Dispensation for Absence

Description

A dispensation for absence is an approval to be released by some measure from a strict rule, particularly in Catholicism. A dispensation for absence allows clergy to spend time away from their parish for a given reason (e.g. time away to study). These documents are usually short, only a couple of lines at most, and state the date, the person receiving the dispensation, the duration and sometimes the reason. Dispensations still exist in the Catholic Church, and their documentation provides insight into the lives of clergy.