Whatsoever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven

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I trust that Jesus’ words to His apostles are still true today. I am in the habit of obtaining plenary indulgences for the Poor Souls, so I question one of the Church’s stipulations that one must have been to confession 20 days either before or after the work is performed in order to gain the plenary. Since I am usually in the state of grace, I asked a priest in confession whether or not this rule applies to me, since I am not always able to get to confession in that time period, but I still wish to assist the Poor Souls with a daily plenary.

He said: “You’re good!” To be sure, I asked again, “Does that mean I do not have to observe the 20-day rule and my plenary is still obtained?” He said YES. We are told by the Vatican that a confessor may commute the requirements due to “impediments.” I was not aware of any impediments, other than to say that since I had not been to confession in the time period of 20 days, I was not performing any grant to obtain a plenary indulgence, and it saddened me.

I go back to Jesus’ words that in the mouth of His priest, this obligation is “loosed” in heaven, also. But on the chance that my indulgences will be only partial due to misunderstanding him, does anyone have a sense of the rightness of my pastor’s counsel?
 
You need to trust your priest on matters of indulgences.
You presumably explained to him how you’re not always able to get to confession within the 20 days, and he accepted that as an “impediment” and commuted the requirements. The rules allow this.
I’m not seeing a big problem or reason to doubt the priest.

Having said that, and completely apart from what the priest said, I would suggest that in order for you to make the best effort you can for the Poor Souls, you try to get to confession at least once a month. That would be about every 30 days and hence would cover the most liberal interpretations of “20 days before or after”, and it’s also a reasonable frequency for confessions. Remember that the confession is helping you also, not just the Poor Souls, although I find helping others to be more of a motivation than helping myself.
 
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Sirach2 said:
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The Church grants indulgences, from the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints. With a partial indulgence the amount of indulgence is proportion to charity and perfection of act:
“Since by their acts the faithful can obtain, in addition to the merit which is the principal fruit of the act, a further remission of temporal punishment in proportion to the degree to which the charity of the one performing the act is greater, and in proportion to the degree to which the act itself is performed in a more perfect way, it has been considered fitting that this remission of temporal punishment which the Christian faithful acquire through an action should serve as the measurement for the remission of punishment which the ecclesiastical authority bountifully adds by way of partial indulgence.”
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The plenary indulgence has a greater requirement.

https://w2.vatican.va/content/paul-...-vi_apc_01011967_indulgentiarum-doctrina.html
Norm 24. Confessors can commute either the prescribed work or the conditions in favor of those for whom these are impossible because of a legitimate impediment.

Norm 25. Hierarchs or local ordinaries can grant permission to the faithful over whom they exercise legitimate authority and who live in places where it is impossible or at least very difficult to go to confession or Communion to gain a plenary indulgence without confession and Communion, provided they have contrition for their sins and have the intention of receiving these Sacraments as soon as possible.

Norm 26. Both the deaf and the mute can gain indulgences attached to public prayers if, together with the
other faithful praying in the same place, they devoutly raise their mind and affections to God;
regarding private prayers it is sufficient for them to recite the prayers mentally or express them with
signs, or simply to read them without pronouncing the words.
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H:ow comforting your message was! Thank you so much. I have been pondering this for a few months now, and I believe the peace of the Spirit within, as I read your message, is the true umpire.
 
Again, I send my thanks for this, especially your statement re the “proportion to charity and perfection of act.” As I wrote initially, it saddened me much to not be able to assist them with a grant of plenary indulgence, so knowing the charity in my heart for them, your first paragraph brought me much comfort. I do have the Manual of Indulgences, but I never stumbled on this. Is that paragraph in the Manual?
 
I don’t imagine that forgiveness is as litigious a matter as all that. As long as you are unhappy with yourself and unforgiving of yourself, it follows that being unforgiven is probably the state of mind that will follow you into the next life. Insofar as you are able to forgive yourself and others, that is likely the measure by which you’ll find absolution. I would offer that the whole affair is more of a growing and learning process than a regulated one. Otherwise a lot of really bad people who are good at following a thread of rules will be in heaven and a lot of witless good people will be in hell. I doubt if it’s about deadlines.

All the best!
 
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This isn’t really about forgiveness. It’s about indulgence practice, the rules of which are specifically set by the Church. Yes, it’s a bit “regulated” and for that reason, some people don’t want to bother with it, but those of us who do generally try to make a good faith effort to follow the Church rules on the indulgence practice.

Because indulgences are granted by the Church in its capacity to “bind and loose”, the Church also gets to set the rules for the practice. In setting the rules, the Church is trying to encourage people in behaviors that help them grow in holiness and grow closer to God, such as frequent confession and frequent Holy Communion. I personally have found it a very helpful encouragement. If the Church on the other hand said, “Oh, just go to confession whenever” instead of saying “you must go within 20 days before or after, although a priest can commute this if there is an impediment” then I probably would be going to confession every 6 months instead of twice a month.

