Purgatory and Indulgences

[TranquilAbiding]

1. With each sin that we committ, are we adding more time to our stay in purgatory?
2. What spiritual practices can we undertake to reduce our time in purgatory and our attachment to sin? Is this what indulgences are for? (I’m not sure how they work).

Thanks much.

 

[PJM]

=TranquilAbiding;8491280]1. With each sin that we committ, are we adding more time to our stay in purgatory?

1. What spiritual practices can we undertake to reduce our time in purgatory and our attachment to sin? Is this what indulgences are for? (I’m not sure how they work).

Thanks much.

Yes, as you seem to be aware ALL sins have a necessary “payback” portion to them. This payback does not prevent entry into heaven BUT does and can dely it from taking place. This is because ALL sins has a public aspect, wherein others are too effected by our bad choices.

Because God is pefect only “perfect things” and “perfected souls” can attain the Beatific Vision.

**Rev. 21: 27 **“But nothing unclean shall enter it, nor any one who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

Mt. 5: 26 truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny.

**Matt.5: 48 **“You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

**Heb. 2: 10 **For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering.

This “payback” can be handled in a number of ways. Among them are acts of charity, suffering w/o complaint and accepting it as part of our cross and offering it up to Jesus, and Indulgences. Certain pious acts such as “The Way of the Cross” are also effective, as is reading One Bible for at least 30 minutes with the intent of gaining an indulgence and the normal prayers, Confession and Communion.

Indulgences ake two forms. Partial and Pleanary [complete]. Each act for gaining an indulgence has it’s own requirements. BUT all require Confession, being in the state of grace and Holy Communion within a precsribed period of time. And the three prayers for our Holy Fathers intensions.

The “simplest” indulgence I can think of is a Blessing from the Pope: even from TV, with the additions of a Hail Mary, Glory-Be, and the Our Father for the Popes intentions and needs. And of couese a Confession and Communion ASAP [usually within 7 days.]

Also; the Sacrament of the Annointing [Last Rites] have the same power for forgiveness of ALL prior sins AS WELL as a complete payback for them as does the sacrament of Baptism. So like the sacrament of Baptism; one who properly receives this annonting is “perfected” and ready for heaven IF they were to die without sinning again.

If you’d like a more detailed explaination send me a private message and I have a rather detailed document I can share that is too large for the FORUM size allowance.

Our CC has more ways to assist one in attaing salvation than ALL other religions combined. BUT we need to know about then to avail ourselves of them. Our God IS A Awesome God! AMEN!

God Bless,
Pat

 

[JDaniel]

1. With each sin that we committ, are we adding more time to our stay in purgatory?

Tranquil:

Very possibly. Purgatory is where we are purged of unforgiven sins, and their residue, in order to become pure. Without purity we cannot enter Heaven. The more sins we commit, that many more are likely to go unforgiven, and the longer it may take.

1. What spiritual practices can we undertake to reduce our time in purgatory and our attachment to sin? Is this what indulgences are for? (I’m not sure how they work).

Thanks much.

Practice the number one commandment as best you can. Oh, and it is not synonymous with “lust!” The doing of Love is always to ask oneself, “what would Jesus do?” Would He pass by a beggar without giving him/her a dollar or two? Would He walk away from someone that loved Him without hardly a look back? Would He mistreat a child? Would He mistreat a lower animal? Would He ignore the humanity of another human? These are a good start.

The striving for the perfection of love, decency, and a moving respect within each of us are practices that help.

Indulgences mediate the temporal punishment we are to endure due to sin after the sins have been forgiven.

Please look it up in the Catholic Encyclopedia on line.
newadvent.org/cathen/07783a.htm

God bless,
jd

 

[fred_conty]

www.catholic.com/library/purgatory.asp

Biblical and Jewish Traditional Beliefs About Purgatory
blackieschurchmilitant-apocalypsis.blogspot.com/2007/06/biblical-and-jewish-traditional-beliefs.html

 

[fred_conty]

Indulgences

www.davidmacd.com/catholic/indulgences.htm

plenary

www.ladyswarriors.org/indulge/plenary.htm

 

[MarcoPolo]

1. With each sin that we committ, are we adding more time to our stay in purgatory?

As a matter of technicality, the issue of “time” is not part of the dogma of Purgatory. Historically, some theologians have used amounts of time to express the severity of a purgation, but the dogma is really about purification, not necessarily the precise means. For instance:The transforming ‘moment’ of [Purgatory] cannot be quantified by the measurements of earthly time. It is, indeed, not eternal but a transition, and yet trying to qualify it as of ‘short’ or ‘long’ duration on the basis of temporal measurements derived from physics would be naive and unproductive. The ‘temporal measure’ of this encounter lies in the unsoundable depths of existence, in a passing-over where we are burned ere we are transformed. To measure such Existenzzeit, such an ‘existential time,’ in terms of the time of this world would be to ignore the specificity of the human spirit in its simultaneous relationship with, and differentation from, the world.

p.s. To support what others said, look to the Scriptures when we are taught that love and almsgiving cover sins. (e.g. Prov. 16:6, 1 Pet. 4:8, etc…)

 

[Ignatius]

1. With each sin that we committ, are we adding more time to our stay in purgatory?

Not necessarily, if you truely repent and confess so that you have no attachment to that sin, there would be no purification necessary.

1. What spiritual practices can we undertake to reduce our time in purgatory and our attachment to sin?

Prayerfully reading the Holy Scripture (i.e. the Bible) for a half hour with the usual stipulation (confession, Holy Communion and prayer for the intentions of the pope) will obtain a plenary indulgence.

Is this what indulgences are for? (I’m not sure how they work).

An indulgence is the remission of the consequences of sin which has laready been forgiven.(CCC 1471) So yes, that is what indulgences are for.

BTW, one way to explain the concept of Purgatory is with the following illustration.
When we are on earth, even the most holy people sinful to some extent are not perfectly pure. But when we get to heaven, we are perfectly sanctified and holy. Call that transformation what you will, Catholics use the term Purgatory to mean this purification by which we who are sinful people on Earth, become perfect and sanctified in heaven.

 

[TranquilAbiding]

Thanks to everyone for their helpful posts and links. Much appreciated.