
Or bid me, “Go in peace,”
Can breathe that word, “Absolvo te,”
And make these heartthrobs cease;
My soul has heard His priestly voice;
It said, “I bore thy sins; rejoice!”

He showed the spear-mark in His side,
The nail-print on His palm;
Said, “Look on Me, the Crucified;
Why tremble thus? Be calm!
All power is Mine—I set thee free—
Be not afraid—Absolvo te.”

By Him my soul is purified,
Once leprous and defiled;
Cleansed by the water and the blood,
God sees me as a child:
No priest can heal or cleanse but He;
No other say, “Absolvo te.”

He robed me in a priestly dress,
That I might incense bring
Of prayer, and praise, and righteousness,
To heaven’s eternal King;
And when He gave this robe to me,
He smiled and said, “Absolvo te.”

In heaven He stands before the throne,
The great High Priest above,
“Melchisedec”—that One alone
Can sin’s dark stain remove;
To Him I look on bended knee,
And hear that sweet “Absolvo te.”

“A little while” and He shall come
Forth from the inner shrine,
To call His pardoned brethren home;
Oh bliss supreme, divine!
When every blood-bought child shall see
The Priest who said, “Absolvo te.”