Writer seeking information

[religionwriter]

Hello all,
I am a religion reporter for a major daily newspaper, researching a story about indulgences. My background is not Catholic, so I am only familiar with the concept in the context of history lessons about Martin Luther and the way the sale of indulgences in the Middle Ages factored in the Reformation movement. I realize that indulgences have always remained part of church tradition, and that they have not been sold since the age of the Crusades. But they seem to have been much less in use after Vatican II, only to be restored by Pope John Paul II in the year 2000, in honor of theJubilee Year. 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. Statistics gathered by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops indicate that 75 percent of Catholics surveyed in 2006 never participate in the sacrament of reconciliation, or do so less than once a year. 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…

 

[JeanneH]

I think you will find what you need here

newadvent.org/cathen/07783a.htm

 

[MarcoPolo]

I’m not aware that indulgences were in “much less use” until JP2. Where does that come from?

If you are looking for updated stats from the USCCB, I’d email them. You can read about indulgences explained such as from here or here or here.

You might also try to search a Catholic news service like Zenit and search recent articles for “indulgences”.

God bless, feel free to ask anything else specific.

 

[Tom]

First of all you need to understand what an indulgence is and what it is not. It is not a “ticket” to heaven. No free ride. No guarantee acceptance.
It is closely related to Reconciliation or confession and Penance. When we sin we not only injure or relationship with God but we also do harm to ourselves and society in general. It does multiple harm.
There are repercussions to our actions. Although we receive forgiveness in the Sacrament of reconciliation the results of our sins still affect ourselves, others, and society.
These are temporal affects of our sins. As an example, if a married man commits adultery. He may well receive absolution from this sin by confession, however his actions have affected others, the person he committed adultery with, all those who know of his affair, and society in general by acceptance of sinful behavior and he himself. To receive an indulgence the sin must have already been forgiven, the usual means is reconciliation.
An indulgence is the remission before God of these temporal punishments due to a sin which has already been forgiven. It can either be partial or plenary. Plenary removes all of the temporal punishment. It must be pointed out that an indulgence is not for forgivness of sin. It is solely for the remission of temporal affects of sin. If we die in the good grace of God yet have not satisfied the remission of these temporal affects. We will be cleansed of them by a purging in what is termed Purgatory. In Purgatory we are cleansed of these imperfections, or if we have had an indulgence applied to us, by the Church, the temporal affects would already have been cleansed. We do not “get or earn” an indulgence, it is dispensed by the Church.
An indulgence is certainly not necessary, however it draws the person closer to God. The indulgence can be applied to ones self or to another.

 

[JeanneH]

I guess the above is not what you are looking for,

Speaking for my self only, I don’t believe in indulgences. I don’t believe that praying a certain novena or praying a special formula will shorten my stay in purgatory.

JeanneH

 

[Tom]

Speaking for my self only, I don’t believe in indulgences. I don’t believe that praying a certain novena or praying a special formula will shorten my stay in purgatory.
JeanneH

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm#1471
The Catechism gives an excellent explanation.

http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:

IN BRIEF
1485 “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week,” Jesus showed himself to his apostles. “He breathed on them, and said to them: 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained”’ (Jn 20:19, 22-23).
1486 The forgiveness of sins committed after Baptism is conferred by a particular sacrament called the sacrament of conversion, confession, penance, or reconciliation.
1487 The sinner wounds God’s honor and love, his own human dignity as a man called to be a son of God, and the spiritual well-being of the Church, of which each Christian ought to be a living stone.
1488 To the eyes of faith no evil is graver than sin and nothing has worse consequences for sinners themselves, for the Church, and for the whole world.
1489 To return to communion with God after having lost it through sin is a process born of the grace of God who is rich in mercy and solicitous for the salvation of men. One must ask for this precious gift for oneself and for others.
1490 The movement of return to God, called conversion and repentance, entails sorrow for and abhorrence of sins committed, and the firm purpose of sinning no more in the future. Conversion touches the past and the future and is nourished by hope in God’s mercy.
1491 The sacrament of Penance is a whole consisting in three actions of the penitent and the priest’s absolution. The penitent’s acts are repentance, confession or disclosure of sins to the priest, and the intention to make reparation and do works of reparation.
1492 Repentance (also called contrition) must be inspired by motives that arise from faith. If repentance arises from love of charity for God, it is called “perfect” contrition; if it is founded on other motives, it is called “imperfect.”
1493 One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience. The confession of venial faults, without being necessary in itself, is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.
1494 The confessor proposes the performance of certain acts of “satisfaction” or “penance” to be performed by the penitent in order to repair the harm caused by sin and to re-establish habits befitting a disciple of Christ.
1495 Only priests who have received the faculty of absolving from the authority of the Church can forgive sins in the name of Christ.
1496 The spiritual effects of the sacrament of Penance are: 
- reconciliation with God by which the penitent recovers grace; 
- reconciliation with the Church; 
- remission of the eternal punishment incurred by mortal sins; 
- remission, at least in part, of temporal punishments resulting from sin; 
- peace and serenity of conscience, and spiritual consolation; 
- an increase of spiritual strength for the Christian battle.
1497 Individual and integral confession of grave sins followed by absolution remains the only ordinary means of reconciliation with God and with the Church.
1498 Through indulgences the faithful can obtain the remission of temporal punishment resulting from sin for themselves and also for the souls in Purgatory.

