Questions on Plenary Indulgence

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Pythagoras

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Do we have to state the intention to God that we want to gain a plenary indulgence on that day you start the process of making the plenary indulgence? It seems in other websites they don’t mention that you have to say to God that you want to have a plenary indulgence.

What if God granted to you 1 plenary indulgence in the past but after that you made some sins again. After your death, will God apply that 1 plenary indulgence that you gained to even those sins committed after you gained that plenary indulgence?

Okay, what if a good/saintly person, who just wanted to say the rosary in a Church everyday, goes to Confession weekly, goes to Mass and receives Communion everyday, prays for the intentions of the Pope everyday and read a spiritual book at his house every night, but is not aware of this concept of plenary indulgence, would God still give that person plenary indulgence?
 
Pythagoras said:
Do we have to state the intention to God that we want to gain a plenary indulgence on that day you start the process of making the plenary indulgence? It seems in other websites they don’t mention that you have to say to God that you want to have a plenary indulgence.

What if God granted to you 1 plenary indulgence in the past but after that you made some sins again. After your death, will God apply that 1 plenary indulgence that you gained to even those sins committed after you gained that plenary indulgence?

Okay, what if a good/saintly person, who just wanted to say the rosary in a Church everyday, goes to Confession weekly, goes to Mass and receives Communion everyday, prays for the intentions of the Pope everyday and read a spiritual book at his house every night, but is not aware of this concept of plenary indulgence, would God still give that person plenary indulgence?
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God always has the option to grant mercy. He’s God. 🙂
Plenary Indulgences are a man-made thing. People love them, and it’s a wonderful practice in holiness and piety. In the end, I don’t think the Lord is bound to ONLY grant mercy in these cases. I’m sure he acknowledges the sacrifices therein.
Live a good and holy life. Pray. Work. Worship well. Obey the commandments. Receive Eucharist in a state of grace. See if things don’t work out real well. 😉
 
Pythagoras said:
Do we have to state the intention to God that we want to gain a plenary indulgence on that day you start the process of making the plenary indulgence?
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You need to have the intention of gaining the indulgence. It is not automatically applied.
What if God granted to you 1 plenary indulgence in the past but after that you made some sins again. After your death, will God apply that 1 plenary indulgence that you gained to even those sins committed after you gained that plenary indulgence?
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No, it does not apply on behalf of all future sins in order to remit their punishment.
It applies only to the sins committed prior to gaining the indulgence. It can be lost by sins committed after the indulgence is gained.

This is generally a Protestant understanding, that Jesus died for all sins, past, present and future, and therefore, remits them all. Some evangelists teach that very error today, insisting that a person can never be lost, provided they one time accept Jesus as their Savior. :tsktsk:
 
Pythagoras said:
Do we have to state the intention to God that we want to gain a plenary indulgence

on that day you start the process of making the plenary indulgence? It seems in other websites they don’t mention

that you have to say to God that you want to have a plenary indulgence.
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No, you don’t have to *say *it, but you have to *have *it, even if just interiorly. But saying it is a great way of ensuring your intention is actual, which is always preferred. It is possible, however, to have actual intention without explicitly stating it, i.e. you are consciously making and maintaining that intention.

As with all intention, however, virtual intention is sufficient.
What if God granted to you 1 plenary indulgence in the past but after that you made some sins again. After your
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death, will God apply that 1 plenary indulgence that you gained to even those sins committed after you gained that
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plenary indulgence?
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Without placing limits on God’s mercy, indulgences are not a license to sin. Indulgences remit temporal punishment up to the time the indulgence is obtained.
Okay, what if a good/saintly person, who just wanted to say the rosary in a Church everyday, goes to Confession weekly, goes to Mass and receives Communion everyday, prays for the intentions of the Pope everyday and read a spiritual book at his house every night, but is not aware of this concept of plenary indulgence, would God still give that person plenary indulgence?
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No; at least virtual intention is required. However, again, we do not place limits on God’s mercy, and God could easily grant the equivalent of an indulgence without one’s knowledge. However, because the intention was missing, no one could make the presumption that this person acquired an indulgence, plenary or otherwise.
 
This may be encouraging for many who are not aware of it:

Manual of Indulgences, page 54. (Also Enchiridion #28)

To the faithful in danger of death, who cannot be assisted by a priest to bring them the sacraments and impart the Apostolic Blessing with its plenary indulgence, Holy Mother Church nevertheless grants a plenary indulgence to be acquired at the point of death, provided they are properly disposed and have been in the habit of reciting some prayers during their lifetime. The use of a crucifix or a cross to gain this indulgence is praiseworthy."

The condition: *‘provided they have been in the habit of reciting some prayers during their lifetime’ *supplies in such cases for the three usual conditions required for the gaining of a plenary indulgence." The plenary indulgence at the point of death can be acquired by the faithful, even if they have already obtained another plenary indulgence on the same day."

It would seem, therefore, that these devout souls will avoid going to purgatory through this plenary bestowed at their death.
 
Sirach2 said:
This may be encouraging for many who are not aware of it:

Manual of Indulgences, page 54. (Also Enchiridion #28)

To the faithful in danger of death, who cannot be assisted by a priest to bring them the sacraments and impart the Apostolic Blessing with its plenary indulgence, Holy Mother Church nevertheless grants a plenary indulgence to be acquired at the point of death, provided they are properly disposed and have been in the habit of reciting some prayers during their lifetime. The use of a crucifix or a cross to gain this indulgence is praiseworthy."

