Indulgences

[asd72]

Just a couple of questions about indulgences…

Can someone please clarify for me the difference between “offering it up” by starting our day with a morning offering and gaining indulgences.

To gain an indulgence we have to be free of all attachment to sin. I don’t know if I ever am? I am constantly battling venial sin and have even struggled with mortal sin since converting. How do others understand this?

Do many people here try to gain indulgences daily?

 

[Joe_5859]

Just a couple of questions about indulgences…

Can someone please clarify for me the difference between “offering it up” by starting our day with a morning offering and gaining indulgences.

To gain an indulgence we have to be free of all attachment to sin. I don’t know if I ever am? I am constantly battling venial sin and have even struggled with mortal sin since converting. How do others understand this?

Do many people here try to gain indulgences daily?

To gain a plenary indulgence you have to be free from all attachment to sin. If you still have some attachment to sin, you’ll still get the indulgence. It will just be a partial one instead.

The way I look at it, indulgences are more or less the Church’s way of codifying the efficacious ways in which we can “offer it up” to guaranteed results.

All sin carries with it both eternal consequences and temporal (i.e. non-eternal) consequences. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God forgives the eternal consequences. That’s the hard part. But the temporal consequences still remain. Indulgences go towards paying off these temporal consequences.

 

[Richca]

Just a couple of questions about indulgences…

Can someone please clarify for me the difference between “offering it up” by starting our day with a morning offering and gaining indulgences.

asd72: I’m not to sure what you mean here. You can offer up an indulgenced act for yourself or the souls in purgatory. From what I understand, the morning offering suffices to gain all the indulgences throughout the day. Once you make the morning offering, you don’t have to explicitly think you want to gain an indulgence everytime you make an indulgenced act. The morning offering I use is: “Oh my God, in union
with the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer to thee the most precious body and blood, soul and divinity, of Jesus Christ, thy only Son our Lord offered in all the masses throughout the world this day, joining with it my every thought, word and action. I desire to gain every indulgence and merit I can, and I offer them together with myself to Mary Immaculate, that she may best apply them and myself to the interests of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.”
You will find that this is a very popular morning offering.

To gain an indulgence we have to be free of all attachment to sin. I don’t know if I ever am? I am constantly battling venial sin and have even struggled with mortal sin since converting. How do others understand this?

The Manual of Indulgences states that we have to be free from all attachment to sin, even venial sin, to gain plenary indulgences. We can gain one plenary indulgence a day but many partial indulgences per day. To be free from all attachment to sin, even venial sin, seems to me to be a grey area. Only God knows when we gain a plenary indulgence. However, they are not impossible otherwise the church wouldn’t prescribe them for us. In my opinion, I think plenary indulgences are given more often than we might think. To be free from all attachment to sin, even venial sin, doesn’t mean we have to be perfect or that we never fall for the just man falls seven times a day. The spiritual life is a struggle and we have to struggle everyday against our evil desires and inclinations. I think attachment to sin means we have given up the struggle, that we don’t want to root out a particular sin or sins, that we just don’t care to root it out.

Do many people here try to gain indulgences daily?

Yes I do. And I try to gain a plenary indulgence everyday if possible. The doctrine of indulgences is a very beautiful doctrine. Many catholics I think don’t realize that. We can do alot of good for the poor souls in purgatory as well as for the whole Mystical Body of Christ in the sense that the more we are cleansed the more good we do for the church.

 

[InternetWoman]

Just a few points of clarification so that we don’t scandalize our Protestant brothers and sisters who visit this site.

1. 
   *]Indulgences do NOT “earn” us into heaven. They are acts that indicate our sorrow for sin and request graces from God so that we may do what we can to make amends.
   *]Indulgences can only be applied to sins we have already confessed and had remitted.
   *]The graces we receive from indulgences come from the infinite mercy and saving action of our Lord Jesus Christ.
   *]Our performing an indulgent action is much like a little bird, who seeing his parent comeing with food squawks and jumps about with it’s mouth open saying “feed me!”, 'feed me!". The act itself does not “cause” grace it “requests” grace.
   *]We can ask Jesus to give the grace not to us but to others. Jesus said “by this shal all men know you are my disciples, by your love one for the other.” So we demonstrate our love for others by asking Jesus for his grace for them.
   
   There are specific actions associated with indulgences. You must have gone to confession “recently”, you must say prayers for the Pope and his intentions, and you must do whatever the specific indulgent action requires.
   
   Ever wonder why the Church uses the word “indulgences”? Because in the early days of the Church (first few centuries) the action of those wanting grace where very physical (and usually painful). Such things as wearing a hair shirt, or flogging ones self, or extended fasting. Then the Church thought, you know, there are other things of a spiritual nature that are good to do as well, so they began to recommend things like reading the Bible, praying in a group, going to Stations of the Cross, etc. These are called “indulgences” because it was thought indulgent not to have to do physical penances.

 

[asd72]

To gain a plenary indulgence you have to be free from all attachment to sin. If you still have some attachment to sin, you’ll still get the indulgence. It will just be a partial one instead.

The way I look at it, indulgences are more or less the Church’s way of codifying the efficacious ways in which we can “offer it up” to guaranteed results.

All sin carries with it both eternal consequences and temporal (i.e. non-eternal) consequences. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God forgives the eternal consequences. That’s the hard part. But the temporal consequences still remain. Indulgences go towards paying off these temporal consequences.

Out of interest, how would Mary’s Fatima statement ‘many people go to hell because they don’t have anyone to pray or make sacrifices for them’ fit in with that?

 

[Richca]

There are specific actions associated with indulgences. You must have gone to confession “recently”, you must say prayers for the Pope and his intentions, and you must do whatever the specific indulgent action requires

 

[thistle]

Just a couple of questions about indulgences…

Can someone please clarify for me the difference between “offering it up” by starting our day with a morning offering and gaining indulgences.

To gain an indulgence we have to be free of all attachment to sin. I don’t know if I ever am? I am constantly battling venial sin and have even struggled with mortal sin since converting. How do others understand this?

Do many people here try to gain indulgences daily?

I do not try to gain indulgences at all. They are not important. So what if you have to spend longer in Purgatory. I will simply be very happy if I die and find myself in Purgatory because it means I am saved, no matter how long I am there.

 

[InternetWoman]

Out of interest, how would Mary’s Fatima statement ‘many people go to hell because they don’t have anyone to pray or make sacrifices for them’ fit in with that?

Beautiful fit.We should pray and sacrifice for each other, to include those in Purgatory and those in danger of Hell.

 

[InternetWoman]

I do not try to gain indulgences at all. They are not important. So what if you have to spend longer in Purgatory. I will simply be very happy if I die and find myself in Purgatory because it means I am saved, no matter how long I am there.

That’s quite true. But how about all the graces you could request for others?

 

[Ignatius]

Just a few points of clarification so that we don’t scandalize our Protestant brothers and sisters who visit this site.

1. 
   *]Indulgences do NOT “earn” us into heaven. They are acts that indicate our sorrow for sin and request graces from God so that we may do what we can to make amends.
   *]Indulgences can only be applied to sins we have already confessed and had remitted.
   *]The graces we receive from indulgences come from the infinite mercy and saving action of our Lord Jesus Christ.
   *]Our performing an indulgent action is much like a little bird, who seeing his parent comeing with food squawks and jumps about with it’s mouth open saying “feed me!”, 'feed me!". The act itself does not “cause” grace it “requests” grace.
   *]We can ask Jesus to give the grace not to us but to others. Jesus said “by this shal all men know you are my disciples, by your love one for the other.” So we demonstrate our love for others by asking Jesus for his grace for them.
   
   .

1. 
   This bears repeating, I hope those reading this thread will study the above points.

 

[Ion]

Just a couple of questions about indulgences…

Can someone please clarify for me the difference between “offering it up” by starting our day with a morning offering and gaining indulgences.

To gain an indulgence we have to be free of all attachment to sin. I don’t know if I ever am? I am constantly battling venial sin and have even struggled with mortal sin since converting. How do others understand this?

Do many people here try to gain indulgences daily?

I think they are rooted in the same tradition with orthodox. In orthodox church we pay at church or at monasteries for special service and prayers for various reasons/persons, for problems, as a penance for our sins, as a penance for deceased that we loved.

 

[housedude]

I don’t ever remember replying to a Thread, so i hope i am doing this right. I want to learn more about indulgences. Question: If i make a visit to where i was baptized and renew my baptismal promise there will i gain a plenary indulgence. Will i need to go to confession, Mass and pray for the Holy Father? another question: what can i read from the Pope that explains what i need to do. And how can i apply an indulgence for my family? Please help. thanks

Just a few points of clarification so that we don’t scandalize our Protestant brothers and sisters who visit this site.

1. 
   *]Indulgences do NOT “earn” us into heaven. They are acts that indicate our sorrow for sin and request graces from God so that we may do what we can to make amends.
   *]Indulgences can only be applied to sins we have already confessed and had remitted.
   *]The graces we receive from indulgences come from the infinite mercy and saving action of our Lord Jesus Christ.
   *]Our performing an indulgent action is much like a little bird, who seeing his parent comeing with food squawks and jumps about with it’s mouth open saying “feed me!”, 'feed me!". The act itself does not “cause” grace it “requests” grace.
   *]We can ask Jesus to give the grace not to us but to others. Jesus said “by this shal all men know you are my disciples, by your love one for the other.” So we demonstrate our love for others by asking Jesus for his grace for them.
   
   There are specific actions associated with indulgences. You must have gone to confession “recently”, you must say prayers for the Pope and his intentions, and you must do whatever the specific indulgent action requires.
   
