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I have a question about indulgences, probably more than
one, because I know nothing about them.
One of my wife's friends (who was quite instrumental in our
conversion to the Catholic Church), has spoken to her about
indulgences, and the impression I get is that they are:
bad
wrong
completely un-Scriptural, and
should be very much avoided
Nevertheless, I was on some other Catholic web site where
there seemed to be a lot of material suggesting that they were
approved by the Church. Because this material was in discussion
format, it made it very difficult for me to make heads or tails
of it.
Because I know nothing about all this, I flounder when confronted
by:
The Church is wrong; look at indulgences.
I guess this could be quite a big area for discussion. I
don't mind if your answer contained links to documents that fill
out your
answer.
Your last answer to one of my questions was awesome!
God bless,
Perry
{
Are indulgences wrong and un-Scriptural or does the Church approve of them — and, if so, why? }
Eric
replied:
Hi, Perry —
You said: I have a question about indulgences, probably
more than one, because I know nothing about them.
You are quite right then to seek to learn more about them!
One of my wife's friends (who was quite instrumental in our conversion
to the Catholic Church), has spoken to her about indulgences, and
the impression I get is that they are:
bad
wrong
completely un-Scriptural, and
should be very much avoided
That is a common opinion; but its origins are not Catholic. (Especially,
since there are explicit Scripture references in the Catholic bible.) While there have been abuses in the past, the Church has
always been careful to distinguish between legitimate use and abuse.
Moreover, there are a lot of misunderstandings about indulgences
floating around.
They are not about buying forgiveness, nor do
they add to the finished work of Christ.
Indulgences are very much alive and well. They are discussed in
the newCatechism (see below) and in fact, the Church
recently issued a whole new handbook on indulgences.
My opinion is that once you strip away the emotional and historical
baggage, look past the abuses, and see them in the proper light,
indulgences are basically a formalization of rather intuitive principles.
One might be turned off by the way they are formalized, but the principles
are still valid.
You said: Because I know nothing about all this, I flounder when
confronted by:
The Church is wrong: look
at indulgences.
I guess this could be quite a
big area for discussion. I don't mind if your answer contained
links to documents that filled out your
answer.
Your last answer, to one of my questions, was awesome!
Oh, good; I was going to apologize for sending you off to a web site
address but James Akin really does a fantastic job of explaining
it. James is an apologist for Catholic
Answers and
runs a site with some really good material at:
The queries about indulgences need, I think, to include
the following explanations:
Much confusion was caused in the past regarding "x" number of days indulgence and many people, including
some well instructed Catholics, assumed this was a remittance
of that number of days in Purgatory. Not So!
The number
of days ascribed to indulgences was that by completing
a particular activity.
For example, so many prayers, or a visit
to shrine, etc. was equivalent to
a sinner completing that number of days of penance. (i.e.
in the Early Church, sackcloth and ashes)
It was never to be interpreted as a number of
days in Purgatory: With
God, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years
is like a day. (2 Peter 3:8) We cannot
know (this side of the grave) how long anyone will spend
in Purgatory. The only thing we do know is, God
is infinitely Just as well as infinitely Merciful, and
that we have the gift of free will to accept or reject
His Mercy.
Also remember, Jesus gave Peter the keys to loosen or
bind. Whatever he binds on earth is considered bound
in Heaven. (Matthew 16:13-19) Therefore indulgences are an act of mercy
by Holy Mother Church,
in her solicitude for her children.
It is most unfortunate when Catholics neglect and reject
this wonderful gift from their Mother, the Church.
Terry Quinn
BA (Divinity) Hons, MA Theology (Marian Studies)
England
Mike replied:
Hi, Perry —
I just wanted to add a bit to what Eric and Terry have said.
Those in Purgatory are saved souls. Purgatory is like the Holy Hospital of Heaven.
If you struggle with the concept of Purgatory this web posting will help:
You said: One of my wife's friends (who was quite instrumental in our
conversion to the Catholic Church), has spoken to her about
indulgences, and the impression I get is that they are:
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.
The Catholic Church adds no more in essence to the
practices and theological presuppositions of indulgences than these
two passages.
If you want more, this Primer on Indulgences from our colleagues at Catholic Answers may help.
The scandal of selling indulgences is thought to be the precipitating
cause of the Protestant Revolt. The Catholic Church forbade the sale of indulgences
at the Council of Trent (abuses of the practice were previously condemned in Council
in 1215, 1245, 1274 and 1312). But Martin Luther went beyond a critique of the
abuse of indulgences, and declared the entire practice null and void and contrary
to the Bible. This is not correct:
Many saints suffer more than enough to satisfy God's justice. Jesus Christ (and
Mary in Catholic theology) didn't have any sin and yet suffered greatly. The Catholic
Church gives credit for this suffering to persons who have repented. Thus it indulges these
persons, not in their sin, but in taking away punishment for the sins. This act
is called an indulgence. The Catholic Church will not do away with this beautiful
concept and practice (rightly understood) because of the occasional criminal misuse
of it in the past. The doctrine of indulgences is closely connected with the Communion
of Saints. The transfer of merit through an indulgence is a profound act of "community" and
a taking seriously of the communal and unified nature of the Mystical Body of Christ.
In a papal decree given in 1968 by Pope Paul VI, it was made abundantly clear that
the pious disposition of the seeker of an indulgence was of paramount importance.
In other words, an indulgence was not a piece of magic which existed apart from
the spiritual state of its user. It is inconsistent for Protestants to find fault
with the Catholic Church for mitigating the austerities of penance in granting
an indulgence since their own fundamental principle is the notion of faith alone
without good works (as pertaining to the nature of salvation). Thus, indulgences
are merely a limited application of a concept which Protestantism raises to universality.
Note: indulgences shouldn't be avoided, rather they should be used and practiced by us to help the Holy Souls who are NOW being purified of their attachments to self. If you are interested in helping and praying for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, check out my other website: