Writer seeking information

[JeanneH]

Jeanne-

I have two recommendations. First, read the articles I posted above by Jimmy Akin. This will take a few minutes and cost you nothing.

Second, purchase Jimmy Akin’s book, The Salvation Controversy which covers indulgences in an excellent chapter.

Randy,

thanks. I will read the articles and probably purchase the book.
I appreciate everyone trying to help me understand.
I was told about indulgences in Catholic grade school. Told not instructed so I am trying to understand. Some one mentioned that I have a mental block and I think that he is right, but I am trying.
Thanks to all
God Bless
Jeanne

 

[Teflon93]

Randy,

thanks. I will read the articles and probably purchase the book.
I appreciate everyone trying to help me understand.
I was told about indulgences in Catholic grade school. Told not instructed so I am trying to understand. Some one mentioned that I have a mental block and I think that he is right, but I am trying.
Thanks to all
God Bless
Jeanne

We all have mental blocks when it comes to some aspect or other of the faith. If we could process it fully and assent to it, what need would we have for faith?

I’m reminded of my deacon’s response during RCIA when someone asked him what Purgatory was like. “I don’t know—when you get there come back and tell me!”

No matter how we slice it, there is a mystery at the heart of Christianity, one the depths of which we shall not fully plumb this side of heaven.

 

[MarcoPolo]

No matter how we slice it, there is a mystery at the heart of Christianity, one the depths of which we shall not fully plumb this side of heaven.

1 Cor 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

 

[CentralFLJames]

Hello all,
…
I would be interested in hearing from Catholics about their understanding of indulgences – and whether they have taken up Pope Benedict’s offer of indulgences in honor of the celebration of St. Paul this year.

…Further, I have wondered whether the practice of receiving indulgences has, as a side-effect, also re-kindled the practice of confession, or reconciliation, among Catholics who may have fallen out of the habit of confession.
…
Has the re-emphasis on indulgence changed that for people in any way? I realize this is a lot to bite off in one question, but it seems there would be some connection. Please illuminate and discuss. Thank you very much…

Great topic - and thanks for asking.

I for one am a Catholic who has rediscovered our rich Catholic teaching and tradition on indulgences. I see it as an incredibly wonderful spiritual tool that should be part of every Christian’s regenerative Life In Christ. It is important to understand that Catholics believe that we are over our lives perfected by God’s grace in a divinization process of infused grace that does transformational works in us so we may serve God (and Neighbor) and be pleasing and acceptable to Him. Indulgences give us a framework for personal repentance through a discipline of personal penance as well as an opportunity to simultaneous do good Christian works of charity in helping the deceased. This latter aspect is in fact a moral obligation to help those who are in purgatory and in The Church Suffering (Ecclesia Penitens or aka The Church Expectant - Ecclesia Expectans). So there are two principal aspects to indulgencs - helping others deceased as well as helping ourselves repent and transform ourselves and advance in holiness. This of course is all part of the sharing in sufferage of each other as well as in using our spiritual gifts to advance God’s Kingdom on earth.

To answer your question I have not focused on the special indulgences offered in honor of St. Paul’s Jubilee Year but have habitually done many other of the more accessible indulgences that are listed in the Enchiridion of Indulgences issued on 29 June 1968. This Enchiridion list already has a generous collection of accessible indulgences that can be exercised daily and the extra ones added in honor of St. Paul further expand the list and motivate additional devotional and pious practice.
A Sample of Daily Full Plenary Indulgences:

Reading of Sacred Scripture for 30 minutes or more
Recitation of the Marian Rosary
Exercise of the Way of the Cross
Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament

Had the practice of receiving indulgences has, as a side-effect, also re-kindled the practice of confession, or reconciliation, among Catholics who may have fallen out of the habit of confession?

YES! I am seeing a marked increase in the numbers of people going to confession and with more frequency. Those that might have only gone once per year in prior times are now going monthly and even bi-weekly. There is a real thirst among the laity to advance in holiness and to maintain an inner sanctification and purity. People are really rediscovering that to be a Christian one MUST have a genuine inner transformation and make deliberate efforts to cooperate with God’s grace. Indulgences I think are a huge part of this since the normative means to attain a full indulgence requires freedom from grave sin and all attachment to it (even after forgivness) and the receipt of communion within a short time period before or after exercising the indulged devotional. Catholics are really starting to see themselves as real spiritual assets of The Church and of God that we need to keep polished so we may help the deceased in our prayers and each other. The more pious and holy a person becomes the more efficacy they have in gaining the full plenary indulgence and not falling short to a partial indulgence - which is a HUGE spiritual gift to give a deceased person – not to mention its benefit to us personally.

