indulgences

[billcu1]

How many indulgences do you get per confession? And do they accumulate or if you don’t use them expire? I have read some of the rules but this question isn’t answered.

 

[Evan]

How many indulgences do you get per confession? And do they accumulate or if you don’t use them expire? I have read some of the rules but this question isn’t answered.

Maybe this will help

1. A plenary indulgence can be gained only once a day. In order to obtain it, the faithful must, in addition to being in the state of grace:

—have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin;

—have sacramentally confessed their sins;

—receive the Holy Eucharist (it is certainly better to receive it while participating in Holy Mass, but for the indulgence only Holy Communion is required);

—pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.

1. It is appropriate, but not necessary, that the sacramental Confession and especially Holy Communion and the prayer for the Pope’s intentions take place on the same day that the indulgenced work is performed; but it is sufficient that these sacred rites and prayers be carried out within several days (about 20) before or after the indulgenced act. Prayer for the Pope’s intentions is left to the choice of the faithful, but an “Our Father” and a “Hail Mary” are suggested. One sacramental Confession suffices for several plenary indulgences, but a separate Holy Communion and a separate prayer for the Holy Father’s intentions are required for each plenary indulgence.

from ewtn.com/expert/answers/indulgences_conditions.htm

 

[1ke]

And do they accumulate or if you don’t use them expire?

Perhaps you could explain a bit more about what you believe an indulgence is and how it works. This question seems oddly out of place. How would they “expire”? And I don’t understand what you mean about “accumulate if you don’t use them”.

 

[Gorgias]

How many indulgences do you get per confession?

Umm… none? Not sure what you’re asking…

 

[billcu1]

Perhaps you could explain a bit more about what you believe an indulgence is and how it works. This question seems oddly out of place. How would they “expire”? And I don’t understand what you mean about “accumulate if you don’t use them”.

One gains so many plenary indulgences per confession. And sometimes they involve praying for the Pope’s intentions unfortunately I don’t know what that is. The stations, and there must be some moment between them.

 

[billcu1]

Maybe this will help

from ewtn.com/expert/answers/indulgences_conditions.htm

Where do you find the Holy Father’s prayer intentions?

 

[Gorgias]

One gains so many plenary indulgences per confession.

Umm… no.

Is there a citation or reference you can provide that makes this assertion?

And sometimes they involve praying for the Pope’s intentions unfortunately I don’t know what that is. The stations, and there must be some moment between them.

Now, this is something altogether different. If you’re attempting to gain an indulgence, then typically, one of the conditions is sacramental confession. However, that’s a far cry from “confession gets me plenary indulgences”. (And, of course, that doesn’t even make sense on its face, as I look at it – what in the world could it mean to say “I have 23 full (i.e., ‘plenary’) indulgences!”…?)

 

[billcu1]

Umm… no.

Is there a citation or reference you can provide that makes this assertion?

Now, this is something altogether different. If you’re attempting to gain an indulgence, then typically, one of the conditions is sacramental confession. However, that’s a far cry from “confession gets me plenary indulgences”. (And, of course, that doesn’t even make sense on its face, as I look at it – what in the world could it mean to say “I have 23 full (i.e., ‘plenary’) indulgences!”…?)

“One sacramental Confession suffices for several plenary indulgences, but a separate Holy Communion and a separate prayer for the Holy Father’s intentions are required for each plenary indulgence.”

 

[adamhovey1988]

How many indulgences do you get per confession? And do they accumulate or if you don’t use them expire? I have read some of the rules but this question isn’t answered.

I admit having very little understanding of Canon Law, but I’m afraid I don’t understand the question friend

 

[Gorgias]

“One sacramental Confession suffices for several plenary indulgences, but a separate Holy Communion and a separate prayer for the Holy Father’s intentions are required for each plenary indulgence.”

Got it. You’re misreading what’s there.

That doesn’t mean that sacramental confession earns ‘plenary indulgences’. Rather, if you’re ‘working on’ a few different kinds of indulgences, and each requires sacramental confession, then it doesn’t mean that you have to go to confession one time for each indulgence; rather, the one confession “suffices for [the] several” indulgences.

Here’s an illustration that might be helpful:

Let’s suppose that you’re trying to get tickets for several screenings of the new Star Wars movie in advance, and the movie chain makes this stipulation: ‘an application is required in order to receive the tickets’. However, it’s not the case that you have to have a separate application for each ticket request. In other words, ‘one application suffices for several requests’.

Does that help?

 

[Vico]

How many indulgences do you get per confession? And do they accumulate or if you don’t use them expire? I have read some of the rules but this question isn’t answered.

If you complete a plenary indulgenced act along with reception of communion and other requirements each day (such as stations of the cross, thirty minutes bible reverent bible study, or rosary), then you could obtain a maximum of one plenary indulgence per day. Since one confession suffices for about 20 days before or after, there could be 40 days of plenary indulgences that could utilize one sacramental confession.

 

[billcu1]

If you complete a plenary indulgenced act along with reception of communion and other requirements each day (such as stations of the cross, thirty minutes bible reverent bible study, or rosary), then you could obtain a maximum of one plenary indulgence per day. Since one confession suffices for about 20 days before or after, there could be 40 days of plenary indulgences that could utilize one sacramental confession.

