Plenary indulgence- is there such thing

[Amber2]

I have planned to go to Lourdes to receive an indulgence. It was my impression that the Church gives plenary indulgences there. However, now I just read that to receive a plenary indulgence you “must be free from all attachment to sin, including venial sin”.
Now I am rather perplexed. I dont see anyhuman being that can say that about themselves. And the person who is free of all attachment really does not much need forgiveness or indulgences. I guess I thought that the Church gives out forgiveness and remission because of something Christ did, and not something we can do. I thought it had to do with GRACE, but if you have to be sinless to receive it then where is the grace in that??? … I hope someone can clarify this for me
Amber

 

[Church_Militant]

They exist and you don’t even have to go to Lourdes to receive one.

“A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful, who with the veneration due to the divine word make a spiritual reading from Sacred Scripture. A plenary indulgence is granted, if this reading is continued for at least one half an hour.” (Enchiridion of Indulgences. Authorized English edition. 1969. Catholic Book Publishers. New York. Page 68. # 50)

Is that attachment to sin hard…well if it was easy would it be efficacious?

Even if one fails to gain the plenary indulgence, there is always a great source of graces.

 

[Thing]

I have planned to go to Lourdes to receive an indulgence. It was my impression that the Church gives plenary indulgences there. However, now I just read that to receive a plenary indulgence you “must be free from all attachment to sin, including venial sin”.
Now I am rather perplexed. I dont see anyhuman being that can say that about themselves. *And the person who is free of all attachment really does not much need forgiveness or indulgences. I guess I thought that the Church gives out forgiveness and remission because of something Christ did, and not something we can do. I thought it had to do with GRACE, but if you have to be sinless to receive it then where is the grace in that??? … I hope someone can clarify this for me
Amber

*I think everyone is called to be holy because He is holy.
Indulgences reduce your temporal punishment due to sin, they do not forgive sins, so even if you do become free of attachment to sin you will still have or keep the temporal punishment of your past forgiven sins. A plenary indulgence frees you from the damage your sins caused which you still owe.
If anyone can explain it better I hope they do.

 

[ChrisWRIT]

I have planned to go to Lourdes to receive an indulgence. It was my impression that the Church gives plenary indulgences there. However, now I just read that to receive a plenary indulgence you “must be free from all attachment to sin, including venial sin”.
Now I am rather perplexed. I dont see anyhuman being that can say that about themselves. And the person who is free of all attachment really does not much need forgiveness or indulgences. I guess I thought that the Church gives out forgiveness and remission because of something Christ did, and not something we can do. I thought it had to do with GRACE, but if you have to be sinless to receive it then where is the grace in that??? … I hope someone can clarify this for me
Amber

Hi Amber,

I understand your confusion.

You are correct to think that the Church is able to bestow forgiveness, or absolution for sin, as well as indulgences, both because of the authority Christ granted it.

However, an indulgence is not forgiveness of sin, but remission of the temporal punishment due to sins, the guilt of which have already been forgiven.

By grace we are forgiven, and we receive that forgiveness in many ways. For example, the sacraments of Baptism, the Anointing of the Sick, and Reconciliation.

That said, receiving a plenary indulgence is possible, if difficult, anywhere. When I found that “being free from all attachment to sin, including venial sin” was one of the requirements to receive one, I thought the same thing as you - “How is that possible?”

After researching the issue for awhile, I came to find out that it is possible to become free from all attachment to sin. (For many people, it may not be possible for very long, but it is possible nonetheless.)

When one goes to confession, with true contrition, & receives absolution, they are at that time “free from all attachment to sin, including venial sin.”

When one commits another sin, we are no longer free of this attachment. I don’t know if the desire to sin would also remove this freedom, but I suspect it would.

I recommend reading a couple of articles that I found quite helpful to understand the doctrine of indulgences:

“What’s Wrong with a Little Indulgence” by Jimmy Akin,
catholic.com/thisrock/2006/0609fea3.asp

and “Myths About Indulgences”
catholic.com/library/myths_about_indulgences.asp

God bless,

Chris