Getting Indulgences?

[TristanCross]

My Protestant friend is questioning indulgences…he asks, “How does one get an indulgence?”

 

[johnshark]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indulgence

 

[LilyM]

I think the most important thing to remember is that getting an indulgence is not just about saying whichever prayer or doing whichever action has been indulgenced.

My understanding is that one must first be in a state of grace (free of mortal sin) for partial indulgences, or else must both receive the sacraments of confession and communion AND be free of all ATTACHMENT to mortal or venial sin (as well as praying for the intentions of the Holy Father) in the case of plenary indulgences.

So the emphasis is very much on real repentance, demonstrated by confession or whatever else is necessary to bring you into a state of grace, combined with desire to repair the effects of one’s sins, betokened by the saying of whatever prayer or the doing of whatever action.

 

[Victorious]

You also have to have the intent to receive the indulgences.

 

[TristanCross]

I watched the movie “Luther”. In it, Catholics scared people into buying them (in the reformation time). How true is this?

 

[sancte_joseph]

I watched the movie “Luther”. In it, Catholics scared people into buying them (in the reformation time). How true is this?

I liked that movie.
It was very “dramatic” in some places.
The whole issue with indulgences during the reformation, as i understand, is that people were confused as to what was needed to get an indulgence.

And sometimes people lied about having a certain indulgence certificate and sold the so called indulgence.
And the indulgence for donating for the building of St. Peter’s Basilica isn’t, in my opinion, as bad as people make it sound.

People can “donate” some money for the greater glory of God in building a church. and the Church promised by it’s power to bind and loose, that that persons generosity would be rewarded with an indulgence.

Of course indulgences can only be gained after having confessed and only deal with temporal punishment NOT eternal which is hell.

Basicly if your going to hell. Indulgences will not save you.

 

[TristanCross]

I liked that movie too

Thanks for clearing things up

 

[bpbasilphx]

I watched the movie “Luther”. In it, Catholics scared people into buying them (in the reformation time). How true is this?

Remember that entertainment is NOT history. Liberties are frequently taken: sometimes to make the story more interesting, sometimes for unjust ulterior motives.

Two examples: THE DA VINCI CODE and THE DEPUTY, which have both put disinformation into the common store of what’s called “conventional wisdom” or “what everybody knows.”