Mother Church has some wonderful treasures in store for us — let’s take a closer look at some of them! “Through indulgences, the faithful can obtain the remission of temporal punishment resulting from sins for themselves and also for the souls in Purgatory.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, § 1498) What is an indulgence? Here is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church has to say: “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 satisfaction of Christ and the saints.
“An indulgence is partial or plenary according to as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin. Indulgences may be applied to the living or the dead.” (§ 1471) Jesus gave to his disciples, and therefore to the Church, the power to bind and to lose, and down through the centuries, in many different ways, the Church has used this channel of the mercy of God towards the living and the dead. Everything concerning indulgences was revised by Pope Paul VI; the results can be found in The Book of Indulgences, Rules, and Grants, published June 29, 1968 (Vatican Publishers).
“The aim pursued by ecclesiastical authority in granting indulgences is not only that of helping the faithful to expiate the punishment due to sin, but also that of urging them to perform works of piety, penitence, and charity — particularly those which lead to growth in faith and which favor the common good.” “And if the faithful offer indulgences in suffrage for the dead, they cultivate charity in an excellent way, and while raising their minds to heaven they bring a wiser order into the things of this world.” “Although indulgences are in fact free gifts, nevertheless they are granted for the living as well as for the dead only on determined conditions… The faithful have to love God, detest sin, place their trust in the merits of Christ and believe firmly in the great assistance they derive from the communion of saints.” As a result of the reform, all distinctions of day, month, and year have been abolished; the only distinction retained is that between plenary and partial indulgence. We should also note the following:
• No one can give the indulgence he obtains to another person who is still living. • Both plenary and partial indulgences can always be given for the dead. The faithful who use with devotion an object of piety (crucifix, cross, rosary, scapular or medal) properly blessed by any priest, can acquire a partial indulgence. But if this object is blessed by the Supreme Pontiff or any bishop, the faithful who use it devoutly can also acquire a plenary indulgence on the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, provided they also make a profession of faith using any legitimate formula.” In Medjugorje, on July 18 1995, Our Lady said: “Dear children, today I call you to place more blessed objects in your homes and call everyone to put some blessed object on their person. Bless all objects, and thus Satan will attack you less because you will have armor against him.”
“To acquire a plenary indulgence, it is necessary to perform the work to which the indulgence is attached and to fulfill three conditions: sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff. It is further required that all attachment to sin, even venial sin, be absent.” The condition of praying for the Supreme Pontiff’s intention is fully satisfied by reciting one “Our Father” and one “Hail Mary.” Nevertheless, the individual faithful is free to recite any other prayer according to their own piety and devotion toward the Supreme Pontiff. The new reform provides for three concessions: A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who, in fulfilling their duties and in facing the adversities of life, raise their soul to God with humble confidence, and add in their heart a pious invocation. 2. A Partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who, with a soul full of faith and mercy, give themselves or their goods to their brothers in need. 3. A Partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who, in a spirit of repentance, deprive themselves spontaneously of something. A Plenary indulgence can be obtained on the following occasions:
• Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for at least one half-hour; • Recitation of the entire rosary in church, as a family or in community; • Making the Stations of the Cross; • Reading Holy Scripture for at least one half-hour; • A Church visit between noon of November 1 and midnight of November 2, for the intention of the deceased; • Visiting a cemetery, for the intention of the deceased; • Taking part in a First Holy communion ceremony, or the first Mass of a priest, or the anniversary of 25, 50, or 60 years of the priesthood; • Renewing one’s baptismal promises during the Easter Vigil; • Adoration of the Cross during the Good Friday liturgy; • Papal benediction, even when received listening to the radio or watching on television. By going to confession regularly, one can obtain many plenary indulgences. Only one plenary indulgence a day is permitted, but one may obtain a number of partial indulgences on one day by reciting certain prayers suggested by the Church, such as: • To you, Blessed Joseph • Angelus Domini • Soul of Christ, sanctify me
• Act of Spiritual Communion • The Creed • The Office of the Dead • Psalm 130 (De profundis) • Litanies of the Most Holy Name of Jesus • Litanies of the Sacred Heart of Jesus • Litanies of the Most Precious Blood • Litanies of the Blessed Virgin Mary • Litanies of Saint Joseph • Litanies of the Saints • Magnificat • Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary • Psalm 51 (Miserere) • Prayer for priestly or religious vocations • Prayer for Unity of the Christians • Salve Regina (Hail, Holy Queen) • Sign of the Cross (devoutly done) • Tantum ergo (Let us adore the Sacrament) • Te Deum • Veni Creator (Come, Holy Spirit) There are other prayers not listed here. Partial indulgences are obtained through concrete acts of faith, hope, and love, in the midst of the trials of life and as we carry out the duties of our daily lives. Indulgences are also obtained by acts of charity towards our neighbor, voluntary fasting, and ejaculatory prayers or spontaneous thoughts addressed to God, to the Blessed Mother, to the Holy Family. The Book of Indulgences contains a list of suggested prayers; it is a precious book — read it!