 

[Joycelyn6]

I guess the above is not what you are looking for,

Speaking for my self only, I don’t believe in indulgences. I don’t believe that praying a certain novena or praying a special formula will shorten my stay in purgatory.

JeanneH

But you believe in purgation? I assume you believe in the power of prayer in general, why would it somehow lose it’s power simply because a person is going through purgation? One of our “proofs” if you will for purgation is the Maccabees passage where they are praying for the dead. Logic reasons they can’t be in Heaven for those in Heaven have no need of your prayers, likewise those in Hell can not be helped by them. Deduction gives us a 3rd “place” (if you will). But more importantly that same passage not only reaffirms such a place, but the power of prayer to affect those in that state. Now remember that was from the OT, do some research on Jewish mourning rituals and you will see again how a similar idea to Purgatory and likewise the efficacy of prayers for the dead was present even to them.

Finally remember how St. Paul says his sufferings are adding to Christ’s sacrifice. This shows that our sufferings and prayers have merit. And being part of the body of Christ if we aquire indulgences but are able to die in a state of grace then those go to another part of the Body that does need them.

Hope this helps put a new perspective on it.

In His Love,
joyce

 

[BlestOne]

I agree that you need to understand what indulgences are and what they are not. Every indulgence has a few things in common… mainly that there is a requirement of confessing your sins within a week or so of completing the requirements of an indulgence and usually receiving the Eucharist. For example, making a pilgrimage to our national shrine has been granted an indulgence.

An indulgence is a remission of the temporal punishment due for sins committed. A plenary indulgence is the remission of all punishment.

One must fulfill the normal requirements set by the church for all plenary indulgences. These include going to confession within a reasonably short period of time, receiving the Eucharist and praying for the intentions of the pope.

Most non-Catholics equate indulgences with money… read the history… At the time of Martin Luther there was a small area in his region that were selling indulgences… they were completely wrong to sell them and that was stopped as soon as it was found out by the authorities. This was not a world wide thing nor was it a common practice.

Basically, there are certain acts that have been named as acts that are worthy of indulgences. Things like pilgrimages, saying prayers, doing certain acts of charity… but if you look at each one of these, it never once says pay a fee but it does say to go to mass and to confession. That is not to say that one can’t find an indulgence that’s requirements are to support a worthy charity… but it isn’t about money, it is about support… financial or otherwise… I support my local Catholic school with my time and talent but not with my money… they are grateful and so am I because I see and feel the fruits of my labors.

As for the other part of what you said about pre-Vatican II… I have never heard that either and would be interested to see a reference.

 

[reggieM]

Hello all,
I am a religion reporter for a major daily newspaper, researching a story about indulgences. My background is not Catholic, so I am only familiar with the concept in the context of history lessons about Martin Luther and the way the sale of indulgences in the Middle Ages factored in the Reformation movement. I realize that indulgences have always remained part of church tradition, and that they have not been sold since the age of the Crusades. But they seem to have been much less in use after Vatican II, only to be restored by Pope John Paul II in the year 2000, in honor of theJubilee Year. 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. Statistics gathered by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops indicate that 75 percent of Catholics surveyed in 2006 never participate in the sacrament of reconciliation, or do so less than once a year. 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…

Interesting questions and thanks for coming here to seek some information and answers. That says a lot about your interest in providing balanced and well-informed work – kudos to you for that.

I think the trend is pretty much as you’ve described it. Prior to Vatican II, indulgences were a significant part of the ordinary, practicing Catholic’s life. Most people had two important “tools” for living Catholicism – 1. the Sunday Missal and 2. A pocket prayer book. Both of those told about indulgences, feast days and other special blessings (scapular promise, first Friday’s etc).

Of course, in the US, far more Catholics attended Mass back then. There were also public novenas, processions and other devotions (exposition of relics, Benedictions, etc) that were weekly occurrences in many parishes.

After Vatican II, in the 1970s, amost all of that died a sudden death. There were a handful of old priests who kept things alive, but most of the parishes moved to “community” sorts of worship and took the focus off of indulgences and personal penance. Plus, with Ecumenism growing, Catholic leaders did not want the memory of Martin Luther or the abuses that did occur in the past, to ruin the friendly relations that were building.

