Can a Protestant gain any indulgences for those in Purgatory?

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SarahKate

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I’m in RCIA and while I am not technically Catholic yet I no longer can consider myself Protestant, yet I’m sure the label still applies.

After All Soul’s Day I was struck by a desire to pray for the dead in Purgatory, especially those who may be forgotten. I know that I cannot receive communion or reconciliation to meet these parts of the plenary Indulgence because I’m not confirmed.
Would even a fraction of an indulgence be applied to someone else as a result of my prayers?
 
Prayers are never wasted. Whether that technically counts as an indulgence or not is not something I would worry about. Even practicing Catholics can never be certain if they meet the plenary requirements as it requires no attachment to any sin even venial ones which is very difficult.
 
This may be the most ironic question I have seen on this site.
 
I think you can–it would be a “partial” indulgence. In any event, you can always offer your own prayers and merits for the dead. An indulgence is simply the Church additionally applying the collective, superabundant, merits of our whole communion, which all the baptized in the state of grace share in, since we are all one Body bearing each other’s burdens.

It also bears noting that indulgences for the dead are bit different. The Church’s bishops have no jurisdiction over the dead, so they can’t really grant indulgences for them. As such, the Church says indulgences are applied “to the dead by way of suffrage"–meaning we petition God Himself to accept them for the benefit of the suffering soul. While He has made no promise that He will, since God can do more than a bishop, I might even dare to say the canonical requirements might be more easily waived by Him for such an act of charity. 😇
 
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It was just funny considering the origin of the Reformation and what we believe. I apologize. Didn’t mean to highjack your thread.
 
I thought indulgences always require receiving both communion and confession recently. Maybe that’s only plenary indulgences however.
 
Praying for the dead is never wasted. The Jews did it (2 Maccabees) and they were not even Christian. Also, if you read up about the Divine Mercy, I think that Jesus will apply your prayers appropriately. Jesus does not reward us as we deserve (thank God) but with super-abundant grace.

Patrick
AMDG
 
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