Indulgences.

[Nelka]

If I go to mass and confession and say prayers for the pope on the same day, what else do I need to do?
Pray the rosary?
Read the new testament?

Also I know there means not having any sins in mind but what does this sentence mean?

*However, note that the condition is not freedom from all venial sin, but from attachment to sin, that is, that there is no sin which the soul is unwilling to renounce. *

What is the difference?

Thanks.

 

[Sirach2]

If you pray the rosary in church, the grant of a plenary is given.
If you read the bible at home for a half hour, that is also a grant.
A half-hour visit to the Blessed Sacrament receives a grant, as does the private recitation of the Stations of the Cross in Church.

What the sentence means is that, to the best of your knowledge, you would not willingly hold a desire to commit certains sins, yet in our humanness, sometimes our frailty will catch us by surprise and we will fall into venial sin. At the time of performing the indulgenced grant, if you have no desire to sin and have firmly committed to avoid known habitual tendencies to fall into sin, there is no obstacle to obtaining the plenary indulgence.

These can be gained for the Poor Souls as well, but it is not known whether or not God will apply a full plenary to them, as He would if we gain it for ourselves alone. I try to offer these frequently for them, trusting in God’s mercy, however He is pleased to apply it.

 

[Ben_F]

I’ve been a Catholic for forty years and still can’t really get the difference between pennance and indulgences. Can anyone help me? God bless:thumbsup:

 

[jackiem]

Penance is something you do after reconciliation almost to show God that you are sorry. This can be a rosary, prayers or something of that nature. An indulgence is something that you do to “knock off” time in purgatory. To do that there are certain requirements, mass, confession and usually a special prayer or something of that nature. To receive the full indulgence, you basically are at a clean slate, meaning if you were to die at that moment, you would go straight to heaven. However, most people are not completely detached from sin so they get a partial indulgence.

Does that make sense?

 

[Ben_F]

Pennance is to show God that I’m sorry after confession. (I hope I showed him before and during confession) I do pennance a lot. I say the Rosary, Exercise, Pray and reflect on what He’s done for my salvation. Can this also be used for an indulgence, both plenary and partial? I read where saying the Rosary, you get a lot of blessings. Including indulgences. Same with prayer and self mortification receiving the Eucarist etc. Do I have to tell God what my actions are for? I usually say "This is for your glory and my pennance for my sins. Have mercy on me Lord a sinner. I have a problem saying the Rosary with people. I did it when my Father in Law and Mother in Law died. They were doing it in Spanish and too fast for me. I can do it in Spanish, but not fast (Even in English). They just say the Rosary. I pray it. I love it when I’m by myself in the morning (real early). Sometimes when I get lucky it’s like being with Jesus when he went up the mountain with Peter, James and John. Thanks anyway. You helped me a lot. God bless:thumbsup:

 

[Sirach2]

Can this also be used for an indulgence, both plenary and partial?

Yes, it can be used for “partial” remittance of punishment in purgatory. To be “plenary”, you need to perform the specific exercise to which the Church has given the grant. In fact, if you pray the rosary in church and have been to confession and communion, and offer an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be for the intentions of the Holy Father, you may obtain a plenary. The church simply asks that you have the intention of obtaining this indulgence. There are many grants for obtaining a plenary, and a good book listing them all is “Manual of Indulgences” published by the USCCB. It is relatively inexpensive at Amazon, et al.

Truly, all of our good works and prayers are written in God’s Book of Life on our behalf, even though we may not have an awareness of obtaining these indulgences. He is merciful and kind, and the scriptures teach that our good works will receive their reward.

 

[Ben_F]

Thanks. I’m going to get that book. There’s no way that we can have the excuse I’d have done that but just didn’t know Lord. Not Catholics anyway. God bless:thumbsup: