Indulgences

[Augustine3]

Why doesn’t the pope attach a plenary indulgence to the sacrament of confession? Why does it have to be only at special occasions?

 

[Loving_disciple]

Because it is our duty to confess before God. You don’t get special rewards for doing the minimum of the faith

 

[zz912]

Be happy for the incredible, unmerited gift we are able to receive in Confession. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. And be happy that you have available to you the other gifts/indulgences you are interested in receiving as well, and usually for a very small amount of effort.

Theologically, it would be dangerous for the Church to modify or add to the sacraments. The Church doesn’t have authority to do so. Best instead for the Church to lay out indulgences as a specific set of activities and not attach them directly to the sacraments.

 

[Batfink]

As others have said, you don’t get an indulgence from any of the sacraments. It might seem odd as, for example, you may get a partial indulgence from making an act of spiritual communion but not from actually receiving communion (although that is a norm for most plenary indulgences), but others have explained why this works. The sacraments are the bedrock of our practice of the faith, they are what give us the grace to want to make reparation for our sins and to be able to do so. God already freely gives himself to us in the sacraments without needing to add the sweetner of an indulgence.

I just wanted to add that indulgences are not ‘only at sepcial occasions’. You can get a plenary indulgence any day by, for example, reading the Bible for 30 minutes, praying the Rosary in a group, adoring the Blessed Sacrament for 30 minutes or praying the Stations of the Cross. These are only a few examples, there are many ways we can try to obtain plenary indulgences every day, they are absolutely not reserved for special occasions. And partial indulgences even more so. Most traditional Catholic prayers we teach our children are indulgenced, as well as the sign of the Cross, any time of mental prayer etc.

 

[tawny]

As others have said, you don’t get an indulgence from any of the sacraments. It might seem odd as, for example, you may get a partial indulgence from making an act of spiritual communion but not from actually receiving communion (although that is a norm for most plenary indulgences), but others have explained why this works. The sacraments are the bedrock of our practice of the faith, they are what give us the grace to want to make reparation for our sins and to be able to do so. God already freely gives himself to us in the sacraments without needing to add the sweetner of an indulgence.

I just wanted to add that indulgences are not ‘only at sepcial occasions’. You can get a plenary indulgence any day by, for example, reading the Bible for 30 minutes, praying the Rosary in a group, adoring the Blessed Sacrament for 30 minutes or praying the Stations of the Cross. These are only a few examples, there are many ways we can try to obtain plenary indulgences every day, they are absolutely not reserved for special occasions. And partial indulgences even more so. Most traditional Catholic prayers we teach our children are indulgenced, as well as the sign of the Cross, any time of mental prayer etc.

Well stated.

 

[Augustine3]

Thanks ya’'ll

 

[Sirach2]

Why doesn’t the pope attach a plenary indulgence to the sacrament of confession? Why does it have to be only at special occasions?

The conditions for a plenary are more extensive than just going to confession. In fact, confession is only one part of the requirement. We must also perform one of the many grants allowed by the Church within 20 days prior or 20 days after confession AND communion, with prayers for the Pope’s intentions. We must also have the “intention” of obtaining a plenary indulgence.

 

[TheAdvocate]

Another thing to consider: when we go to confession, we receive a penance. If we do that penance, it is a penance we won’t have to do in purgatory. Penance is part of the experience of the sacrament of reconciliation; therefore, for all practical purposes, it ultimately accomplishes the same thing as an indulgence.

 

[Sirach2]

Another thing to consider: when we go to confession, we receive a penance. If we do that penance, it is a penance we won’t have to do in purgatory. Penance is part of the experience of the sacrament of reconciliation; therefore, for all practical purposes, it ultimately accomplishes the same thing as an indulgence.

I believe it would only be a partial indulgence, not plenary.