The condition: *‘provided they have been in the habit of reciting some prayers during their lifetime’ *supplies in such cases for the three usual conditions required for the gaining of a plenary indulgence." The plenary indulgence at the point of death can be acquired by the faithful, even if they have already obtained another plenary indulgence on the same day."

It would seem, therefore, that these devout souls will avoid going to purgatory through this plenary bestowed at their death.
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Yes, this is the most comforting and possibly, important exception to the general norms.

May God grant us all this grace in our last hour.
 
Sirach2 said:
This may be encouraging for many who are not aware of it:

Manual of Indulgences, page 54. (Also Enchiridion #28)

To the faithful in danger of death, who cannot be assisted by a priest to bring them the sacraments and impart the Apostolic Blessing with its plenary indulgence, Holy Mother Church nevertheless grants a plenary indulgence to be acquired at the point of death, provided they are properly disposed and have been in the habit of reciting some prayers during their lifetime. The use of a crucifix or a cross to gain this indulgence is praiseworthy."

The condition: *‘provided they have been in the habit of reciting some prayers during their lifetime’ *supplies in such cases for the three usual conditions required for the gaining of a plenary indulgence." The plenary indulgence at the point of death can be acquired by the faithful, even if they have already obtained another plenary indulgence on the same day."

It would seem, therefore, that these devout souls will avoid going to purgatory through this plenary bestowed at their death.
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I’ve always been confused by this; is the indulgence gained simply by having prayed habitually at some point in one’s life, or is there some prayer that must be said or some action that is undertaken?
 
Billy112 said:
I’ve always been confused by this; is the indulgence gained simply by having prayed habitually at some point in one’s life, or is there some prayer that must be said or some action that is undertaken?
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The way I understand it is in this paragraph:
“The condition: *‘provided they have been in the habit of reciting some prayers during their lifetime’ *supplies in such cases for the three usual conditions required for the gaining of a plenary indulgence.”

Usually, to obtain a plenary, one must have gone to confession, communion, and prayed for the intention of the Holy Father. Since this paragraph addresses the actual moment of death, the person may not have had the opportunity to go to confession within the time allotted (20 days before or after), and go to communion the day of obtaining the plenary. (We presuppose they are in the state of grace already) Suppose they are on the point of death on a Friday, almost a full week since going to Sunday mass and communion … the Church supplies for these conditions not being present at this critical moment.

I think the wording could have been clarified better.
 
Sirach2 said:
This may be encouraging for many who are not aware of it:

Manual of Indulgences, page 54. (Also Enchiridion #28)

To the faithful in danger of death, who cannot be assisted by a priest to bring them the sacraments and impart the Apostolic Blessing with its plenary indulgence, Holy Mother Church nevertheless grants a plenary indulgence to be acquired at the point of death, provided they are properly disposed and have been in the habit of reciting some prayers during their lifetime.** The use of a crucifix or a cross to gain this indulgence is praiseworthy." **
.
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Does this mean that we should have a crucifix/cross at our bedside in order for this indulgence to be effective?
 
Pythagoras said:
I see, but does it refer to a dying person holding a crucifix right?
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It is a wonderful practice, if you are able to do so. We never know when or where our last moment will be, so we may not even be conscious. It could be sudden, such as in an accident. I don’t think the Church is making that a requirement, but offering it as a suggestion. If we are awake, and death is near, it would be a help to the soul to hold Our Lord’s crucifix. Agree? Otherwise, the indulgence will not be denied if we do not have one with us.
 
Thanks! So hopefully many decades from now I will be holding a crucifix , if I still remember this topic 😃
 
Pythagoras said:
I see, but does it refer to a dying person holding a crucifix right?
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Yes, or having it held nearby, say, by the priest while the blessing is being offered.

But it’s “praiseworthy” which means it should be done as far as is possible, but it’s fine of it isn’t. Praiseworthy means “highly recommended”, not required.
 
Pythagoras said:
Do we have to state the intention to God that we want to gain a plenary indulgence on that day you start the process of making the plenary indulgence? It seems in other websites they don’t mention that you have to say to God that you want to have a plenary indulgence.

What if God granted to you 1 plenary indulgence in the past but after that you made some sins again. After your death, will God apply that 1 plenary indulgence that you gained to even those sins committed after you gained that plenary indulgence?

Okay, what if a good/saintly person, who just wanted to say the rosary in a Church everyday, goes to Confession weekly, goes to Mass and receives Communion everyday, prays for the intentions of the Pope everyday and read a spiritual book at his house every night, but is not aware of this concept of plenary indulgence, would God still give that person plenary indulgence?
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The indulgence is granted on the day that the indulgenced work plus conditions are all finally met. The sacramental Confession, Holy Communion, and the prayer for the Pope’s intentions may be carried out within about 20 days before or after the indulgenced act. The intention to obtain the grant is at least a general (mental) intention, and of course, must be there by the day of the grant.

Norm 17 (current, fourth edition 1999) is:1. In order to be capable of gaining indulgences one must be baptized, not excommunicated, and in the state of grace at least at the completion of the prescribed works.
2. To gain an indulgence, one must have at least the general intention of doing so and must carry out the enjoined works at the stated time and in due fashion, according to the sense of the grant.
 
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