Hum…OK if one goes to confession and I need to. Then over the next 20 days I could use one indulgence a day; or waste the 20 days and get no indulgences? None after 20 days? I would have to go to confession again and do the rest required for an indulgence, all within 20 days?

 

[Vico]

Hum…OK if one goes to confession and I need to. Then over the next 20 days I could use one indulgence a day; or waste the 20 days and get no indulgences? None after 20 days? I would have to go to confession again and do the rest required for an indulgence, all within 20 days?

Unless you had sacramental confession sometime in the 20 days before the indulgenced act.

 

[1ke]

Why don’t you talk to your pastor about indulgences, you seem completely confused.

You don’t “use” an indulgence. They don’t “expire”.

Indulgences apply merit from the Church’s treasury to individuals. They can be applied to your own purgation or to others in Purgatory.

Perhaps this will help:

catholic.com/tracts/primer-on-indulgences

 

[Vico]

Hum…OK if one goes to confession and I need to. Then over the next 20 days I could use one indulgence a day; or waste the 20 days and get no indulgences? None after 20 days? I would have to go to confession again and do the rest required for an indulgence, all within 20 days?

It is what 1ke said.

Each indulgence requires a particular indulgenced work, and for plenary indulgences (only some are this) there are more requirements including communion and confession. A partial indulgence also requires a particular indulgenced work, and as with all indulgences, the state of grace at least at the time the indulgenced work is completed.

ewtn.com/expert/answers/indulgences_conditions.htm

 

[billcu1]

Why don’t you talk to your pastor about indulgences, you seem completely confused.

You don’t “use” an indulgence. They don’t “expire”.

Indulgences apply merit from the Church’s treasury to individuals. They can be applied to your own purgation or to others in Purgatory.

Perhaps this will help:

catholic.com/tracts/primer-on-indulgences

I have never been ever to get any of the resident Pastors at my Parrish to tell me really anything about it. They must not have thought it was an important question

 

[Gorgias]

I have never been ever to get any of the resident Pastors at my Parrish to tell me really anything about it. They must not have thought it was an important question

It might depend on the ages of the priests in your parish. For a whole swath of the second half of the 20th century, the notion of ‘indulgences’ was treated in a generally dismissive way…

 

[quies]

Finally there is a current English translation of Enchiridion Indulgentarium from the Latin. If you live in the United States or need to read in the English language, the approved English translation of the current, fourth edition Enchiridion Indulgentiarum (1999) is published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) under the title Manual of Indulgences. You can find it at several places on the web along with an e-book and a Kindle version, too.

There are many, many versions of the Manual, Enchiridion, Raccolta, etc. going far back in time, but this is the current. From looking at their picture, even our own C.A. store seems to be carrying the third edition – which has been superseded by the fourth edition…

The above-mentioned book along with this wall calendar will have you graduating summa cum laude in the Indulgences 101 class of 2016! (Tuition is $20 for textbook and $18 for the calendar – plus S&H.)

Gaudeamus igitur! :

 

[Vico]

Finally there is a current English translation of Enchiridion Indulgentarium from the Latin. If you live in the United States or need to read in the English language, the approved English translation of the current, fourth edition Enchiridion Indulgentiarum (1999) is published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) under the title Manual of Indulgences. You can find it at several places on the web along with an e-book and a Kindle version, too.

There are many, many versions of the Manual, Enchiridion, Raccolta, etc. going far back in time, but this is the current. From looking at their picture, even our own C.A. store seems to be carrying the third edition – which has been superseded by the fourth edition…

The above-mentioned book along with this wall calendar will have you graduating summa cum laude in the Indulgences 101 class of 2016! (Tuition is $20 for textbook and $18 for the calendar – plus S&H.)

Gaudeamus igitur! :

Manual Of Indulgences: Norms And Grants, USCCB, 2006, Product Code: 5-474
$19.95 USD, ISBN 1-57455-474-3

store.usccb.org/SearchResults.asp?Search=manual+of+indulgences&Submit=

 

[asia53]

I think this will help you. Published in the Denver Catholic Register a couple of years ago.

Conditions for Indulgences
Other than on special occasions, to gain a plenary indulgence, which is possible once a day, you must:

1. Be baptized and in a state of grace
2. Go to sacramental confession several days (up to 20) before or after the work. (One sacramental confession now suffices for gaining several plenary indulgences.)
3. Receive Communion on each day the indulgence is sought.
4. Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father. An Our Father and Hail Mary satisfy this requirement. (Receive Communion and pray for the Intentions of the Pope on the same day the work is performed.)
5. Perform one of these works/acts to which the indulgence is attached:

A. adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for at least half and hour,
B. devout reading of the Scriptures for at least half an hour,
C. pious exercise of the Way of the Cross (praying in church or where properly erected),
D. recitation of the Rosary as a family or in a church before the Blessed Sacrament or part of the public oratory or group, religious community or pious association.

1. All attachment to sin, even to venial sin, must be absent. Otherwise the indulgence becomes partial, not plenary.
2. Have at least a general intention. You can’t receive an indulgence unintentionally or by accident.

Partial indulgences have fewer norms. The Enchiridion explains “general grants” and specific prayers and devotional use of certain objects of piety properly blessed by any priest that carry partial indulgences. Enchiridion of Indulgences