The term “indulgence” may be new for some Catholics or may even bring to mind certain historic abuses of indulgences. While such abuses were made by certain members of the church, the church has condemned them. Nevertheless, the church teaches that this historic practice of indulgences can purify the soul and strengthen the church. Learn more about this practice and its place in church history through church documents and the writings of Father William P. Saunders, Episcopal Vicar of Faith Formation.
What is an indulgence?
Paragraph 1471 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church says that an indulgence is “a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven.”
There are two types of indulgences: partial and plenary. Partial indulgences remove some of the temporal punishment, or hurt caused by sin, while plenary indulgences remove all temporal punishment.
In his book “Straight Answers,” Father Saunders says that indulgences benefit more than just the penitent. “The church grants indulgences so that the faithful will expiate sins and also encourage them to do works of penance, charity and piety, which lead to a spiritual growth and strengthening of the church,” he writes.
How do I obtain an indulgence?
Each indulgence involves a unique prayer or good work. Examples of plenary indulgences include making a pilgrimage to a church, spending 30 or more minutes before the Eucharist, making a three-day retreat or progressing through the Stations of the Cross.
In addition to performing the indulgenced work, there are three conditions that the individual must fulfill in order to obtain an indulgence: receive sacramental confession, receive Holy Communion, and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.
Partial indulgences may include reverently using a properly blessed crucifix, medal, scapular or rosary; or performing works of charity or mercy.
Doesn’t confession remove sin from our souls?
Catholics believe that sin has a double consequence: the eternal punishment and the temporal punishment. While Christ’s sacrifice on the cross saved mankind from eternal damnation, the eternal punishment, the temporal punishment, or hurt caused by sin, still remains.
Paragraph 1472 of the Catechism states, “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.” A good sacramental confession forgives the soul of sin; indulgences cleanse the soul of temporal punishment and attachment to sin.
When did the church start using indulgences?
According to the “Apostolic Constitution on the Revision of Indulgences,” indulgences have been used since the time of the apostles. Father Saunders adds, “In the early church, bishops imposed penances, which were oftentimes severe and could last even over a year; to help the faithful, they allowed the substitution of other works (indulgences) which may have been easier and more timely to fulfill but which promoted piety and strengthened the person spiritually. Eventually, popes decreed that certain practices could replace imposed penances.”
Penitents in the early church often would not receive absolution and full reconciliation with the church until both the confession and penance had been performed, Father Saunders writes. When early Christians faced martyrdom, penitents would implore their spiritual help by offering their sufferings for the penitent “so that full reconciliation with the church and readmission to the sacraments could be obtained more speedily.”
How did the abuse of indulgences give them a bad reputation?
A common misconception about indulgences is the thought that the church historically supported buying and selling indulgences. While abuses did occur within the local church, the church did not perpetrate the falsehood but rather condemned it.
The abuses mainly occurred before the Protestant Reformation. Priests or bishops would falsely promise indulgences to the lay faithful in exchange for a monetary gift, distorting the charitable practice of almsgiving. Church teaching has always encouraged giving alms to the poor or for God’s church out of charity but has never supported the buying or selling of indulgences for mercenary gain. Throughout church history, popes consistently condemned abuses of indulgences and punished the perpetrators.
Father Saunders confirms in “Straight Answers,” “Note the church has continually condemned any abuse of indulgences, and the person performing the indulgence must have a sincere, contrite, and humble heart.”
Can indulgences be offered for someone else?
Most Catholics are familiar with praying for the poor souls in purgatory. In addition, the faithful also may offer up indulgences for the souls in purgatory. The Catechism confirms in paragraph 1471, “The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the dead.”
Father Saunders writes that offering indulgences can connect us with the communion of saints. “The communion of the church … includes the faithful in purgatory and the saints in heaven. These saints intercede on our behalf and pray for us.”
According to the Catechism in paragraph 1479, “Since the faithful departed now being purified are also members of the same communion of saints, one way we can help them is to obtain indulgences for them, so that the temporal punishments due for their sins may be remitted.”
What is the “Treasury of the Church?”
Catholics believe that the saints in heaven intercede for those on earth. Since Christ’s sacrifice on the cross produced merits of infinite and inexhaustible value before God, these merits are known in the Catechism as “the Treasury of the Church.” Since the saints are in union with Christ, petitioning them for their powerful intercession can help penitents be more swiftly purified of their sins.
Father Saunders adds that the prayers and good works of Mary and the saints contribute to the treasury. “Just as they aided those in the journey of salvation while living on this earth, they continue to do so now. As the Minister of Redemption, the church invokes their aid to help reconcile full penitents and alleviate the temporal punishment due to sin,” he writes.
An analogy would be when a person sacrifices some of his hard-earned sick leave to give to another person in need.
What are some opportunities to receive indulgences?
Every year, for example, Catholics have the opportunity to make an indulgence on Divine Mercy Sunday. In addition to the plenary indulgence’s four steps, the faithful should pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy novena and venerate daily an image of Divine Mercy at 3 p.m., the hour of Jesus’ death upon the cross, from Good Friday to Divine Mercy Sunday.
Grandparents in the United States may obtain a plenary indulgence for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly Sept. 10. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the transfer of the July celebration to the first weekend after Labor Day to coincide with National Grandparents Day in the U.S. This indulgence is also extended to those who visit grandparents or the elderly.
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge will lead a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in Emmitsburg, Md. Oct. 7. During this pilgrimage, the faithful may gain an indulgence by attending and fulfilling the usual conditions.
More examples of indulgences may be found in the “Enchiridion of Indulgences,” a collection of indulgenced prayers and works with the norms and grants for each.
