Grace Thompson
In Catholic teaching, confession and indulgence are two separate concepts. Confession is the act of seeking forgiveness for one's sins, while indulgence is a way to reduce the punishment for sins that have already been forgiven. Indulgences became popular in the Middle Ages as a reward for good deeds and acts of piety, but they were seen by some as a way to buy forgiveness. To gain a plenary (full) indulgence, Catholics must perform specific charitable actions, such as prayer or pilgrimage, and fulfill three conditions: sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the Pope's intentions. While confession is a prerequisite for receiving a plenary indulgence, it is not the only factor, and the two should not be conflated.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Reduce the amount of punishment for sins |
| Requirements | Detachment from sin, receiving the Eucharist, sacramental confession, praying for the Pope's intentions |
| Types | Plenary (full remission of punishment), partial (partial remission of punishment) |
| History | Popular in the Middle Ages, granted for almsgiving, prayer, pilgrimages and fasts |
| Other | Confession alone is not enough for indulgence, other acts of penance are required |
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What You'll Learn
What is an indulgence?
An indulgence is a way to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for sins that have already been forgiven. In the Catholic Church, an indulgence is defined as "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".
Indulgences became increasingly popular in the Middle Ages as a reward for displaying piety and doing good deeds. Doctrinally, the Catholic Church stated that the indulgence was only valid for temporal punishment for sins already forgiven in the Sacrament of Confession. Indulgences were granted for acts of almsgiving, prayer, pilgrimages, and fasts.
There are two types of indulgences: plenary and partial. A plenary indulgence totally frees one from the punishment due for sins, while a partial indulgence only partially frees one from punishment. To gain a plenary indulgence, one must fulfil certain conditions, including sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the Pope's intentions. It is also required that all attachment to sin, even venial sin, be absent. For a partial indulgence, the minimum condition is to be contrite in heart.
The granting of indulgences has been a practice of the Catholic Church for centuries, with historical records showing numerous letters of indulgence granted to hospitals in the 13th century. The process of obtaining an indulgence has evolved over time, with the current discipline on indulgences being substantially revised by Blessed Pope Paul VI after the Second Vatican Council in 1967.
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How is it different from confession?
Confession and indulgence are two distinct concepts in the Catholic Church, each with its own purpose and significance.
Confession
Confession, or sacramental confession, is a sacrament in the Catholic Church where an individual confesses their sins to a priest and receives absolution. It is a personal act of contrition and repentance, seeking forgiveness for one's sins. During confession, the penitent makes an honest and complete disclosure of their sins, expresses remorse, and seeks guidance and penance to atone for their transgressions. The priest then offers counsel, assigns penance, and grants absolution, which is the sacramental forgiveness of sins.
Indulgence
An indulgence, on the other hand, is "a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven". In other words, it is a way to reduce the temporal consequences of sins that have already been forgiven through confession. Indulgences are granted by the Church and involve performing specific acts of devotion, charity, or pilgrimage. They are not a substitute for confession and forgiveness but are supplementary to them.
The key difference between confession and indulgence lies in their purpose and effect:
- Purpose: Confession is primarily about seeking forgiveness for sins and restoring one's relationship with God. Indulgence, on the other hand, focuses on reducing the temporal punishment associated with sins that have already been forgiven.
- Effect: Confession results in the sacramental forgiveness of sins and the restoration of one's relationship with God. Indulgence does not provide forgiveness per se but rather mitigates the temporal consequences of sins, bringing the individual closer to spiritual perfection.
- Timing: Confession typically precedes indulgence. One must first seek forgiveness for their sins through confession before receiving an indulgence.
- Nature: Confession is a personal act of repentance and reconciliation with God. Indulgence, in contrast, is often associated with specific acts of devotion, charity, or pilgrimage, which are performed as a means of obtaining the indulgence.
- Frequency: Confession is typically done more regularly, as needed, whenever one wishes to seek forgiveness for their sins. Indulgences, particularly plenary indulgences, are usually granted only once a day and require more specific conditions to be met.
In summary, confession is the act of seeking forgiveness for sins, while indulgence is a means of reducing the temporal punishment associated with those forgiven sins. Confession is necessary for the forgiveness of sins, while indulgence is an additional step that can be taken to further reconcile oneself with God and the Church.
