Indulgence (religion)

In Catholicism, an indulgence is the remission of the temporal consequences, or temporal punishments, for sin. Catholics believe when they gain indulgences, God releases them from the punishment that they would normally incur for sins they committed. Indulgences do not forgive sins, and people can receive them only after their sins have been forgiven through the sacrament of penance.

Background

Roman Catholicism, like other Christian faiths, teaches that sins are actions and beliefs that offend God. According to the Catholic Church, a sin is "an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law." Catholics believe that sin separates people from God. They believe in two types of sin: mortal and venial sins. Mortal sins are very serious; they are done purposefully and with full knowledge that the act is a sin. Mortal sins are more serious and have harsher punishments than venial sins. Venial sins are not as grave; they are committed when people do not fully understand what they are doing is sinful.

The Catholic Church also believes that God can forgive both mortal and venial sins. Catholics believe that only God can forgive sins, but they believe that sins are forgiven through the sacrament of penance, or reconciliation. In penance, Catholics confess their sins to God in front of a priest, and the priest—working on behalf of God—gives the person absolution, or forgiveness for sins.

Catholics also believe that sin has a double consequence. The first consequence of sin is being deprived of or separated from God. Mortal sin, unless forgiven through reconciliation, will cause a person to go to Hell, which is the reality of being separated from God for all time. Different Catholic theologians have described Hell in different ways, but all include suffering. This consequence of sin can be removed if a person is truly sorry for their sin and repents through reconciliation.

The second consequence of sin is the temporal punishment for sin. All sin, even venial sin, carries temporal punishment. People can rid themselves of the temporal consequences of sin through their suffering on Earth or by gaining indulgences. If people do not rid themselves of the temporal consequences of sin before death, Catholics believe they will have to go to Purgatory. Catholics believe that people who are free of mortal sin (through going to penance) will enter Heaven after they die. However, many people will have to pass through Purgatory to suffer the temporal punishment or consequences of sin. People who suffer on Earth will suffer less in Purgatory. In addition, people who have sinned less and have less of a connection to earthly matters will suffer for a shorter time in Purgatory. This punishment, or consequence, of sin is what people hope to avoid by gaining indulgences.

Overview

Indulgences have a long history in the Catholic Church, and some of their history has been controversial. Practices similar to indulgences started within a few hundred years after Jesus Christ's death, during the early period of the church. By the 1300s, some people inside the church had abused the power of the indulgence, as some church officials claimed that indulgences forgave sins and sold them to other Catholics. The church set out a number of decrees to stop the corruption of indulgences. Nevertheless, anger over indulgences continued. Martin Luther, who started the Protestant Reformation by breaking with the Catholic Church to begin another branch of Christianity, spoke out against the church's use of indulgences. The practice today is still often misunderstood by Catholics and non-Catholics.

Catholics receive indulgences from the Catholic Church. In general, Catholics who wish to receive an indulgence have to meet certain conditions. The first is that the person must be in a state of grace. For Catholics, being in a state of grace means being free from mortal sin and being in communion with God. The person who wants to receive the indulgence must also receive the sacrament of Holy Eucharist (Communion), complete the sacrament of reconciliation, be completely detached from sin (even venial sin), and pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff (or the pope). The person must also commit some other act to receive the indulgence. This act might include giving alms, reciting certain prayers, or making certain pilgrimages. For example, Catholics have received indulgences for making pilgrimages to the Vatican, which is a city-state and the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Catholic Church is made up of the communion of saints, which includes the members of the church on Earth, in Heaven, and in Purgatory. Catholics believe they can gain plenary and partial indulgences for those who have already died and are in Purgatory. One common way for people to gain indulgences for the souls in Purgatory is to say this prayer: "Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen." The person saying the prayer has to fulfill the other rules for obtaining indulgences.

Various types of indulgences exist. The different types often deal with the specific action a person does to gain the indulgence.

• A universal indulgence can be gained anywhere in the world.
• A local indulgence can be gained only in a specific place (e.g., Rome).
• A perpetual indulgence can be gained at any time.
• A temporary indulgence can be gained for a specific period.
• A real indulgence is linked to using specific objects (e.g., a rosary or crucifix).

The most important categories of indulgences are plenary and partial. Plenary indulgences remit all the temporal consequences of sin. Therefore, a person who receives a plenary indulgence and dies without sinning will not be subjected to Purgatory. A partial indulgence will remit only some of the temporal consequences of sin. A partial indulgence can sometimes be obtained if a person plans to gain a plenary indulgence but is not wholly free of venial sin. A person who is not free of mortal sin will not receive any indulgence, even if the other conditions are met.

Bibliography

Armstrong, Dave. "Catholic Indulgences: History & Myths." Patheos, 25 Feb. 2017, www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2016/08/catholic-indulgences-history-myths.html. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Catholic Church. Catechism of the Catholic Church. Rev. 2nd ed., Bloomsbury Continuum, 2019.

Dal Covolo, Enrico. "The Historical Origin of Indulgences." Catholic Culture, www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=1054. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

"The Gift of the Indulgence." The Holy See, www.vatican.va/roman‗curia/tribunals/apost‗penit/documents/rc‗trib‗appen‗pro‗20000129‗indulgence‗en.html. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Hanna, Edward. "The Sacrament of Penance." The Catholic Encyclopedia, www.newadvent.org/cathen/11618c.htm. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Heschmeyer, Joe. "Understanding Indulgences in the Catholic Faith." CatholicAnswers, 6 Dec. 2023, www.catholic.com/audio/caf/understanding-indulgences-in-the-catholic-faith. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

"How to Gain Indulgences for the Poor Souls in Purgatory." Society of Saint Pius X, sspx.org/en/how-gain-indulgences-poor-souls-purgatory-30992. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

"Indulgences." The Holy See, www.vatican.va/content/catechism/en/part‗two/section‗two/chapter‗two/article‗4/x‗indulgences.html. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Kent, William. "Indulgences." The Catholic Encyclopedia, www.newadvent.org/cathen/07783a.htm. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Manual of Indulgences. Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2006.

Wondrash, Kevin. "Plenary Indulgence for Fatima 100th Anniversary at Durward's Glen." Catholic Herald, 2 Feb. 2017, madisoncatholicherald.org/plenary-indulgence. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.