Pre-emptive Penance

From Srafopedia

Pre-emptive Penance is the act of doing penance for a sin before it has been committed, so that it can then be forgiven by "Pre-emptive Absolution". This is done by building up a source of holiness "credit". This is attained through scourging and flagellation. This theory is, as far as we know, only practised by the Consistorial Court, and it is his extensive 'store of credit' that allows Father Gomez to kill Lyra, in which he does not succeed, as he had worked up enough credit to make the murder no murder, as it could be done in a state of Grace.