Would every 6 months be enough to get my sins forgiven, provided I had contrition for my venial sins, I stayed out of mortal sin and I went to Mass on Sunday? Probably. But I get a lot more grace by receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation more frequently. I usually go twice a month and that covers me for the indulgence and for the First Saturday devotion. I think it really does help.
 
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Sedona said:
I don’t imagine that forgiveness is as litigious a matter as all that. As long as you are unhappy with yourself and unforgiving of yourself, it follows that being unforgiven is probably the state of mind that will follow you into the next life. Insofar as you are able to forgive yourself and others, that is likely the measure by which you’ll find absolution. I would offer that the whole affair is more of a growing and learning process than a regulated one. Otherwise a lot of really bad people who are good at following a thread of rules will be in heaven and a lot of witless good people will be in hell. I doubt if it’s about deadlines.

All the best!
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The forgiveness of temporal punishment is really a healing for sins already forgiven in their guilt and eternal punishment, which removes attachments to sin that remain.
 
Another brief question, if someone can answer. I have been viewing and praying the Holy Hour for Healing and Justice on Sunday evenings on EWTN. After the rosary is finished, Father offers the prayers for the intention of the Holy Father, “to gain the plenary indulgence.”
Is this just for those who are in attendance in their chapel and are able to obtain the indulgence, or does it also apply to those viewing and participating by TV at home? I have left this in God’s hands, but was wondering if passive attendance qualifies?
 
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i don’t watch that program, but from the preview for it, it appears they are praying the rosary in a church, which qualifies for the plenary indulgence, and may also be adoring the Blessed Sacrament in person, which if done for a half hour or more qualifies for the plenary indulgence.

If you are praying the Rosary along at home (not in a church or oratory) you qualify for the plenary indulgence if you’re praying it in a family group, religious community or pious association; but if you’re just praying along with the TV in your house all by yourself, technically that doesn’t meet the plenary requirements. The people praying it in person at the church, shrine, etc. would qualify because they’re praying it out loud in a church. Of course, one could say that God would give you credit anyway but we’re just talking about the Church’s rules in the Manual.

Likewise, I researched whether adoring the Blessed Sacrament via electronic means (TV, internet) could qualify for the indulgence if you adored for a half hour and the answer from the Church is, no it doesn’t. If you want the indulgence you need to go adore the Blessed Sacrament in person, although the Host doesn’t need to be exposed so you could just sit in any church with a tabernacle containing the Blessed Sacrament and adore.

Since all my family members have died I find myself having some headaches on some days trying to find a church that is open for one or the other of these activities, or for Stations of the Cross which technically require stations with a cross at each, which many modern churches don’t have (they have stations but they somehow forgot about the requirement for a cross). On those days I fall back on the activity we can do anywhere and by ourselves to get a plenary, which is read Scripture for at least 1/2 hour.
 
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Thanks once again. I had the feeling it was just for those in the chapel. And yes, they do begin with exposing the Blessed Sacrament. The EWTN holy hour is for the current scandal in the church, for victims, clergy and faithful who have their faith compromised due to it. Even though I am not able to obtain a plenary, that is not my primary motive for participating. I really do join my prayer with all who may be praying along with EWTN for that intention.
The half hour scripture reading is a wonderful practice to gain a plenary, and does not need to be done in church. I have often made use of that grant. 😀
 
I’m sure in addition to the prayers helping the Church and the victims and all affected by the scandal, you get a partial indulgence for praying along, since the manual so states that if all the rosary conditions aren’t met you still get the partial. That can certainly help the Holy Souls too. After all we do not know how much the partial might be. It could be 99 percent of a plenary if the Lord wishes.
 
I found it - page 142. You have been a blessing to me - thanks again, Vico!
 
I like the last part, “It could be 99 percent of a plenary if the Lord wishes.” So helpful! I get the feeling you may be a priest?
 
Sirach2 said:
I like the last part, “It could be 99 percent of a plenary if the Lord wishes.” So helpful! I get the feeling you may be a priest?
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Tis_bearself is not a priest, however she is very wise. She is a great benefit to our little community here, and many of us are very greatful to have her around.
 
Heavens, no. I wanted to be a Jesuit when I was young, but I’m a woman, so no go.
I have been doing daily plenary indulgence practice for over a year. I was doing it sporadically before then but stepped it up to daily because Fr. Richard Heilman, whose prayer group I follow, promoted the devotion.
I try to help out with indulgence questions on here because I’ve done a lot of research.
 
Thank you mrsdizzyd for the kind words.
Any benefit I provide comes not from me but from the Lord working through me. Please give Him all the glory.
On my own I am nothing and can do nothing.
 
I am presently reading Susan Tassone’s book on the Holy Souls, wherein she shares the revelations of many saints about Purgatory. She has appeared many times on EWTN, and perked my interest with her excellent witness. She, too, like you and some of us, is a very avid devotee of devotions for these souls. I’ve learned a lot from her from what I have read so far.
Keep up the good work!
Our church is holding Adoration and Benediction today in honor of Christ the King, so there is yet another opportunity to gain a plenary.
 
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