General Remarks On Indulgences
Vatican
This is how an indulgence is defined in the Code of Canon Law and in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (n. 1471): "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".
In general, the gaining of indulgences requires certain prescribed conditions and the performance of certain prescribed works indicate those specific to the Holy Year).
To gain indulgences, whether plenary or partial, it is necessary that the faithful be in the state of grace at least at the time the indulgenced work is completed.
Plenary Indulgence
A plenary indulgence can be gained only once a day. In order to obtain it, the faithful must,
Partial Indulgence
A partial indulgence can be obtained by those who devoutly recite, according to any legitimate formula the acts of faith, hope, charity, and contrition. Some examples are:
It is appropriate, but not necessary, that the sacramental Confession and especially Holy Communion and the prayer for the Pope's intentions take place on the same day that the indulgenced work is performed; but it is sufficient that these sacred rites and prayers be carried out within several days (about 20) 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.
For the sake of those legitimately impeded, confessors can commute both the work prescribed and the conditions required (except, obviously, detachment from even venial sin).
Indulgences can always be applied either to oneself or to the souls of the deceased, but they cannot be applied to other living persons.1
Types of Indulgences
Plenary Indulgence
A plenary indulgence removes all temporal punishment due for sins.
Partial Indulgence
A partial indulgence removes part of the temporal punishment due for sins.
How does one gaIn an Indulgence?
Plenary indulgences are attached to certain prayers and to certain devotional or charitable practices that we undertake with the intention of making the needed reparation. Examples of such practices approved by the Church include Eucharistic adoration that lasts at least one half hour, devout recitation of the Marian rosary, prayerful reading of Sacred Scripture, the making of the Way of the Cross, participation in a Eucharistic procession on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, and participation in a parish mission.
Besides particular prayers and devotions, the Church also grants partial indulgences connected to the following four general areas of action, which can be undertaken in the more ordinary circumstances of everyday life:
Pious invocation Recalling St. Paul’s exhortation to “rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer” (Rom 12:12), the first general area applies “to the Christian faithful who, while carrying out their duties and enduring the hardships of life, raise their minds in humble trust to God and make, at least mentally, some pious invocation.”
Gift of self or goods St. Paul also teaches, “Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. . . . Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality” (Rom 12:11, 13). This second general area applies “to the faithful who, led by the spirit of faith, give compassionately of themselves or of their goods to serve their brothers [and sisters] in need.”
Voluntary abstinence Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Lk 9:23). The third general area applies “to the Christian faithful who, in a spirit of penance, voluntarily abstain from something that is licit for and pleasing to them.”
Witness of faith Jesus promised, “Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father” (Mt 10:32). The fourth general area applies “to the Christian faithful who, in the particular circumstances of daily life, voluntarily give explicit witness to their faith before others.”
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