24. How do I Know a Priest can Absolve My Sins?

Index 

How do you know that the priest has the power of absolving from the sins committed after Baptism?

I know that the priest has the power of absolving from the sins committed after Baptism, because Jesus Christ granted that power to the priests of His Church when He said: 
"Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; whose sins you shall retain, they are retained."

Did Christ give this power only for the Apostles?

This power is handed down to the successors of the Apostles, the bishops and the priests of Christ's Church, since it was for the good of the Church to the end of time.

Prayer to God's Mother

Advanced Catechism of Catholic Faith, 1922 (Page 47).