Applying Indulgences

[Vico]

Applying Indulgences.

Hi everyone, and Happy 4th for those of you who live in the US.

I think everyone can agree, that indulgences are a wonderful gift from our Lord and from the Church. As you may know, we have the option of applying these indulgences differently. We can split them, apply them to our own “debt” for lack of a better term, other people who have recently passed, those who we feel might benefit from spiritual help, and more.

We also have the wonderful choice of giving our indulgences to our true Mother Mary, who can apply them as she sees fit. It is said that when we do this, she will repay us, many time over through her Son.

My question for discussion, is it ok to take these indulgences for ourselves from time to time, or is it better and more efficacious to always offer them up to Our Lady, who will always care for us? Is this a faith issue?

I hope this thread can help others with the same question.

Not applicable for the living other than oneself. Some of the indulgences are only for Souls in Purgatory.

CIC (Latin canon law)

Can. 992 An indulgence is the remission before God of temporal punishment for sins whose guilt is already forgiven, which a properly disposed member of the Christian faithful gains under certain and defined conditions by the assistance of the Church which as minister of redemption dispenses and applies authoritatively the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.

Can. 993 An indulgence is partial or plenary insofar as it partially or totally frees from the temporal punishment due to sins.

Can. 994 Any member of the faithful can gain partial or plenary indulgences for oneself or apply them to the dead by way of suffrage.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Not trying to hijack the thread but I have a couple of questions. If I need to start a new thread for this let me know and I will.

1. How/when does one state intentions for an indulgence?

I just tell God before I start. “Lord, I am trying to get the plenary indulgence today for (doing the particular work) and I would like it to please go to my Grandpa X. If he doesn’t need it please just give it to another grandpa in need of prayers” or similar.

If I want to just generally give Jesus or Mary all my indulgences for the day, or all my partials, I just say, “Lord (or Blessed Mother), I would like to get as many partial indulgences as I can today, so if I am able to get any, I give them to you to distribute as you see fit” in the morning. Then I am covered for the day, especially if I plan to be saying a lot of prayers.

1. What is exactly meant by “praying for the intentions of the Holy Pontiff”? I know the pope has a list of monthly intentions. Do I pray for the particular month we are in or is it something else?

Often if you are doing Rosary or stations with a group then the group leader or priest will announce the prayer “For the intentions of the Holy Father” and all will pray together out loud. That’s all you would need to do is just state “I pray now for the intentions of the Holy Father” and say the prayers (Our Father, Hail Mary, etc.). You don’t need to look up the particular intentions, although sometimes if a priest happens to have looked them up he will announce what they are (e.g. “for the Holy Father’s intentions, which this month involve the missions in Africa”). You should say this prayer out loud as the Enchiridion directs you to “recite” the prayer. I whisper it if I’m in a quiet place.

I also found this blog post a while back that helped me understand better the Holy Father’s Intentions. onepeterfive.com/pray-pray-intentions-holy-father/

 

[friardchips]

I very much appreciate your remarks. The devotion you speak of that Mary comes to us at death I believe is the First Saturday devotion. Offering Communion the first Saturday of five months for reparations for blasphemies committed against the Sacred Heart of Mary. I am in my second month of that.

I offer most partial prayer indulgences to Our Lady or to the holy souls in purgatory. I mix it up just to keep things fresh you might say!

I am a convert. I led such a wicked tomcat life when I was younger, that now I feel driven to do as much as I can for our Lady and for our Lord and his creatures. To be forgiven for our sins, to have the stain of debt removed by a plenary indulgence, to have a measure of peace, and stability in my life are blessings and graces far beyond what I deserve. It just does not seem like enough from me though. I feel I have to strive for holiness as much as possible, all the while making sure that I keep grounded in humility. As far as I have come, I still have a long way to go.

I hope these devotions will also help me rid myself of the self loathing that I feel as a result of a life badly lived. I’m sure it will. It isn’t all bad… as a matter of fact, I am ten times happier than I was just four years ago.

I hope you enjoy the fireworks!

sistersofcarmel.com/faqs-the-brown-scapular/#scapular-indulgence

*'23. What is the Sabbatine Privilege?

It is the promise piously to be believed, that the Blessed Virgin Mary gave to Pope John XXII in a vision, that She will deliver Her faithful children who have worn the Scapular devoutly from purgatory soon after their death, notably the first Saturday after death. “As a tender Mother, I will descend into purgatory on the Saturday after their death, and will deliver them into the heavenly mansions of life everlasting.” (Words of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Pope John XXII). This Sabbatine Privilege was promulgated and taught through the famous Bull Sacratissimo Uti Culmine (Sabbatine Bull) of Pope John XXII in 1322 and given definitive ratification in 1908 by the Holy See.’*

• of the Brown Scapular.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I have read on other threads that Sisters of Carmel is a schismatic group and that the Sabbatine privilege is not promulgated by the official Carmelite orders.

The one I was thinking of was 7 Sorrows, which I am planning to take up (haven’t started yet). Mary said that those who practice that devotion receive certain graces, including

“I will visibly help them at the moment of their death, they will see the face of their Mother.”

and

“I have obtained from my divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to my tears and dolors, will be taken directly from this earthly life to eternal happiness since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son and I will be their eternal consolation and joy.”

themostholyrosary.com/appendix1.htm

 

[friardchips]

I have read on other threads that Sisters of Carmel is a schismatic group

Ah. I just grabbed the link off the net in order to post about the Scapular. If it is as you say then ignore my Sisters of Carmel link.

…and that the Sabbatine privilege is not promulgated by the official Carmelite orders.

However:

newadvent.org/cathen/13289b.htm

‘With this explanation and interpretation, the Sabbatine privilege no longer presents any difficulties, and Benedict XIV adds his desire that the faithful should rely on it (Opera omnia, IX, Venice, 1767, pp. 197 sqq.). Even apart from the Bull and the tradition or legend concerning the apparition and promise of the Mother of God the interpretation of the Decree cannot be contested.’

And: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabbatine_Privilege

…suggests that it could be understood in regards to St. Simon Stock.

But the end of this link suggests that the Sabbatine Privilege is not understood as it was understood and that any special favour is now understood in a new way, that being final perseverance. It is also said though, that we are free to believe it, if we wish.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I’m sure a Sabbatine Privilege type scenario could happen. Or God with Mary’s help could just take the person to heaven directly, especially since God doesn’t calculate time like we do. I’d wear the Scapular anyway and just rely on Mary to help me get to heaven as fast as possible.

 

[MW1T68]

I would like to thank those of you who replied to my questions. Your answers were very helpful in my understanding of indulgences.

 

[esieffe]

Thanks everyone!