Taking the Mystery Out of Indulgences

Bonnie Drury discovers how indulgences can deepen one’s faith by exploring their historical significance and spiritual benefits. 

When I asked my cradle Catholic husband what he knew about indulgences, he looked at me and shrugged. Thus began my journey into the unknown. In satisfying my curiosity, I found yet another way that God shows His love. We indulge our children because we love them. God grants indulgences for the same reason. He loves us.

So, what are indulgences? 

In his apostolic constitution on indulgences, Pope Paul VI said:

An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins, whose guilt has already been forgiven. (Indulgentiarum Doctrina)

Temporal means relating to time as opposed to eternity. The recipient of an indulgence must perform an action to receive it. This is an ancient practice that is still viable in the Church today.  

 Indulgences are not a way to buy forgiveness of sins, but a way to reduce punishment. The Church was accused of selling indulgences long ago, but the individuals who did so were acting in opposition to Church teachings. The Council of Trent, in the 16th century, made it clear that the selling of indulgences was forbidden. 

The Catholic faith teaches that all who die in God’s grace, but still have vestiges of sin on their souls, will undergo the process of purification called purgatory. Scripture helped to formulate this doctrine. In 1 Corinthians 3:15, Paul wrote about a purifying fire. And Jesus mentioned in Matthew 12:32 about forgiveness in the age to come. 

Temporal (temporary) punishment for our forgiven sins is experienced during our earthly lives or in purgatory.  

Two kinds of indulgences 

There are two kinds of indulgences: plenary and partial. Plenary means full and absolute release from the temporal punishment due to sin. Partial means to obtain relief from only a part of our punishment.  

How do we obtain indulgences? We can satisfy God’s debt in this world through the penance received at Confession, through prayers, attending Holy Mass, fasting, almsgiving, works of mercy, enduring our suffering, and offering it up. We can earn indulgences for ourselves and for those in purgatory, but not another living person because they can obtain their own. 

Here a few more specific ways to obtain indulgences: Remaining in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at least ½ hour, participating in the Adoration of the Cross on Good Friday, making a valid sacramental Confession, receiving Holy Communion in the state of grace, praying for the intentions of the Pope, and praying the Apostles’ Creed or the Hail Holy Queen. 

A complete guide may be found in The Manual of Indulgences, issued in 1999 by the Apostolic Penitentiary.  

God is merciful 

The bottom line is that God, in His bountiful mercy, has offered many ways to help our souls reach heaven. He’s given us the Holy Catholic Church, Mother Mary, the saints, the sacraments, our priests, our families, Scripture, and countless prayers that have been recorded over the centuries, and yes, indulgences. God’s end game is for us to spend eternity with Him. 

We are, after all, a Communion of Saints, on earth, in purgatory, and in heaven. We are family. 

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Copyright 2024 Bonnie Drury
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