Pope John Paul II did mention indulgences a couple of times, I think – the first time it got some laughs or even shock from people who thought indulgences were dead. But slowly, the faithful began picking up on indulgences.

We keep in mind also that there was a revision of the Raccolta (Handbook of Indulgences) which made them simpler and fewer. The old indulgences had things like “300 days” or “500 days” and people thought that meant “500 days off in purgatory”, but what it actually was supposed to mean was “the equivalent of 500 days of penance”. That system was discarded in favor of just “plenary” and “partial” indulgences.

I still think that a lot of people do not use this treasury of grace that the Chuch provides.

Although, I will say that the greatest indulgence that Pope John Paul II publicized (he didn’t create it but just gave it focus), is the “Saint Faustina indulgence” (not an official or correct term) on what was later called “Mercy Sunday” – the Sunday after Easter.

From my own experience – people flock to churches for the Indulgence on that day.

So, indulgences are getting more popular. I would hope that private confession is also growing in popularity also because the numbers you quoted (I don’t doubt them at all) are horrific.

 

[neophyte]

Hello all,
I am a religion reporter for a major daily newspaper, researching a story about indulgences. …Please illuminate and discuss. Thank you very much…

You’ve received some very good responses thus far. I’d like to add a couple of comments, and ask my bretheren in advance for correction if I get something wrong.

You may be aware of the Jewish concept of tikkun olam, “the repair of the world”. God gives us the opportunity to participate in his work of repairing the world, and we do that by doing good works. Good works can include such things as charitable contributios - alms for the poor, contributions to the Synagogue building fund, and the like. God looks favorably on works of tikkun olam. There’s a wonderful prayer that goes (forgive the poor transliteration) “baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu, melech ha-olam, shanatan l’anu hiz-damnut l’tikein et ha’olam”, which roughly means “blessed are you, Lord our God, ruler of the universe, who allows us to help repair the world” It’s a joyous thing, a blessing to be able to do it.

Indulgences involve a similar aspect of participation in Gods repair of the world. We cooperate in allowing God to use us as a vehicle for his work, thus demonstrating true contrition for our sins and making real reparations for the damage that we’ve done to the world.

It’s sadly true that the potential for the abuse of charitable giving has been realized on occasion in the past, but in fact indulgences cannot be bought or sold. The attempt to buy a spiritual gift is called “simony”, and it’s a very serious sin - in fact, to do so demonstrates that one does not have the intent necessary to receive an indulgence at all.

My understanding is that one of the results of past abuses is that monetary gifts are no longer allowed to be connected with indulgences,

As for your question about JPII restoring indulgences to use, that’s not really true because they never went out of use at all. It’s certainly possible that a growing number of the laity stopped thinking about them, but they’ve always been available.

Oh, and welcome to the CA forums.

 

[Teflon93]

Indulgences are still in use today.

For example, in the Diocese of Charlotte, we may receive an indulgence by attending Mass at St Lawrence Basilica in Asheville, a beautiful church. It’s a small pilgrimage.

The Catholic Catechism is here:

scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

Here is what it says regarding indulgences:

X. INDULGENCES

1471 The doctrine and practice of indulgences in the Church are closely linked to the effects of the sacrament of Penance.

What is an indulgence?

"An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints."81

"An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin."82 The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the dead.83

The punishments of sin

1472 To understand this doctrine and practice of the Church, it is necessary to understand that sin has a double consequence. Grave sin deprives us of communion with God and therefore makes us incapable of eternal life, the privation of which is called the “eternal punishment” of sin. On the other hand every sin, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which must be purified either here on earth, or after death in the state called Purgatory. This purification frees one from what is called the “temporal punishment” of sin. These two punishments must not be conceived of as a kind of vengeance inflicted by God from without, but as following from the very nature of sin. A conversion which proceeds from a fervent charity can attain the complete purification of the sinner in such a way that no punishment would remain.84

1473 The forgiveness of sin and restoration of communion with God entail the remission of the eternal punishment of sin, but temporal punishment of sin remains. While patiently bearing sufferings and trials of all kinds and, when the day comes, serenely facing death, the Christian must strive to accept this temporal punishment of sin as a grace. He should strive by works of mercy and charity, as well as by prayer and the various practices of penance, to put off completely the “old man” and to put on the "new man."85

 

[JeanneH]

Hi Joyce

But you believe in purgation?

Yes

I assume you believe in the power of prayer in general, why would it somehow lose it’s power simply because a person is going through purgation?

