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| From: https://www.catholicfidelity.com/apologetics-topics/indulgences/ |
Indulgences
The question
of indulgences has become a sort of scourge to the Catholic at any level of
apologetics, whether it be on a stage or at a coffee shop. Of course, we add
this to the long list of existing scourges such as how we worship the Virgin
Mary, the Inquisition, the sex abuse scandals, etc. This is not to simply
dismiss any of the subjects previously mentioned, for there really did exist
major abuses, but we must look back on these in context and search for a proper
understanding of these subjects instead of the harsh rhetoric of someone who
has never tried to (or never wanted to) understand our faith.
Indulgences
were made famous by the protestant reformation and have since been furiously
denounced as a great evil committed by the Catholic Church. Common beliefs
include:
- - The
Church sold indulgences for revenue
- - The
Church sold salvation (for living person or soul in purgatory)
-
- The
Church sold forgiveness
-
- The
Church sold free passes for future sins
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What are indulgences?
The Catholic understanding can be
defined in a conveniently clear way in the Catechism
of the Catholic Church (n. 1471) as "An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sin whose guilt has already been forgive, 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". These indulgences can be plenary, meaning that they take away all the debt that would be owed by an individual in purgatory, or partial, meaning that it only would take away some of the debt an individual owes in purgatory.
Several important things can be taken
from the definition above. First, the indulgence does not forgive sins, rather
it takes away the temporal debt owed by the faithful. This means that the debt
for sins that would be paid in purgatory by the faithful is taken away. Again,
it does not forgive the sins, forgiveness for sins can only be obtained through
the sacrament of reconciliation. Second, the Church does not simply ‘sign a
paper’ and the debt owed in purgatory disappears, but the faithful must be
fully disposed. This means that they must truly be sorry for the sins committed
and have a whole-hearted desire to receive the indulgence. Third, the Church
has the authority to decide when and how indulgences will be obtained.
How is an Indulgence Obtained?
The Church released a document in 2000
named The Gift of the Indulgence[1]which
goes over the guidelines for obtaining indulgences. Essentially one must be in
a state of grace, be internally detached from sin, confessed their sins in the
sacrament of reconciliation, receive the Holy Eucharist (preferably on the same
day as the confession), and pray for the intentions of the Pope. On special
occasions, like the Jubilee Year, there may be extra conditions prescribed by
the Church such as: a pilgrimage to a Jubilee place, a pious visit (adoration)
in a Jubilee place, works of mercy or charity (volunteering, ministry, etc.),
and acts of penance (fasting, abstinence, etc.).
Where did Abuses Originate?
The famous ‘selling’ of indulgences
abuses originated from the inclusion of alms giving as a work of mercy or
charity, which is required for indulgences on special occasions. These alms
giving involved donating money to some charitable organization or foundation,
not direct ‘buying’ of the indulgence. However, in some places indulgences were
abused and used as a method of fundraising for the construction of Churches,
with the pretext that it was alms giving for a good cause. This abuse was later
addressed by the Church when "in 1567 Pope Pius V canceled all grants of
indulgences involving any fees or other financial transactions"[2].
Other abuses existed even before Luther or the Reformation existed, such as the
unrestricted giving out of indulgences or the giving of indulgences
unauthorized by the Church. For this the Fourth Lateran council placed limits
such as “indulgence should not be for more than year, and, for the anniversary
of the dedication or any other case, it should not exceed forty days, this
being the limit observed by the pope himself on such occasions”[3].
What Should I Do?
The Church encourages the faithful to
keep an open year for when is announces the possibility of obtaining an
indulgence. When done with the proper disposition not only do they take away
the debt needed to be paid in purgatory for our sins but also foster a greater
detachment from sin here on Earth. Who would want to dive straight back into
debt after working so hard to get rid of it?
[1]"The
Gift of The Indulgence." The Gift Of The Indulgence (29 January 2000).
Accessed April 26, 2018.
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/tribunals/apost_penit/documents/rc_trib_appen_pro_20000129_indulgence_en.html.
[2] "Myths
about Indulgences." Myths about Indulgences | Catholic Answers. Accessed
April 26, 2018. https://www.catholic.com/tract/myths-about-indulgences.
[3]"Indulgences."
CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Indulgences. Accessed April 26, 2018.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07783a.htm.
Third Picture Source: http://www.lutherstheses.com/what-are-indulgences/
Fourth Picture Source: https://www.superstock.com/stock-photos-images/4430-9598
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