In my previous article, which is archived in this web site, the
definition of indulgence was defined from the Catechism of the Catholic Church as: "...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." (1471)
In last week'™s article, explanation was given as to why some temporal
punishment due to sin may remain after our sins are forgiven. "Every sin... entails an unhealthy
attachment to creatures, which must be purified either here on earth, or after death in the state called
Purgatory." (Ibid, 1472)
"An indulgence is obtained through the Church who, by virtue of the power
of binding and loosing granted her by Christ Jesus, intervenes in favor of individual
Christians and opens for them the treasury of the merits of Christ and the saints to obtain from the Father of
mercies the remission of the temporal punishments due for their sins. Thus the Church does not want
simply to come to the aid of these Christians, but also to spur them to works of devotion, penance, and
charity." (Ibid, 1478)
So what is the TREASURY from which the Church draws and dispenses
indulgences? They are the infinite merits of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, the immense and
unfathomable prayers and good works of Our Blessed Mother, and the "spiritual goods" of the communion of saints, the Mystical Body of Christ. In the communion of saints, "a perennial link of charity exists
between the faithful who have already reached their Heavenly home, those who are expiating their sins in
Purgatory and those who are still pilgrims on earth. Between them there is, too, an abundant exchange of
all good things."
(Indulgentiarum Doctrina, # 86) "In this wonderful exchange, the holiness of
one profits others, well beyond the harm that the sin of one could cause others. Thus recourse to the
communion of saints lets the contrite sinner be more promptly and efficaciously purified of the
punishments for sin." (Catechism of
the Catholic Church, 1475)
There are two kinds of indulgences: plenary and partial. A partial
indulgence removes SOME of the temporal punishment due to sin. A plenary indulgence removes ALL of it.
Who may receive an indulgence? The souls in Heaven have no need of
indulgences as they have reached their goal. The souls in hell CAN'T benefit from indulgences.
Indulgences can be gained by us, the living, and/or we can apply them to the souls in Purgatory, if we wish.
Indulgences are attached to certain prayers and goods works.
The Church has a handbook of indulgences called the Enchiridion, which
was revised by Pope Paul VI in 1967. It is the Church's official handbook on what acts and
prayers carry indulgences and what indulgences are.
Next week's article will explain what some of those acts and prayers are
and the conditions required for gaining an indulgence. Also, explained will be what "5 years"
or "300 days" indulgence used to mean. You may be surprised!!!
God bless you!
