I’m trying to get a handle on indulgences.
Here is an article on Indulgences:
INDULGENCES
The Scriptures |
The ChurchFathers
The doctrine of indulgences is probably the least understood teaching of the Catholic Church, an so unfortunately littleuse is made of such great treasure and graces we would have otherwise obtained for ourselves and others.
What then is an indulgence?
An indulgence is simply a remission through the infinite merits of JesusChrist and His Saints of the temporal punishment due for sins committed after guilt and eternal punishment have been remitted.
Sacred Scripture gives us an example of what is meant by "temporal punishment."Mary, the sister of Moses, was forgiven by God for complaining againsther brother. Nevertheless, despite such forgiveness, God imposed upon her the temporal punishment of leprosy and seven days exile from her people(Num. 12). A thief may be sorry for stealing a large sum of money froma gentleman, but he is still required to return the money taken and evendo time in prison.
That Our Lord has given the Church the power of granting indulgences is implied in Scripture: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (St. Matt. 16, 19). We notice that no limit is placed upon this power of loosing, "the power of the keys"as it is called .
St. Paul provides a clear example of the Church using this power with respect to the incestuous Corinthian upon whom he had imposed a severe penance. After learning of the Corinthian’s fervent sorrow St. Paul absolved him of the penance which he had imposed saying: “For, what I have pardoned,if I have pardoned anything, for your sakes have I done it in the person of Christ” (2 Cor. 2, 10 [Douai]).
In this example we have the elements of a true indulgence: (i) a penance (temporal punishment) imposed on the Corinthian by St. Paul; (ii) sorrowon the part of the sinner for his crime; (iii) the relaxation of the penanceby St. Paul (the indulgence); (iv) the relaxation done in the “person ofChrist.”
Further, Catholics believe that many of the faithful throughout the centuries - virgins, martyrs, confessors, saints etc. - have performed penances and good works far in excess of what was due as temporal punishment for their own sins. Their merits, in union with the infinite merits ofJesus Christ, form a “spiritual treasury” which the Church can draw uponto assist other members of the Church in general or, in particular, pay the debt of temporal punishment both for the living and the dead:
“I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church” (Col. 1, 24); “For just as the body is oneand has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, areone body, so it is with Christ;…If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it” (1 Cor.12, 12-26).
Therefore, by virtue of the Communion of Saints the faithful can assist each other with their prayers, masses, alms givings to remit temporal punishment due to sin, most particularly, to offer mass for the deceased to remit temporal punishment due in purgatory.
It must be understood the merits of Christ and the saints form the source of indulgences. This treasury is left to the Keeping of the Church. Consequently, to make it available for the faithful, there is required an exercise of authority, which alone can determine in what way, on what terms, and to what extent, indulgences may be granted.
An indulgence may be plenary or partial according as to whether it removes either all or part of the temporal punishment due to sin. The requirements for gaining a plenary indulgence are (1) performance of the indulgence work - for example, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for at least one half an hour, devout reading of the Sacred Scriptures for at least one half an hour, or praying the Marian Rosary in a church, public oratory or family group, etc.; (2) sacramental confession; (3) eucharistic communion,and (4) prayer for the Pope’s intentions. The last three conditions maybe fulfilled several days before or after the performance of the prescribed work. However, it is fitting that communion be received and the prayer for the Pope’s intentions be said on the same day the work is performed. If any of these conditions are not fulfilled the indulgence gained will only be partial.
A partial indulgence is gained by any of the faithful who either, in the performance of their duties and bearing the trials of life, raise their mind with humble confidence to God, adding some pious invocation; or in a spirit of faith and mercy, give of themselves or of their goods to servetheir brothers in need; or in a spirit of penance, voluntarily deprive themselves of what is licit and pleasing to them. Works which can be performed for partial indulgences include reciting any of the following prayers: Profession of Faith, De Profundis, Magnificat, Sub Tuum Praesidium, Memorare,Salve Regina, Grace before and after meals, Adoro Te Devote, Angelus, AnimaChristi, Te Deum, Litanies, the Sign of the Cross, etc.
Indulgences are a great aid to true devotion, fostering a spirit of prayer and sacrifice in the name of Christ, not just for one’s own benefit,but for the benefit of all the faithful.
Carlan