"What are indulgences?" - A Link You Can Share with Others

[Sirach23v27]

I recently shared this link on another CAF thread (under “Liturgy and Sacraments”), but I thought this would be more appropriate here under Apologetics… This document linked below (“What are indulgences?”) was posted to one parish website on Easter of this year (2013) and provides an explanation of indulgences (particularly for this special “Year of Faith”):

saintgerard.org/graphics/UploadFile/582/13204/what_are_indulgences_.pdf

Please read this :coffeeread: and if you personally find it helpful, consider sharing the above link with others who aren’t on CAF but may also find it helpful. If it’s not helpful for you, it might still be helpful for other people you may know.

If anyone wishes to reply to this posting, I ask that you please remember to “Quote” the above URL so that others who might read any responses on this CAF thread will have easy access to this link. Just look for the “Quote” button below or around this posting.
Christ is Risen,
Sirach23v27

 

[Gaerteuth]

If I recall correctly, indulgences were popularized in 15th and 16th century Europe as a way to “buy out” of sin. It’s a very taboo mistake of the Church and in many ways it is a reflection of modern Scientology.

 

[Steveabrous]

If I recall correctly, indulgences were popularized in 15th and 16th century Europe as a way to “buy out” of sin. It’s a very taboo mistake of the Church and in many ways it is a reflection of modern Scientology.

Indulgences have been around since the beginning. They are best known for the abuses that happened in the 15th century. Indulgences are a spiritual truth from Christ not a mistake of the church. They have nothing to do with the forgiveness of sins. That is a common misconception.

 

[Zekariya]

I always post this when people ask about indulgences. Anyone that finds it useful may feel free to steal it from me and alter it needed.

We ask the saints to pray for us. We pray for the souls in purgatory. Only those who die in a state of grace are in purgatory.

When you commit a sin after baptism, there is a temporal punishment you must pay.

An example: A lapsed Catholic murders a man. His temporal punishment is life in prison. He confesses the sin (with true repentance) and is absolved. He still must pay the temporal punishment either in prison for life or in purgatory.

We can offer our penance, sufferings, prayers, and indulgences on behalf of our sins to shorten purgatory.

An indulgence pays for our temporal punishments that we earn from sin that we commit. When we die, if we have not paid for all of our temporal punishments, we will pay for them in purgatory.

A partial indulgence remits part of our temporal punishment. A plenary indulgence remits all of our temporal punishment we have earned up to that point.

Note: Baptism remits all sins and temporal punishment. Confession remits only sins.

We can gain indulgences for the poor souls in purgatory and pray for them.