Hope this helps,
James

 

[JeanneH]

Hi James

Originally Posted by A Sample of Daily Full Plenary Indulgences
Reading of Sacred Scripture for 30 minutes or more
*Recitation of the Marian Rosary *
*Exercise of the Way of the Cross *
*Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament *

Thanks for the post. I do several of the above and didn’t realize I was gaining indulgences. I am thrilled to say the least. Thanks

Jeanne

 

[Teflon93]

1 Cor 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

A beautiful—and beautifully apt!— passage indeed.

It must have appealed mightily to St Augustine’s Platonism, surely.

Not to mention to the Greeks when St Paul joined the great philosophers in stepping into the agora.

 

[CentralFLJames]

Hi James

Originally Posted by A Sample of Daily Full Plenary Indulgences
Reading of Sacred Scripture for 30 minutes or more
*Recitation of the Marian Rosary *
*Exercise of the Way of the Cross *
*Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament *

Thanks for the post. I do several of the above and didn’t realize I was gaining indulgences. I am thrilled to say the least. Thanks

Jeanne

Yes Jeanne - but to gain the full plenary please remember the ordinary conditions still apply. One needs to go to confession within 7 days or so either side of the act and receive the sacrament of communion. One must also say a short prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father (Our Father and Hail Mary).

If you have no attachment to sin God will grant you that full indulgence otherwise you gain something less. I’d pick a day or two where you focus to devote these indulgences to specific family member or friends etc. or to “the soul most in need of it”. No prayer or indulgence is every wasted and God will direct His grace to the highest and best use as He judges. The important thing is to think of ourselves as little conduits of grace within the Church that we can direct like a life line to those in need. It helps us to remember that we need to stay in a state of grace and be ever ready to be called into action and spiritual service.

James

 

[JeanneH]

Hi James

Yes Jeanne - but to gain the full plenary please remember the ordinary conditions still apply. One needs to go to confession within 7 days or so either side of the act and receive the sacrament of communion. One must also say a short prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father (Our Father and Hail Mary).

If you have no attachment to sin God will grant you that full indulgence otherwise you gain something less. I’d pick a day or two where you focus to devote these indulgences to specific family member or friends etc. or to “the soul most in need of it”. No prayer or indulgence is every wasted and God will direct His grace to the highest and best use as He judges. The important thing is to think of ourselves as little conduits of grace within the Church that we can direct like a life line to those in need. It helps us to remember that we need to stay in a state of grace and be ever ready to be called into action and spiritual service.

Thanks James

My very special thing to do is Adoration. I love being in the physical presence of God so to speak. I know that I am in His presence all the time but when I can see the Host I see Jesus and that makes it more special for me. I do say a few prayers but mostly I just sit/kneel in front of the Host and just be and wait for Jesus to speak to me. That is the only time that I am “quiet” with out and outside noise or thoughts.

I have/am learning a lot about indulgences here something that I didn’t learn or forgot from my Catholic school days.

thanks all what a great group you all are
God Bless
Jeanne

 

[Verbum_Caro]

Oh oh folks!
wdtprs.com/blog/2009/02/nyt-article-on-indulgences/

??

If this is the article the original poster mentioned. . . .

VC

 

[Verbum_Caro]

If this is the article the original poster mentioned. . . .

. . . then, all in all, it seemed to turn out relatively ok, considering other articles we’ve seen. I would have preferred quotes from other sources, however.

VC

 

[reggieM]

. . . then, all in all, it seemed to turn out relatively ok, considering other articles we’ve seen. I would have preferred quotes from other sources, however.

VC

Fr. Z gets a bit excessive in his use of intra-text commentary. I find it very hard to read his columns sometimes. Too much bold and then bold red, then **bold red exclamation points!!! **

I agree with his overall sentiments though.

The article wasn’t that bad but we could do with less Fr. McBrien. Perhaps the good thing is that they can’t find any other dissenters that anyone cares about.

It’s good to see indulgences making the pages of the NY Times in any case.

 

[CentralFLJames]

Reading that article and not losing one’s anger or becoming frustrated should be a suffrage of penance worthy of at least a partial indulgence.

As it is - with Lent coming up that section of the NY Times newspaper will make an apropos mullet wrapper or else a great absorber to place the oily fried codfish cakes on if the ink can stand up to the test.

James