What are the conditions for a full or partial indulgence?

[atassina]

I’m having a difficult time of developing a list of conditions and requirements for a full (plenary) indulgence and a partial indulgence. So far I have this list. What am I missing?
I don’t want all the details. I just want the bottom line requirements.

Full Indulgence Requirements:
-Be in the state of grace
-Complete detachment from all sin
-Sacramental confession within 20 days before or after performing the indulgenced work
-Receive the Holy Eucharist
-Pray for the Pope

Partial Indulgence Requirements:
-Be in a state of grace
-In prayer offer up my daily trials
or
-Perform an act of charity or mercy
or
-In prayer deprive myself of what is legal and pleasing to me

 

[tee_eff_em]

Full Indulgence Requirements:
-Be in the state of grace
-Complete detachment from all sin
-Sacramental confession within 20 days before or after performing the indulgenced work
-Receive the Holy Eucharist
-Pray for the Pope

I think it is Sacramental Confession within 10 days before or after completing the indulgence (for a window totalling 20 days), but I could be mistaken?

tee

 

[Snugglebugmom]

I’ve been thinking about this subject as well. If I understand correctly, “attachment to sin” includes continual venial sins like smoking. So a smoker would never be able to obtain a plenary indulgence? Or am I misunderstanding? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[tee_eff_em]

I’ve been thinking about this subject as well. If I understand correctly, “attachment to sin” includes continual venial sins like smoking. So a smoker would never be able to obtain a plenary indulgence? Or am I misunderstanding? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Perhaps in your judgment that smoking is a venial sin? cf. Incarnationis Mysterium.

tee

 

[Snugglebugmom]

I wouldn’t call it a judgment, that is not how it was meant anyway. I am a smoker myself. I have always understood that smoking is a venial sin because it harms your body. Thank you for the clarification, the link you provided was very helpful!

 

[tee_eff_em]

[Not to derail the thread, but:]

I didn’t mean anything bad by *judgment *(estimation, opinion).

Nor was I explicit about the alternative: Either it is mistaken to consider smoking as a venial sin, or it is mistaken that *“attachment to sin” includes continual venial sins *(or both are mistakes).

I really do not know which.

tee

 

[atassina]

I’ve been thinking about this subject as well. If I understand correctly, “attachment to sin” includes continual venial sins like smoking. So a smoker would never be able to obtain a plenary indulgence? Or am I misunderstanding? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Why is smoking a venial sin? From what I can tell, smoking is no more a sin than social drinking, gourmet dining or dune buggy racing.:juggle:

 

[Pug]

I think it is Sacramental Confession within 10 days before or after completing the indulgence (for a window totalling 20 days), but I could be mistaken?

tee

Mistaken, to my knowledge. This was changed at/near the great Jubilee, and remains in effect, unless something very recent has happened. Twenty before or after is the right number from the Jubilee thing called “gift of the indulgence”.

To atassina,

I can’t tell if you are including that you can only get one plenary(full) per day, ordinarily. So that is another condition, that you haven’t already gotten one for the day. Oh, also for either kind you need to be Catholic (not excommunicated) and have an intention to gain an indulgence.

 

[Snugglebugmom]

It was my understanding that smoking was a venial sin against the fifth commandment. I found this in several examinations of conscience, here are two links:

saintjosephs-modesto.org/education/documents/ExaminationofConscience-forAdults.pdf

catholicparents.org/oxcart/Examination%20of%20Conscience.pdf

There are more, but I figured it was rather silly to keep posting the same thing over and over.
If I am wrong, I am thrilled about that. I happily stand corrected.

 

[atassina]

Mistaken, to my knowledge. This was changed at/near the great Jubilee, and remains in effect, unless something very recent has happened. Twenty before or after is the right number from the Jubilee thing called “gift of the indulgence”.

To atassina,

I can’t tell if you are including that you can only get one plenary(full) per day, ordinarily. So that is another condition, that you haven’t already gotten one for the day. Oh, also for either kind you need to be Catholic (not excommunicated) and have an intention to gain an indulgence.

Pug: Thanks. I hadn’t thought about the part of being Catholic. I once made a bet in a casino and didn’t know what I was doing; I still took the money when I won. Why would I have to intend to gain the indulgence if I fulfill all the other requirements of the indulgence?

 

[Pug]

Pug: Thanks. I hadn’t thought about the part of being Catholic. I once made a bet in a casino and didn’t know what I was doing; I still took the money when I won. Why would I have to intend to gain the indulgence if I fulfill all the other requirements of the indulgence?

I think this is so that you are deliberately getting it, that you know about it or are aware of it. Many prayers and things that people do are indulgenced, like making the sign of the cross. The Church would like to encourage us to do these things while holding the spiritual benefit of others in our minds. So, make the sign of the cross for the souls in purgatory. Charity, solidarity, etc. is encouraged this way, as well as prayer and right belief in the Trinity and the communion of saints. Oh, I suppose also an awareness of how sins have effects, so we try harder not to do them. Remember, only a plenary indulgence requires so many conditions and such. Partial indulgences don’t require so much, so people are eligible for them all the time.

Actually, any Catholic who goes to daily mass and prays for the pope beforehand, strives for holiness, and goes to monthly confession is a good ways toward getting a plenary indulgence a day, just on their habits alone. They might want to pick a work that is enriched with a plenary indulgence to do daily.

In case it wasn’t clear, it is in the indulgence rules that the Church has that one must have an intention to gain the indulgence, at least some type of habitual intention.