Indulgences

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Several days ago, I asked for on this web site and received assistance regarding books on indulgences.

I have since read two that are worth your time and effort.
A Modern Guide to Indulgences by Dr Peter Edwards 2008. Dr. Peters is a Canon lawyer; the book has a Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur with the Forward written by Abp Dolan.
AND
Manual of Indulgences from the Magisterium and first printed by the USCCB in 2006.

In short, the “REQUIREMENTS for OBTAINING INDULGENCES” are as follows:
PARTIAL INDULGENCE
  1. Be Baptized
  2. Be in the State of Grace
  3. Have the intention to obtain the indulgence
  4. Perform the works or offer prayers correctly
    PLENARY INDULGENCE
  5. Meet all the requirements for a partial indulgence
  6. Not be excommunicated
  7. Have no affection for sin, not even venial sin
  8. Receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion, and offer prayers for the Pope’s intention within the prescribed period of time.
From your “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”
" 1471 The doctrine and practice of indulgences in the Church are closely linked to the effects of the sacrament of Penance.
What is an indulgence?
An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven,
which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.
An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin.
The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the dead. "
AND
"1478 An indulgence is obtained through the Church who, by virtue of the power of binding and loosing granted her by Christ Jesus, intervenes in favor of individual Christians and opens for them the treasury of the merits of Christ and the saints to obtain from the Father of mercies the remission of the temporal punishments due for their sins.
Thus the Church does not want simply to come to the aid of these Christians, but also to spur them to works of devotion, penance, and charity. "

Info on Purgatory is also contained in your “CCC 2nd Ed” - 1030-32 and1472.

St Thomas Aquinas says that the least pain in Purgatory is worse that the worst pain here on earth.

Since we don’t know how much time we have on earth - it’s time to get started.

Partial Indulgences can be received in many ways that can take place in your daily life.
Check out the books. 👍
 
I have only recently started to study Indulgences, so please bear my clumsiness and possible errors. I don’t understand why someone would seek an indulgence, if they are truly repentant, shouldn’t they fully embrace whatever penance is required of them?

To me, it sounds like someone saying, “Your honor, I was arrested for multiple DUI incidences. I am so sorry and intend to right my wrong. Please accept my apology. But could you halve my time in jail? Or give me only 20 days of community service instead of 40?”

As Christians, shouldn’t we fully accept whatever our “sentence” (or the consequences of our actions) is instead of trying to get out of it?

Please correct me if I’m wrong on this, I truly do want to understand, I am just confused as how motivations for receiving a penance could be pure.

Thanks!

K
 
Katiethemule said:
I have only recently started to study Indulgences, so please bear my clumsiness and possible errors. I don’t understand why someone would seek an indulgence, if they are truly repentant, shouldn’t they fully embrace whatever penance is required of them?

To me, it sounds like someone saying, “Your honor, I was arrested for multiple DUI incidences. I am so sorry and intend to right my wrong. Please accept my apology. But could you halve my time in jail? Or give me only 20 days of community service instead of 40?”

As Christians, shouldn’t we fully accept whatever our “sentence” (or the consequences of our actions) is instead of trying to get out of it?

Please correct me if I’m wrong on this, I truly do want to understand, I am just confused as how motivations for receiving a penance could be pure.

Thanks!

K
Click to expand...
First, it not a selfish act. We may even use these for the faithfully departed.

Yes, as Christians we fully accept whatever consequences of our sinful actions. Our love of God leads us to true conversion or “metanoia”. The actions required for indulgence are generally in four classes:
  1. Pious invocation (at least mentally) to God,
  2. Compassionate service or donation to others in need,
  3. Voluntarily abstaining from what is licit and pleasing,
  4. Public witness of ones faith.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
  1. The forgiveness of sin and restoration of communion with God entail the remission of the eternal punishment of sin, but temporal punishment of sin remains. While patiently bearing sufferings and trials of all kinds and, when the day comes, serenely facing death, the Christian must strive to accept this temporal punishment of sin as a grace. He should strive by works of mercy and charity, as well as by prayer and the various practices of penance, to put off completely the “old man” and to put on the “new man” (Eph. 4:22, 24).
  2. An indulgence is obtained through the Church who, by virtue of the power of binding and losing granted her by Christ Jesus, intervenes in favor of individual Christians and opens for them the treasury of the metis of Christ and the saints to obtain from the Father of mercies the remission of the temporal punishments due for their sins. Thus the Church does not want simply to come to the aid of these Christians, but also to spur them to works of devotion, penance, and charity (*Indulgentarium Doctrina *5).
 
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