Indulgences

[camkutz]

Was just wondering today since Vatican II why has the whole indulgence time period thing changed?
For example a partial indulgence of X days/months/years as opposed to now where there is no time period for partial indulgences?

 

[pensmama87]

Was just wondering today since Vatican II why has the whole indulgence time period thing changed?
For example a partial indulgence of X days/months/years as opposed to now where there is no time period for partial indulgences?

In eternity there is no time as we know it here, so it’s inappropriate to assign a specific “time off.” I would imagine, though I don’t know for certain, that it was originally done to give an idea of how powerful a certain prayer practice or devotion was, but people took it far too literally. But that can backfire - look at how particular and worried some people get over specifics on threads around here, while completely missing the big picture (this doesn’t mean that details don’t matter, but just that it’s very easy sometimes to miss the forest for the trees).

So now we just have plenary and partial. One can be obtained every single day and obtaining them will only help you grow in grace and holiness, so it’s a good thing (IMO) to be focused more on spiritual growth and less about tallying up your time off.

 

[Glennon_P]

I’m not a theologian, nor do I play one on TV, so I will gladly defer to those with more knowledge and training in this area if I’m incorrect.

As I understand it, the “300 days’ indulgence” of years gone by did not mean you got out of Purgatory 300 days earlier. Rather, it meant that the indulgence was equal to the graces and merits acquired through 300 days’ penance performed here on Earth.

 

[paperwight66]

Ah. I always thought it referred to the number of days of temporal (i.e. of time on earth) punishment for sin.

It really is a difficult concept to explain to non-Catholics. I like the idea of it being to do with days of penance, but I don’t think that’s how it’s defined.

 

[porthos11]

Ah. I always thought it referred to the number of days of temporal (i.e. of time on earth) punishment for sin.

It really is a difficult concept to explain to non-Catholics. I like the idea of it being to do with days of penance, but I don’t think that’s how it’s defined.

And THIS ^ is the answer to the OP’s question.

It caused too much confusion among the faithful. The popular, incorrect interpretation was it took “300 days off time in Purgatory.”

The notation was also irrelevant, as by the 20th century, there was no more order of penitents and penances were no longer assigned in days or years, rendering the old “xxxx days indulgence” obsolete and meaningless. “Partial” made more sense.