Confused about Indulgences

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Please forgive me, I was poorly catechized and I sometimes have trouble wrapping my head around cannon. I need layman’s terms 🙂

I am a bit confused about indulgences. I think I finally understand the difference between plenary and partial indulgences. But now I am trying to figure out how exactly does one earn or get an indulgence? If someone could, I would appreciate either having how to get an indulgence explained or I would appreciate a good link to a list?

Thanks!
 
They used to sell them. 😛

Seriously though, I am in the same boat you are. I read that you can get an indulgence by saying the Rosary:

rosary-center.org/nconobl.htm#ind

Looking forward to an answer from someone with more than knowledge than me. 👍
 
Most prayers, devotions, acts of charity, etc. carry partial indulgences. You can offer them up to someone else (ie a soul in Purgatory) or earn them for yourself. You can ask for them specifically in your Morning Offering.
 
mellowcalico said:
Please forgive me, I was poorly catechized and I sometimes have trouble wrapping my head around cannon. I need layman’s terms 🙂

I am a bit confused about indulgences. I think I finally understand the difference between plenary and partial indulgences. But now I am trying to figure out how exactly does one earn or get an indulgence? If someone could, I would appreciate either having how to get an indulgence explained or I would appreciate a good link to a list?

Thanks!
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By praying and reading scripture with the proper prayers.
 
The book in this list called the Enchiridion of Indulgences has a list of acts and prayers that can gain you indulgences.

Indulgences are the penitential merit of the acts of Christ and the saints, applied to reduce the penance we and the holy souls owe because of our sins.

Every sin you commit owes a debt of just punishment before God. When you gain indulgences, others pay that debt for you.
 
mellowcalico said:
Please forgive me, I was poorly catechized and I sometimes have trouble wrapping my head around cannon. I need layman’s terms 🙂

I am a bit confused about indulgences. I think I finally understand the difference between plenary and partial indulgences. But now I am trying to figure out how exactly does one earn or get an indulgence? If someone could, I would appreciate either having how to get an indulgence explained or I would appreciate a good link to a list?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Cracking open my ¨Manual of Indulgences¨ book here…which is the more up to date book published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

You can gain an Plenary indulgence by:
  1. Going to confession
  2. Receiving Communion
  3. Saying a prayer on behalf of the Pope ( an Our Father and Haily Mary for the Pope will do)
  4. Have no attachment to sin (even venial sin)
Then do the prescribed work…work here meaning the devotion, blessed object or prayer you are seeking an indulgence for. You must be in a state of grace to receive a plenary indulgence. It is pretty tough to get a plenary indulgence because you have to have absolutely no attachment even to venial sin. So most of the time all we can get are “Partial indulgences”.

A plenary indulgence you can only get once a day but a partial indulgence one can get as many times as one wants and you don’t have to go to confession or receive communion every time you seek to get a partial indulgence as long as you are not in a state of mortal sin.

Here are a few examples of indulgences you can get:

**
Rosary = Plenary indulgence = Steps 1 thru 4 = When the rosary is devoutly recited in a church or in family. ***Partial Indulgence = In other circumstances (like saying the rosary alone) it is partial.

Prayer for the Faithful Departed = Partial Indulgence = “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.”

Eucharistic Adoration = Plenary = Visit the Blessed Sacrament for 30 minutes; ***Partial Indulgence = Visit the Blessed Sacrament 30 minutes

Mental Prayer = Partial indulgence when you “devoutly spend time in mental prayer”

Articles of Devotion (ex. crucifix, rosary, scapular, medal) = Partial = “granted to the faithful who devoutly use such articles of devotion properly blessed by either a priest or deacon.”**

If you have any other questions please don’t hesitate to ask.
 
Thanks you TempleofTheSoul.

Does your answer mean I can go to confession on Saturday, stay for Mass and receive Communion, pray the prayer for the Pope and then recite the rosary by myself in Church after Mass for a plenary indulgence? Or does it have to be with a group? If so, I wonder why more Churches doesn’t have this kind of thing.

Although I would think it still might be hard since you have to have no attachment to a sin. That sounds easier said than done.

In any case, thank you again. Your answer was what I was looking for (AKA layman’s terms and a clear list 🙂 )
 
mellowcalico said:
Thanks you TempleofTheSoul.

Does your answer mean I can go to confession on Saturday, stay for Mass and receive Communion, pray the prayer for the Pope and then recite the rosary by myself in Church after Mass for a plenary indulgence? Or does it have to be with a group? If so, I wonder why more Churches doesn’t have this kind of thing.

Although I would think it still might be hard since you have to have no attachment to a sin. That sounds easier said than done.

In any case, thank you again. Your answer was what I was looking for (AKA layman’s terms and a clear list 🙂 )
Click to expand...
You´re very welcome. 🙂

The plenary indulgence once you have the required 4 steps can be acquired for saying the rosary in the church. It need not be with a group.

God bless
 
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