The Porziuncola Project
Indulgences: What Are They?
Common Myths about Indulgences
One of the common myths, or misconceptions, about indulgences is that Catholics think they can "buy" their way into heaven. First of all, the Catholic Church does not teach that anyone can buy their way into heaven. Secondly, anyone who has that understanding does not have the proper authentic Catholic understanding of either salvation, grace, purgatory or indulgences.
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The first point to remember is that to Peter alone was given the "keys to the kingdom of heaven". The Bishop of Rome is the recognized and authentic successor of Saint Peter through the unbroken line of what is called "Apostolic Succession". With those keys he can unlock the store house of God's graces for souls if they meet certain requirements that show that they are properly disposed to receive those graces.
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A proper disposition would be:
1. Freedom from the attachment to sin. A true sign of repentance for past sins. That is why an indulgence commonly involves going to confession a week or so before or after the intended indulgence is sought.
2. As an act of Hope in God's loving mercy, an actual act of repentance and charity are required. There are three forms of penance: alms, fasting and prayer. In most recent years the Church has only asked for prayer.
3. As an act of love, it is commonly required that the person say a prayer for the Holy Father such as the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Glory Be.
4. As an act of Faith, the person is commonly required to recite the Apostles Creed.
5. Finally, the person must accomplish the required act and/or prayer. There is a book called the Enchiridion of Indulgences. It lists all the validly approved prayers or works by which one may gain an indulgence.
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Below are the actual teachings of the Church from the Churches official:
Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Definition of Indulgences
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-An Indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment for sins whose guilt is forgiven, which a properly disposed member of the Christian faithful obtains under certain and clearly defined conditions through the intervention of the Church, which, as the minister of Redemption, dispenses and applies authoritatively the treasury of the expiatory works of Christ and the saints.
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-An Indulgence is obtained through the Church who, by virtue of the power of binding and loosing granted her by Christ Jesus, intervenes in favor of faithful Christians and opens for them the treasury of the merits of Christ and the saints to obtain from the Father of mercies the remission of the temporal punishments due for their sins. Thus the Church does not want simply to come to the aid of these Christians, but also to spur them to works of devotion, penance and charity.
Explanation of Indulgences
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-An Indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin. It may be applied to the living or the dead: through indulgences the faithful can obtain-for themselves and also for the souls in purgatory-the remission of temporal punishment resulting from sin. Because we and the faithful departed now being purified are members of the same communion of saints, one way in which we can help them is to obtain indulgences for them, so that the temporal punishments due to their sins may be remitted.
Requirements to Receive and Indulgence
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A plenary indulgence can be acquired only once in the course of a day; a partial indulgence can be acquired multiple times. The Faithful however can obtain the plenary indulgence at the hour of death, even if they have already gained one on the same day.
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In order to be capable of gaining indulgences one must be baptized, not excommunicated, and in the state of grace at least at the completion of the prescribed works. To gain an indulgence, one must have at least the general intention of doing so and must carry out the enjoined works at the stated time and in due fashion, according to the sense of the grant.
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To gain a plenary indulgence, in addition to excluding all attachment to sin, even venial sin, it is necessary to perform the indulgenced work and fulfill the following three conditions: Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff.
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A single sacramental confession suffices for granting several plenary indulgences; but Holy Communion must be received and prayer for the intention of the Holy Father must be recited for the gaining of each plenary indulgence.
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The three conditions may be fulfilled several days or after the performance of the prescribed work. It is, however, fitting that Communion be received and prayer for the intention of the Holy Father be said on the same day the work is performed.
If the full disposition is lacking or if the work and the three prescribed conditions are not fulfilled...the indulgence will only be partial.
Plenary Indulgence
A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who:
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1. Visit the Blessed Sacrament for adoration lasting at least a half hour.
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2. Visit a parish Church:
*On the solemnity of the titular feast.
*On August 2nd, the day of the "Portiuncula Indulgence".
*On All Souls Day (applicable to the dead only).
On the above mentioned visits, one should recite the Our Father and the Creed and fulfill the three requirements (Confession, Communion and a prayer for the Pope's intentions).
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3. Read the Sacred Scriptures for at least a half hour.
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4. Make the Way of the Cross piously.
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5. Recite the Holy Rosary devoutly in a Church, Oratory, or in a family.
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6. Receive the Apostolic Blessing at the hour of death.
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Partial Indulgence
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One of the faithful who, being at least inwardly contrite, performs a work carrying with it a partial indulgence receives through the Church the remission of temporal punishment. A partial indulgence is granted to the Christian faithful who:
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1. While carrying out their duties and enduring the hardships of life, raise their minds in humble trust to God and make, at least mentally, some pious invocation.
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2.Led by the spirit of faith, give compassionately of themselves or of their good good to serve their brothers in need.
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3. In a spirit of penance, voluntarily abstain from something that is licit for and pleasing to them.
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4. In the particular circumstances of daily life, voluntarily give explicit witness to their faith before others.