Indulgences

1
Indulgences

• What, when, how and why?

2
What is an indulgence?

• An Indulgence is a remission, granted by the
  Church, of the temporal punishment which often
  remains due to sin after its guilt has been
  forgiven.
• Note the temporal punishment is what the
  purification in purgatory is achieving

3
What is Purgatory?

• Purgatory is the state of those who die in Gods
  friendship, assured of their eternal salvation,
  but who still have need of purification to enter
  into the happiness of heaven.

4
How can I help the souls being purified in
Purgatory?

• Because of the communion of saints, the faithful
  who are still pilgrims on earth are able to help
  the souls in purgatory by offering prayers in
  suffrage for them, especially the Eucharistic
  sacrifice. They also help them by almsgiving,
  indulgences, and works of penance.

5
Two types of Indulgences

• Plenary indulgences remit all of the existing
  temporal punishment due for the individuals
  sins. An individual can only earn one plenary
  indulgence per day.
• Partial indulgences remit only a part of the
  existing punishment.

6
What acts can earn an indulgence?

• A partial indulgence is granted the Christian
  faithful who devoutly spend time in mental
  prayer.
• A plenary indulgence is granted when the rosary
  is recited in a church or oratory or when it is
  recited in a family, a religious community, or a
  pious association. A partial indulgence is
  granted for its recitation in all other
  circumstances.
• A partial indulgence is granted the Christian
  faithful who read sacred Scripture with the
  veneration due Gods word and as a form of
  spiritual reading. The indulgence will be a
  plenary one when such reading is done for at
  least one-half hour provided the other
  conditions are met.

7
What acts can earn an indulgence?

• A partial indulgence is granted to the Christian
  faithful who devoutly sign themselves with the
  cross while saying the customary formula "In the
  name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
  Holy Spirit. Amen."
• A partial indulgence is granted for the
  recitation of the Angelus.
• A partial indulgence is granted to Christian
  faithful who on day of the liturgical feast of
  any saint recite in that Saint's honour and
  prayer taken from the Missal or other prayer
  approved by legitimate authority.

8
Is that all?

• In addition to the acts stated a Plenary
• indulgence also requires
• reconciliation, which is required for all
  indulgences
• receiving the Eucharist
• complete renunciation of all attachment to sin,
  including venial sin.
• pray for the intentions of the Holy Father. An
  Our Father and a Hail Mary said for the
  intentions of the Pontiff is sufficient, although
  you are free to substitute other prayers of your
  own choice.

9
Summary (please copy)

• Indulgence will assist you to be purified in
  purgatory faster
• There are two main types of indulgences Plenary
  (full) and Partial
• Making the sign of the cross, praying the Rosary
  or Angelus, or reading scriptures can bring about
  indulgences
• You should also go to reconciliation, receive the
  Eucharist, renounce all sin and pray for the
  Popes intention for the indulgence to take affect