Indulgences Still Valid?

[TheSpiritHeals]

I don’t see anymore little cards in Catholic churches at the side altars. These cards said that saying certain prayers, novenas, etc, would give an indulgence of a certain number of days less in Purgatory. Anyone know if indulgences are still valid? If so, why do the churches do longer have them?

 

[yinekka]

As to why the churches do no longer have these cards I don’t know for sure but I would guess that when the application of indulgences was revised those cards specifying a number of days would be out of date. Now indulgences are either partial or plenary. You can find out what prayers, practises or objects have and indulgence by purchasing The Handbook of Indulgences see link below. Sometimes the pope announces an indulgence e.g. for the Year of St Paul and for that keep your eyes open for announcements on Zenit or the Vatican radio website.

amazon.com/Handbook-Indulgences-Catholic-Book-Publishing/dp/0899425852

$10.42

Hope that helps.

 

[Big_Feet]

Yes, you can still attain induldgences by doing and/or praying certain things. These are specified by the church, as the Apostles (Bishops) were told by Jesus that they were able to “loose” and “bind” here on Earth.

 

[Leon_Bloy]

The old indulgences listed on the cards are no longer valid, but the current indulgences legislation provides for a partial (as opposed to plenary) indulgence simply for prayerfully venerating a blessed object, or praying for the intercession of a saint, venerating a relic, etc. So even though the specific details listed for the old indulgences are not valid, just by praying and venerating the image you are gaining a partial indulgence under the current rules. If you are talking about the prayer before a crucifix, well, the current indulgences book actually carries a plenary indulgence for that one if you say it after communion on any Friday in Lent, so that’s pretty neat.

 

[Evan]

I don’t see anymore little cards in Catholic churches at the side altars. These cards said that saying certain prayers, novenas, etc, would give an indulgence of a certain number of days less in Purgatory. Anyone know if indulgences are still valid? If so, why do the churches do longer have them?

I would guess one reason for removing the number of days is that people thought they had something to do with the days in Purgatory.

The days were how long a pilgrimage you should undertake to gain the same spiritual benefit. It had nothing to do with time in Purgatory as there is no time there.

 

[AmbroseSJ]

I would guess one reason for removing the number of days is that people thought they had something to do with the days in Purgatory.

The days were how long a pilgrimage you should undertake to gain the same spiritual benefit. It had nothing to do with time in Purgatory as there is no time there.

I agree. The number of days indulgence also had to do with being a comparable time spent doing penance, which is itself very vague.

 

[HonoraDominum]

And again, Audio Sancto to the rescue! Here’s a couple of talks that reference indulgences, by the same priest.

• **On Indulgences
• How to Best Gain Grace from The Mercy of God**

Also, here’s something I did not know about indulgences until recently. I was working on completing the Five First Saturdays devotion, and I was on the fourth Saturday. I was not able to confess before mass, but was able to grab the priest and have him jump in the confessional for me. This is how it went down.

Me: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It’s only been two days since my last confession, but I’m trying to complete the Five First Saturdays devotion.”
**Father: **“Well, any confession that you do is good for 8 days before or after for indulgences and devotions.”
**Me: **“Really? Well, that’s good, because I don’t really have anything to confess.”
**Father: **“Well, we’re in here now, I have to have something or I can’t absolve you. Can you remember anything at all? Anything in the past even?”
Me: “[Embarrassed, and blanking fro the pressure] Um … no, Father.”
Father: "Well, have you cussed or used bad language?
Me: “Oh yeah!”
Father: “Okay, then, that will work.”

The moral of that story is, you don’t have to go to confession every day to gain indulgences every day, just within a week or so of the indulgenced act. My priest says 8 days, but I’ve heard priests say up to 20. It never hurts to get the grace out of a confession, though.