**John Cardinal Newman said, “The smallest venial sin rocks the foundations of the created world.” That is, even our smallest sins can cause devastating consequences in creation; famine, disease, natural disaster. However, through God’s grace, the holiness even of the lowliest saint far exceeds the harm even the greatest sinner can do. The graces won by Christ and the saints are an infinite treasure that can be used to heal the wounds of the world. God intends to use this treasury. **
**An indulgence, then, applies the graces won by Christ and the saints to the world so as to heal the wounds we caused by our sins. When I perform an indulgenced act, I act in obedience to God through His Church. A plenary indulgence heals all of the effects of one person’s sins. A partial indulgence heals part of the effects. I can win indulgences only for myself or those in Purgatory. **
**In granting indulgences the Church does a holy and wholesome thing: **
– She acts according to the merciful spirit of Jesus who was all compassion for poor sinners.
–The Church fulfills a command for reconciling man with God.
–It is dogma that the Church can grant indulgences.
**We can do this repair work here on earth or in purgatory. By going to Confession regularly, one can obtain many plenary indulgences thereby healing all the effects of one’s sins. So solicitous was St. Alphonsus about gaining indulgences that, after his death, several indulgenced articles were found on him. The saint had always carried them wherever he went in order to gain as many indulgences as possible. **
**We ourselves have many debts with God, and many souls in purgatory await our charity. What more do we need to motivate us? The supreme facility with which indulgences can be gained ought to make us solicitous as industrious bees. **
**Please visit the link *Year of the Eucharist *on *Spirit Daily
that explains how we can obtain these awesome indulgences. John Paul II had overextended himself in giving us EVERY POSSIBLE opportunity to obtain these indulgences. In a very special way I beseech you to give your indulgences to priests, bishops and consecrated religious in purgatory. *There is no ungrateful soul in Heaven. You will not lose your indulgence but will be rewarded a hundredfold! These priests and religious will intercede for you in this life and surround you at the hour of your death! That indeed is a happy death! **
**And remember the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Masses offered for yourselves, your families and Gregorian Masses for deceased loved ones. Give them the joy of a Holy Mass. Visit our website at:
www.spiritualtreasury.org for a complete listing of Masses. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith! Celebrate the Year of the Eucharist with intensity and fervor at holy Mass! At the hour of death, the holy Masses you have heard devoutly will be your greatest consolation. **
**With supreme charity, St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi had assisted at the death of one of her sisters in the order. Not content to offer only the usual suffrages, the members of the community also applied to the departed soul the holy indulgences they had gained that day. St. Mary Magdalene saw the sister’s soul ascending toward heaven to receive the crown of eternal glory. **
**“Farewell, Sister!” exclaimed the saint. While she was speaking, Jesus appeared to console her, declaring it was because of the indulgences, that this soul had been so swiftly released from Purgatory and admitted into paradise. As a result, such a fervor for gaining indulgences was enkindled in that convent that the sisters became almost scrupulous about neglecting even one. **
May a spark of that holy fervor be lit in our own breast and fanned into a bright flame.
[resources: http://www.spiritdaily.com/booksal.htm”]Susan Tassone’s books]
E-mail this link directly
spiritdaily.com/immaculate.gif
Return to home page www.spiritdaily.com
**
**
. You are right, you have to have intent to receive the indulgence as well as the other conditions.
