Question of the Day

I'm thinking about atonement and absolution and redemption, and the question is:  can there be redemption without atonement?  I believe you may acquire absolution without atonement, absolution may be freely given.  But redemption is more a question of redeeming oneself, not absolving someone else.  Being Catholic, I can't help but think that absolution might require some semblance of regret or resolution to mend one's ways.  But redemption is different.  Redemption requires action, requires effort rather than intent or merely being sorry, sorry, I'll try to do better.  I'm still thinking about it.