Quick question on Indulgences

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DVIN_CKS

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I’ve read in the Catechism that an Indulgence is granted by the Church. How exactly is this done? At the risk of sounding ignorant…do you go to your priest and ask for one? Can it only be granted by a bishop? Perhaps I’m confused? :confused:
Please help!
 
I understand the concept behind the doctrine of Indulgences, I just am not sure if one has to publicly go to the priest to obtain them. After reading the links, it seems to me that indulgences can be granted “in private” just by saying the rosary or going to confession, etc… This is where I’m confused.
  1. An indulgence is obtained through the Church who, by virtue of the power of binding and losing granted her by Christ Jesus, intervenes in favor of individual Christians and opens for them the treasury of the metis of Christ and the saints to obtain from the Father of mercies the remission of the temporal punishments due for their sins. Thus the Church does not want simply to come to the aid of these Christians, but also to spur them to works of devotion, penance, and charity (Indulgentarium Doctrina 5).
 
DVIN_CKS said:
I understand the concept behind the doctrine of Indulgences, I just am not sure if one has to publicly go to the priest to obtain them. After reading the links, it seems to me that indulgences can be granted “in private” just by saying the rosary or going to confession, etc… This is where I’m confused.
  1. An indulgence is obtained through the Church who, by virtue of the power of binding and losing granted her by Christ Jesus, intervenes in favor of individual Christians and opens for them the treasury of the metis of Christ and the saints to obtain from the Father of mercies the remission of the temporal punishments due for their sins. Thus the Church does not want simply to come to the aid of these Christians, but also to spur them to works of devotion, penance, and charity (Indulgentarium Doctrina 5).
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I see your point. Sorry bout that. Just wanted to get the facts out as well.
 
DVIN_CKS said:
I understand the concept behind the doctrine of Indulgences, I just am not sure if one has to publicly go to the priest to obtain them. After reading the links, it seems to me that indulgences can be granted “in private” just by saying the rosary or going to confession, etc… This is where I’m confused.
  1. An indulgence is obtained through the Church who, by virtue of the power of binding and losing granted her by Christ Jesus, intervenes in favor of individual Christians and opens for them the treasury of the metis of Christ and the saints to obtain from the Father of mercies the remission of the temporal punishments due for their sins. Thus the Church does not want simply to come to the aid of these Christians, but also to spur them to works of devotion, penance, and charity (Indulgentarium Doctrina 5).
Click to expand...
You do not need to go to a priest. The Apostolic Penitentiary (at the Vatican) grants indulgences. We receive them by doing the prescribed acts. As you know there are partial and plenary indugences. To gain, the partial indulgence, you merely need to be a baptized Christian in the state of grace, and be a subject of the one granting the indulgence. To gain a plenary one, you need to have confessed within 20 days of the acts, receive communion that same day, pray for the Holy Father’s intentions, and not be attached to sin, even venial. Of course, you also need to do the prescribed action.

Example:
Partial indulgence: sign of the cross, devout reading of scripture etc.

Plenary Indulgence: Go to adoration for at least 30 minutes, read Scripture for at least 30 minutes, in addition to the aforementioned requirements.

Go here for a full list of available partial and plenary indulgences:
ourladyswarriors.org/indulge/index.html
 
Don’t forget that praying the stations of the cross in a church can gain a plenary indulgence. This can be done as simply as praying a Glory Be in front of each station while meditating on it - good for the time-poor among us.
 
John_Henry said:
To gain a plenary one, you need to have confessed within 20 days of the acts, receive communion that same day, pray for the Holy Father’s intentions, and not be attached to sin, even venial.
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A clarification. Technically, communion can also be received within 20 days of the prescribed acts, although it is encouraged to receive on the same day. Also, one confession can serve for multiple plenary indulgences. But only one plenary indulgence can be gained from each communion. And only one plenary indulgence per day!
 
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