Joshua Bennett
In Catholic teaching, an indulgence is a way to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for sins that have already been forgiven. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes an indulgence as a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven. To receive an indulgence, a person must perform an action, such as saying a specified prayer, going on a pilgrimage, visiting a particular place, or performing specific good works. There are two types of indulgences: plenary indulgences, which remove all temporal punishment, and partial indulgences, which remove only some. To gain a plenary indulgence, one must fulfill certain conditions, such as being in a state of grace, having complete detachment from sin, and receiving the Holy Eucharist. Partial indulgences can be obtained through habitual prayers, sacrifices, and service to others.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | "A remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven." |
| Requirements | Must be a Catholic, not excommunicated or in schism; must be in a state of grace; must have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin; must receive the Holy Eucharist; must pray for the Pope's intentions. |
| Types | Plenary (full) indulgence; partial indulgence |
| Plenary Indulgence Activities | Reading the Bible for at least 30 minutes; praying the rosary; adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for at least 30 minutes; adoration of the Cross on Good Friday; spiritual exercises of at least three days; celebrating a priest's first solemn Mass; visiting one of the Patriarchal Basilicas in Rome; receiving the Pope's blessing; visiting a cemetery between November 1 and November 8; visiting a catacomb; praying specific litanies; participating in a novena; using blessed articles of devotion; making a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. |
| Partial Indulgence Activities | Making the sign of the cross; reciting specific prayers, such as the "Hail Mary", "Hidden God", "We Have Come", "To You, O Blessed Joseph", "We Give You Thanks", "Angel of God", "The Angel of the Lord", "Soul of Christ"; reciting the Apostles Creed or the Nicene-Constantinopolian Creed; spiritual communion; reciting acts of faith, hope, charity, and contrition. |
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What You'll Learn
Understand what indulgences are
Understanding what indulgences are is a key part of understanding the Catholic faith. In essence, an indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due for sins that have already been confessed and forgiven. The Catholic Church teaches that while confession forgives the guilt of sin, it does not necessarily remove the temporal punishment that sin incurs. This is where indulgences come into play.
There are two types of indulgences: plenary and partial. A partial indulgence partially frees a person from the punishment due for their sins. A plenary indulgence, on the other hand, completely frees a person from the punishment due for their sins, making their soul as pure as a newly baptized infant.
Plenary indulgences are profound gifts offered by the Catholic Church, providing a path to spiritual purification and closeness to God. They emphasise God's abundant mercy and invite believers to experience spiritual renewal and grace. To obtain a plenary indulgence, one must meet certain conditions, including receiving the sacraments of Confession and Eucharist, praying for the Pope's intentions, and performing specific acts of devotion or penance.
Partial indulgences are also available for Catholics through their habitual prayers, sacrifices, and service to others. These acts, from the sign of the cross to the Hail Mary, increase a person's merit before God and allow them to exercise selfless charity by offering their prayers for the souls in purgatory.
Indulgences have played a significant role in the history of the Catholic Church, with some controversies arising around the sale of indulgences during the time of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation. However, the Church has clarified that indulgences are not to be sold and that they are tied to specific conditions and actions.
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Learn the requirements for a plenary indulgence
To receive a plenary indulgence, one must be a Catholic in a state of grace, not excommunicated or in schism. A plenary indulgence can be gained only once a day. In addition to being in a state of grace, the faithful must have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin. They must also receive the Holy Eucharist (it is better to receive it while participating in Holy Mass, but for the indulgence, only Holy Communion is required). It is appropriate, but not necessary, that the sacramental Confession, Holy Communion, and the prayer for the Pope's intentions take place on the same day that the indulgenced work is performed. However, it is sufficient that these sacred rites and prayers be carried out within several days before or after the indulgenced act. Prayer for the Pope's intentions is left to the choice of the faithful, but an "Our Father" and a "Hail Mary" are suggested. One sacramental Confession suffices for several plenary indulgences, but a separate Holy Communion and a separate prayer for the Holy Father's intentions are required for each plenary indulgence.
