Our sins, whether mortal or venial, after being forgiven during Confession, still leave behind some “stains” in our souls, the so called remains of sin or Temporal Punishment.
These remains of sin could be remitted or “erased” through prayers, sacraments, good works, sacrifices, and indulgences, in this life or in the next. If someone dies in the state of grace but still with the remains of sin in one’s soul, one needs to be purified in purgatory.
What are Indulgences?
An Indulgence is “the remission before God of the temporal punishment due for sins already forgiven as far as their guilt is concerned.”
To obtain this remission there are proper dispositions and certain conditions predetermined by the Church that must be met by the faithful. The remission is acquired through the intervention of the Church, who has the power to loose and bind granted through Jesus Christ.
What are Catholic Indulgences? (3:43)
An indulgence can either be Partial or Plenary (Total).
It is partial if it removes only part of the temporal punishment due to sin, or plenary if it removes all temporal punishment.
To be able to gain an indulgence, one must have the intention to gain them, and perform works at the time and in the manner prescribed.
The requirements to attain a plenary indulgence:
The Apostolic Penitentiary reminds us:
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.
A plenary indulgence can be gained only once a day. In order to obtain it, the faithful must, in addition to being in the state of grace:
- have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin;
- have sacramentally confessed their sins;
- receive the Holy Eucharist (it is certainly better to receive it while participating in Holy Mass, but for the indulgence only Holy Communion is required);
- pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.
Did the Church Ever Sell Indulgences? (9:20)
