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DeliveringThem David wrote:

Hi, guys —

  • Are the indulgences given by Pope St. Pius X in the early 1900s still in effect?
  • Did the new book on Indulgences from three years ago super wed previous indulgences?

God bless,

David

  { Are the indulgences given by Pope St. Pius X in the early 1900s still in effect? }

Mike replied:

Dear Dave,

You said:

  • Are the indulgences given by Pope St. Pius X in the early 1900s still in effect?
  • Did the new book on Indulgences from three years ago super wed previous indulgences?

The answer to both questions is No.

The Newest Handbook of Indulgences contains all the indulgences the Church officially offers.

The book doesn't super wed but supersedes the previous Handbook of Indulgences.

The Church currently grants either a partial or plenary indulgence in addition to any other Indulgences given out by popes after the book's publishing.

For those not familiar with indulgences this is what the Catechism says on the topic:

X. Indulgences

1471 The doctrine and practice of indulgences in the Church are closely linked to the effects of the sacrament of Penance.

What is an indulgence?

"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 satisfactions of Christ and the saints." (Pope St. Paul VI, Apostolic Constitution, Indulgentiarum Doctrina, Norm 1)

"An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin." (Indulgentiarum Doctrina, Norm 2; cf. Norm 3) The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the dead. (Code of Canon Law, canon 994. 84 Cf. Council of Trent (1551): DS 1712-1713; (1563): 1820)

_________________________________________________________________
Web Admin note:
All the main ideas upon which an indulgence is based are found in the Bible: the Church's power to bind and loose, vicarious atonement among members of the Church, and penance. Although the doctrine has developed, like all others, it is not unbiblical.

2 Corinthians 2:6-11
St. Paul himself issued an indulgence by lessening the temporal penance for sin of a straying brother.
1 Corinthians 5:3-5
which he had previously imposed on him.

This is what the Church officially teaches. You may find this article interesting as well.

I hope this helps,

Mike

Please report any and all typos or grammatical errors.
Suggestions for this web page and the web site can be sent to Mike Humphrey
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