There are several ways to obtain a plenary indulgence, including:
- Visiting the Most Blessed Sacrament for at least half an hour
- Receiving the Pope's blessing when imparted to Rome and the world (Urbi et Orbi)
- Visiting a cemetery and praying for the departed between November 1 and November 8
- Assisting in the adoration of the Cross and kissing it on Good Friday
- Spiritual exercises of at least three days
- First Communion or assisting at another's first Communion
- Praying at least five decades of the rosary in a church, chapel, family, religious community, or pious association without interruption, with added meditation on the mysteries and with vocal recitation
- Celebrating or assisting at a priest's first solemn Mass, or at his 25th, 50th, or 60th anniversary Mass
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Know the difference between plenary and partial indulgences
Plenary and partial indulgences are two types of indulgences in the Catholic Church. An indulgence is defined in the Code of Canon Law and in the Catechism of the Catholic Church as:
> "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."
Plenary indulgences can be gained only once a day. To obtain one, the faithful must be in a state of grace and have an interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin. They must also receive the Holy Eucharist and perform certain works, such as praying for the Pope's intentions.
Partial indulgences, on the other hand, are granted for minor pious acts, such as making the sign of the cross, reciting specific prayers, or performing stations of the cross. These acts are endowed with partial indulgences, which increase their weight before God and give Catholics an opportunity to exercise selfless charity by offering their prayers for the benefit of souls in purgatory.
While plenary indulgences completely eradicate any amount of time one would have normally had to spend in purgatory, partial indulgences are reserved for minor pious acts and remove some time that would be spent in purgatory.
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Understand the history of indulgences
The concept of indulgences in the Catholic Church is rooted in the idea of penance and the remission of sin. The Latin term "indulgentia" refers to a remission or amnesty, and the practice of indulgences emerged in the 11th and 12th centuries alongside the concept of purgatory. During this period, popes became activist leaders of the reforming church, promoting military campaigns and offering "full remission of sins" as indulgences to encourage participation in Crusades and the Reconquista.
By the late Middle Ages, indulgences were also used to support charitable causes, such as hospitals. However, the practice of granting indulgences for almsgiving led to abuses, with some individuals promising that donations would result in the release of souls from hell or using the funds for personal gain. These abuses were a significant concern during the Protestant Reformation, with Martin Luther and other Protestant theologians criticising the sale of indulgences as a means of fundraising, separate from true repentance.
Luther's teachings argued that salvation was free and not dependent on indulgences or other works. While he did not directly oppose the concept of indulgences, he objected to their abuse and the connection between indulgences and money. The Council of Trent in the 16th century agreed with Luther's concerns, condemning the selling of indulgences while retaining the doctrine itself.
In 1567, Pope Pius V officially abolished the sale of indulgences, forbidding any financial connection to them. Reforms in the 20th century further reduced the quantification of indulgences, which had been expressed in terms of days or years representing time spent in penance. While the specific practices and teachings have evolved, indulgences continue to play a role in modern Catholic religious life.
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Find out how to ask for an indulgence on behalf of someone else
An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven. It is granted to a faithful Christian who is duly disposed and gains it under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church. There are two types of indulgences: plenary indulgences and partial indulgences.
Plenary indulgences can be gained only once a day. To obtain it, the faithful must be in a state of grace and have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin. They must also receive the Holy Eucharist and perform certain prescribed works. It is appropriate, but not necessary, that sacramental Confession, Holy Communion, and prayer for the Pope's intentions take place on the same day that the indulgenced work is performed. However, it is sufficient that these rites and prayers be carried out within several days before or after the indulgenced act.
Partial indulgences are granted for habitual prayers, sacrifices, and service to others, such as making the sign of the cross or praying the Hail Mary.
While indulgences can be applied to oneself or to the souls of the deceased, they cannot be applied to other living persons on earth. Therefore, it is not possible to obtain a plenary indulgence on behalf of someone else who is still alive. However, one can obtain a plenary indulgence for a deceased family member by going to confession, being detached from all sin, and praying for the Pope's intentions.
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Frequently asked questions
An indulgence is a way to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for sins that have already been forgiven. Indulgences are granted for specific good works and prayers in proportion to the devotion with which those good works are performed or prayers recited.
To receive an indulgence, one must be a Catholic, not excommunicated, and in the state of grace. The faithful must have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin. They must also receive the Holy Eucharist and pray for the Pope's intentions.
One can gain a Catholic indulgence by performing specific prayers or works declared by the Church. This may include a pilgrimage, the visiting of a particular place (such as a shrine, church, or cemetery), or the performance of specific good works.
Examples of indulgenced works include visiting the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, taking part in sacred functions or pious practices, reciting specific prayers, or performing spiritual exercises for at least three days.