   Ever wonder why the Church uses the word “indulgences”? Because in the early days of the Church (first few centuries) the action of those wanting grace where very physical (and usually painful). Such things as wearing a hair shirt, or flogging ones self, or extended fasting. Then the Church thought, you know, there are other things of a spiritual nature that are good to do as well, so they began to recommend things like reading the Bible, praying in a group, going to Stations of the Cross, etc. These are called “indulgences” because it was thought indulgent not to have to do physical penances.

 

[housedude]

Can you please give me a site where i can read more on indulgences.

Just a few points of clarification so that we don’t scandalize our Protestant brothers and sisters who visit this site.

1. 
   *]Indulgences do NOT “earn” us into heaven. They are acts that indicate our sorrow for sin and request graces from God so that we may do what we can to make amends.
   *]Indulgences can only be applied to sins we have already confessed and had remitted.
   *]The graces we receive from indulgences come from the infinite mercy and saving action of our Lord Jesus Christ.
   *]Our performing an indulgent action is much like a little bird, who seeing his parent comeing with food squawks and jumps about with it’s mouth open saying “feed me!”, 'feed me!". The act itself does not “cause” grace it “requests” grace.
   *]We can ask Jesus to give the grace not to us but to others. Jesus said “by this shal all men know you are my disciples, by your love one for the other.” So we demonstrate our love for others by asking Jesus for his grace for them.
   
   There are specific actions associated with indulgences. You must have gone to confession “recently”, you must say prayers for the Pope and his intentions, and you must do whatever the specific indulgent action requires.
   
   Ever wonder why the Church uses the word “indulgences”? Because in the early days of the Church (first few centuries) the action of those wanting grace where very physical (and usually painful). Such things as wearing a hair shirt, or flogging ones self, or extended fasting. Then the Church thought, you know, there are other things of a spiritual nature that are good to do as well, so they began to recommend things like reading the Bible, praying in a group, going to Stations of the Cross, etc. These are called “indulgences” because it was thought indulgent not to have to do physical penances.

 

[Joe_5859]

I don’t ever remember replying to a Thread, so i hope i am doing this right. I want to learn more about indulgences. Question: If i make a visit to where i was baptized and renew my baptismal promise there will i gain a plenary indulgence. Will i need to go to confession, Mass and pray for the Holy Father? another question: what can i read from the Pope that explains what i need to do. And how can i apply an indulgence for my family? Please help. thanks

Everything you need is in the Manual of Indulgences. This is the most recently approved edition of the approved prayers, which supercedes those that came before it (which don’t necessarily differ that drastically). The introduction to that book clearly spells out everything you need to do.

There are two types of indulgences: partial and plenary. A partial indulgence remits some of the temporal punishment due to sin. A plenary indulgence remits all of the temporal punishment due to sin.

If you want to earn a plenary indulgence, you need to perform an act that is designated as such in the manual, and then also go to Confession, receive Communion, pray for the Holy Father, and be free from all attachment to sin. If you don’t meet these other conditions but still perform the indulgenced act, then you still get an indulgence. It will just be a partial one.

You can gain a partial indulgence for renewing your Baptismal vows at any time. If you do so on the Easter Vigil or on the anniversary of your own Baptism, then it can be a plenary indulgence. You don’t have to actually visit the Church.

You can only apply indulgences to yourself or to those who have died. You cannot apply them to other living people. Applying plenary indulgences to the dead is a great practice because we know the souls in Purgatory are free from attachment to sin. Praying a plenary indulgence for them gets them out of Purgatory immediately.

 

[Genesis315]

Regarding attachment to sin, it doesn’t mean free from any venial sin, it just means there’s not some sin you don’t want to give up.

Cardinal Lepicier explained this well in his old book on indulgences (sorry for the weird formatting):

But, we should observe that it is one thing to fall into
venial sin, and another to have an affection for it.
The first means an act, the other a state of the
soul. The first is often the result of weakness, of
inadvertence, of a habit not yet eradicated, but for
the rooting out of which we have already manfully
striven. The other implies something more — that is,
a certain amount of wickedness on the part of the
will, excessive attachment to creatures, with the
offence of the Creator.

From the first no man, however holy, excepting
Christ, and His Blessed Mother, can call himself
free ; but many should be, and in reality are, free
from the second. How can we imagine faithful
souls, that are anxious to please God, and daily seal
this desire with the Bread of Life — and their genera-
tion, thank God, is not extinct — how can we ima-
gine such as these to be wilfully attached to that
which, though not causing eternal death, yet is in-
finitely injurious to the Divine Majesty ?

In conclusion, it would be better, rather than
spread such ill-grounded and unauthorised opinions [that it is excessively difficult to obtain a plenary indulgence],
to go back by examination and reflection to the
heart, and work up the will to be ready to
walk in the path of God’s justice and judgment.
Thus shall we gain either for ourselves or for the
souls in Purgatory, those heavenly riches which
Holy Church offers us from her spiritual treasury.

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