I’ve just come across the notion of an indulgence, which seems to be a kind of pardon from the ‘temporal effects’ of sins committed post-baptism.
I find it somewhat baffling as a convert to Catholicism as this was never raised by the priest or in RCIA. Does anyone here have experience with indulgences? When are they given? Is an indulgence for one sin or several? Is an indulgence necessary to spiritual life?
Hi Greg:
First thing to know is that when we sin there are two things that happen.
One is that we commit an offense against God. Since God is infinite, an offense against Him is infinite in nature - i.e. we commit an offense against an infinite being - therefore our sin is deserving of an eternal punishment, technically - even though we consider some sins lesser (venial) and some sins great (mortal). For this argument, we owe God reparation - we have to make it right with Him. When we receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession), Jesus, through the power He has given the priest to act in His name, forgives us this eternal debt. He has ‘reconciled the world to Himself’ through His passion, death and resurrection so that this eternal debt can be forgiven and forgotten through the Sacrament He left us for this purpose.
The second thing sin does is it affects our world, our ‘selves’, creation. It causes some breach or disruption in the fabric of our world and that of others. This, too, needs to be repaired and restitution made. This is what is referred to as the ‘temporal’ part of what we must pay. Things must be made right. (the time-worn example is that if I drive a nail in a piece of wood (sin), I can remove the nail (confession - eternal punishment forgiven), but the hole remains in the wood (temporal damage/punishment).
Indulgences have to do with the fact that because Christ died for all mankind, the graces, benefits and healing power of that sacrifice are infinitely greater than any damage sin can do anywhere, anyway. All the graces and merits of His sacrifice belong to His Church and through His mercy and His granting of this great power to the Church, she can distribute the wealth of her Master to us sinners, to assist us in even repaying the temporal punishment we owe.
We can access these merits through indulgences - certain prayers and/or works that the Church, in her wisdom, has determined will grant us pardon for some or all of what we owe in the area of temporal restitution.
Indulgences are either ‘partial’ or ‘plenary’. Partial is obviously what it sounds like…it removes part of the temporal restitution we owe. How much is not stated…because we don’t know. We only know that God, since He ‘looses in heaven what is loosed on earth’ removes a part of what we owe.
Plenary indulgences remove ALL of our temporal punishment, so that we are free and clear of any of it. (until we fall again, which we will do, but every bit helps, right?
)
Whether an indulgence is partial or plenary depends on the act or prayer or devotion involved. Indulgenced prayers and such will say what they are or any priest or well informed Catholic can tell you. There are certain attitudes that you, also, must have in order to do your part.
The important thing to remember is that the Church has the power to apply the merits of Christ crucified in this way - this power being given her by Christ, Himself. Our God is great!
I hope this helps a little. Others may be better at explaining it than I, but maybe this will get you going in the right direction. You can check the Catechism, too, for more.
Welcome home!