Yes, and prayer never loses its power

One of our “proofs” if you will for purgation is the Maccabees passage where they are praying for the dead. Logic reasons they can’t be in Heaven for those in Heaven have no need of your prayers, likewise those in Hell can not be helped by them. Deduction gives us a 3rd “place” (if you will). But more importantly that same passage not only reaffirms such a place, but the power of prayer to affect those in that state. Now remember that was from the OT, do some research on Jewish mourning rituals and you will see again how a similar idea to Purgatory and likewise the efficacy of prayers for the dead was present even to them.

I don’t see what the above has to do with indulgences. I believe in praying for those in purgatory: as you said, those in heaven don’t need prayers and it is too late for those in hell.

Finally remember how St. Paul says his sufferings are adding to Christ’s sacrifice. This shows that our sufferings and prayers have merit. And being part of the body of Christ if we aquire indulgences but are able to die in a state of grace then those go to another part of the Body that does need them.

I agree that our sufferings and prayers have merit. Where do indulgences come from? Where does it say in the bible we can accumulate indulgences? It does say to pray for the souls of the dead and for each other. I just don’t believe in indulgences. To me they are a man made thing.

God Bless

Jeanne

 

[Teflon93]

I agree that our sufferings and prayers have merit. Where do indulgences come from? Where does it say in the bible we can accumulate indulgences? It does say to pray for the souls of the dead and for each other. I just don’t believe in indulgences. To me they are a man made thing.

God Bless

Jeanne

What do you think “binding and loosing” means?

 

[jmcrae]

The classical definition of an Indulgence is, the remission, in whole or in part, (hence “plenary” and “partial”) of the temporal punishment due to sin.

It is a favour or concession given by God, whereby a slight penance is permitted to take the place of a severe penalty.

The severe penalty in question is the punishment that would normally occur in Purgatory. You can actually release souls from Purgatory, by getting Plenary Indulgences and dedicating them to those souls.

 

[jmcrae]

I agree that our sufferings and prayers have merit. Where do indulgences come from?

From the power of the Church to bind and loose.

Where does it say in the bible we can accumulate indulgences?

You can’t actually “accumulate” Indulgences. They apply to the particular moment in time when you receive them. Either they remit the temporal punishment that is due to yourself up to that moment in your life (but not beyond that moment - they don’t apply to any future penalties that you might incur) or else, if you so choose, they are applied to whichever souls in Purgatory that you designate, at that time. But you can never have more than one Indulgence at a time, because they occur in sequence - they don’t pile up.

 

[jmcrae]

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.

In my personal experience (purely anecdotal, of course), those Catholics who are actively interested in receiving Indulgences are already strongly in the habit of going regularly to Confession and to daily Mass. In other words, before a Catholic starts getting interested in Indulgences, he is already going to Confession regularly. I haven’t noticed it happening the other way around - people who aren’t interested in doing more than the minimum requirements also aren’t interested in receiving Indulgences.

But, if they become interested in their faith, usually what happens is, they start attending Mass more often, and then from there, they start going to Confession more often, and then, some time after that, they start getting into personal devotions such as the Rosary, and then, as time goes on, they become interested in Indulgences, because of something that they run across in their devotional reading, or else because of something that a priest tells them in the Confessional, or else someone who is practicing a similar personal devotion mentions something to them about it.

This is just my own personal observation. So far, I haven’t ever heard of anyone who was a lukewarm Catholic, who got interested in Indulgences before they started going back to Confession on a regular basis - I’ve always seen it the other way around.

 

[rfpapcun]

**Where does it say in the bible we can accumulate indulgences? **

Is the Bible the correct benchmark with which to measure doctrine? I think not.

The Church existed before the New Testament was written. The Church is responsible for selecting the books of the Bible. Even the Bible says that the Church is the pillar and foundation of the truth!

 

[JeanneH]

What do you think “binding and loosing” means?

I think binding and loosing means that when we confess our sins to a priest he either gives us absolution or not. So if we get absolution and our sins are forgiven we still suffer the consequences of sin ie purgatory.
How can anything shorten our time in purgatory when purgatory is in God’s time and not our time. God sees in past, present and future at the same time.So shortening purgatory in our time doesn’t mean too much to me.

God Bless
Jeanne

 

[Teflon93]

I think binding and loosing means that when we confess our sins to a priest he either gives us absolution or not. So if we get absolution and our sins are forgiven we still suffer the consequences of sin ie purgatory.
How can anything shorten our time in purgatory when purgatory is in God’s time and not our time. God sees in past, present and future at the same time.So shortening purgatory in our time doesn’t mean too much to me.

God Bless
Jeanne

Do you see how your second statement contradicts your first?

 

[JeanneH]

**Where does it say in the bible we can accumulate indulgences? **

Is the Bible the correct benchmark with which to measure doctrine? I think not.

OK if not from the bible then where did the doctrine of indulgences come from? An honest question. I really need to understand. A pope–a church father?

God Bless Jeanne