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How do you get an indulgence?
An indulgence in the Catholic Church is a way to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for sins that have already been forgiven. It is not a substitute for the Sacrament of Penance. Indulgences are granted by the Church, which dispenses and applies the merits of Christ and the saints.
To receive an indulgence, the recipient must perform an action, such as saying a specified prayer, going on a pilgrimage, visiting a particular place, or performing specific good works. In the Middle Ages, indulgences were granted for acts of almsgiving, prayer, pilgrimages, and fasts. Almsgiving could include acts of charity done for a hospital, orphanage, or church.
There are two types of indulgences: plenary and partial. A plenary indulgence remits all temporal punishment required to cleanse the soul from attachment to anything but God. To gain a plenary indulgence, one must fulfill certain conditions, including complete detachment from all sin, even venial sin, and praying for the Pope's intentions. A separate Holy Communion and a separate prayer for the Holy Father's intentions are required for each plenary indulgence. A plenary indulgence can only be gained once per day.
A partial indulgence remits only part of the temporal punishment due to sin. The minimum condition for gaining a partial indulgence is contrition, or sincere remorse for one's sins.
Sacramental Confession is a prerequisite for receiving an indulgence, though in cases where sacramental confession is impossible, an act of perfect contrition may grant forgiveness of sin.
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What are the different types of indulgences?
The Catholic Church describes an indulgence as "a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven". Indulgences became increasingly popular in the Middle Ages as a reward for displaying piety and doing good deeds. Doctrinally, the Catholic Church states that an indulgence is only valid for temporal punishment for sins already forgiven in the Sacrament of Confession.
There are two types of indulgences: plenary and partial. A plenary indulgence remits all temporal punishment required to cleanse the soul from attachment to anything but God. To gain a plenary indulgence, one must fulfil the prescribed conditions of a complete and whole-hearted detachment from all sin of any kind, even venial sin, and pray for the intentions of the Pope. A plenary indulgence can be gained only once a day.
A partial indulgence remits only part of the temporal punishment due to sin. The minimum condition for gaining a partial indulgence is to be contrite in heart.
The granting of indulgences was predicated on two beliefs. Firstly, in the sacrament of penance, it is not enough to have the guilt of sin forgiven through absolution alone; one must also undergo temporal punishment because one has offended God. Secondly, indulgences rest on the belief in purgatory, a place in the afterlife where one can continue to cancel the accumulated debt of their sins.
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Can confession be an indulgence?
In Catholic teaching, confession and indulgence are two distinct concepts. Confession is the sacramental ritual of seeking forgiveness for one's sins, while indulgence is "a way to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for (forgiven) sins". The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines indulgence as:
> "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."
Indulgences became particularly popular in the Middle Ages as a reward for good deeds and displaying piety. Doctrinally, the Catholic Church maintained that indulgences were only valid for temporal punishment for sins already forgiven through the Sacrament of Confession. In other words, confession precedes indulgence, and one cannot obtain an indulgence without first confessing their sins.
The process of obtaining an indulgence involves performing specific actions, such as charitable works, prayer, pilgrimage, or fasting. The granting of indulgences is an exercise of the Church's authority to dispense God's grace through certain means.
There are two types of indulgences: plenary and partial. A plenary indulgence completely frees one from the punishment due for sins, while a partial indulgence only partially frees one from the punishment. To obtain a plenary indulgence, one must fulfil certain conditions in addition to being in a state of grace. These conditions typically include sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the Pope's intentions. The act of confession and communion can be applied to a single indulgence, and separate acts are required for multiple indulgences.
In summary, confession is a prerequisite for obtaining an indulgence in Catholic teaching. One must first confess their sins and receive forgiveness before seeking to reduce the punishment associated with those sins through the granting of an indulgence.
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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.
Confession is required to acquire a plenary indulgence. It is one of the three conditions that must be fulfilled to acquire a plenary indulgence, the other two being Eucharistic Communion and prayer for the intentions of the Pope.
A plenary indulgence totally frees one from the punishment due for sins, while a partial indulgence only partially frees one from the punishment due for sins.
Some ways to obtain a partial indulgence include praying specific prayers to the Blessed Virgin, singing Eucharistic hymns, and praying for pastors.
