What are indulgences? When can they be obtained and how?

Question:

I would like to know what indulgences are. How many indulgences are gained by praying the rosario? Especially in this year, can indulgences always be received? How is it acquired and what must be done to obtain it? Thank you

Answer:

From the book: Javier Palacios, Christ, ayer, hoy y siempre, Ed. Verbo Encarnado

Indulgence is one of the constituent elements of Jubilee. ‘In them is manifested the fullness of the mercy of the Father, who goes out to meet everyone with his love, manifested first of all, with the forgiveness of guilt'(20).

For the doctrine of indulgences, we refer to the teaching of Catechism of the Catholic Church.

1.- What are indulgences?

‘An indulgence is the remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian, duly disposed and fulfilling certain conditions, obtains through the action of the Church, which, as minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.’

2.- How many kinds of indulgences are there?

‘The indulgence is partial or plenary according to whether it frees from the temporal punishment due for sins in part or totally.’

3.- Whom do they benefit?

‘Every faithful can profit for himself or apply for the faithful departed, as a suffrage, both partial and plenary indulgences’ (CIC, can 992-994) (21).

4.- What is the consequence of sin?

‘To understand this doctrine and this practice of Church it is necessary to remember that sin has a double consequence. Grave sin deprives us of communion with God and thereby renders us incapable of eternal life, the deprivation of which is called the ‘eternal punishment’ of sin. On the other hand, every sin, even venial, entails disordered attachment to creatures that need purification, whether here below or after death, in the state called Purgatory. This purification frees one from what is called the ‘temporal punishment’ of sin. These two punishments should not be conceived as a kind of revenge, inflicted by God from the outside, but as something that springs from the very nature of sin. A conversion that comes from fervent charity can reach total purification from sin, so that no punishment would remain (cf. Council of Trent: DS 1712-1713; 1820)'(22).

5.- And if God has already forgiven me, why do I have to obtain indulgences?

‘The forgiveness of sin and the restoration of communion with God entail the remission of the eternal punishments of sin. But the temporal punishments of sin remain. The Christian must strive, patiently enduring suffering and trials of all kinds and, when the day comes, calmly facing death, to accept these temporary punishments of sin as a grace; “it must apply itself, both through works of mercy and charity, as well as through prayer and different practices of penance, to completely put off the ‘old man’ and to put on the ‘new man.'” (cf. Eff 4,24) (23).

6.- How is our remission of the punishments due to sins possible?

‘The Christian who wants to purify himself from his sin and sanctify himself with the help of the grace of God is not alone. ‘The life of each of the children of God is linked in an admirable way, in Christ and by Christ, with the life of all the other Christian brothers, in the supernatural unity of the mystical Body of Christ, as in a mystical person'(24)'(25).

‘In the communion of saints, therefore, ‘there exists among the faithful – both among those who are already blessed and among those who expiate in the Purgatoryor those who are still pilgrims on earth – a constant bond of love, an abundant exchange of all goods’ (26) in this admirable exchange, the holiness of one benefits others, beyond the harm that one’s sin could have caused to others. Thus, recourse to the communion of saints allows the contrite sinner to be sooner and more effectively purified from the punishments of sin’ (27).

7.- To whom do we owe this remission?

‘These spiritual goods of the communion of saints, we also call the treasury of the Church, ‘which is not the sum of goods, as are the material riches accumulated over the centuries, but rather it is the infinite and inexhaustible value that God has before God the expiations and merits of Christ our Lord, offered so that humanity would be free from sin and reach communion with the Father. Only in Christ, our Redeemer, are the satisfactions and merits of his redemption (cf. heb 7,23-25; 9,11-28)'(28)'(29).

‘ Equally belonging to this treasure is the truly immense, immeasurable and ever new price that God has before the prayers and good works of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all the saints, who were sanctified by the grace of Christ, following in his footsteps, and did a work pleasing to Father, so that, working for their own salvation, they also cooperated in the salvation of their brothers in the unity of the Mystical Body'(30).

8- Who distributes the indulgences?

‘Indulgences are obtained by Church who, by virtue of the power to bind and loose that was granted to her by Christ Jesus, intervenes in favor of a Christian and opens to him the treasury of the merits of Christ and the saints to obtain from the Father of mercy the remission of the temporal punishments due for his sins. That is why Church not only wants to come to the aid of this Christian, but also encourage him to do works of piety, penance and charity'(31).

9.- What can I do for a deceased member of the faithful?

‘Since the faithful departed in the process of purification are also members of the same communion of saints, we can help them, among other ways, by obtaining indulgences for them, so that they are freed from the temporal punishments due for their sins’ (32).

In order to benefit from indulgences, it is necessary to be baptized, not excommunicated, and in a state of grace at least at the end of the works prescribed to earn the indulgence.

For the subject who meets these conditions to benefit, he must have the intention, even if it is general, to win them and to complete the prescribed works within the established time and in the proper manner.

Plenary indulgence

The following prayers and actions, among others, have plenary indulgence, if the required conditions are met:

• ‘To you, oh God, we praise you…’ (Te Deum): January 1st and on the Solemnity of Pentecost.

• ‘Worship prostrate…’ (Tantum ergo): Holy Thursday after Mass In Coena Dominiand in the liturgical action of Corpus Christi.

• ‘Jesus so sweet…'(Act of reparation): prayed publicly on the day of the Sacred Heart.

• ‘look at me, oh my beloved and good Jesus…’: Fridays of Lent.

• ‘Come, Creator Spirit…’ (Veni Creator): prayed publicly on January 1 and on the Solemnity of Pentecost.

• Pray the Way of the Cross: before the stations, passing from one to another by at least the one who directs it, meditating on the scenes if desired, with some vocal prayer.

• Prayer of holy Rosary: praying it in a church, in an oratory, as a family, or in community. It is enough to pray only five of the fifteen mysteries, with meditation on the mysteries that are prayed.

• Worship to Most Holy for at least half an hour.

• Adoration of the Cross: in the liturgical action of Good Friday.

• Perform Spiritual Exercises or similar retreats, lasting at least three days.

• Receive the Papal Blessing Urbi et Orbi; It is also valid on radio or television.

• Attend the rite that closes a Eucharistic Congress.

• To the priest who celebrates the 25, 50, or 60th anniversary of his ordination, it is extended to those who accompany him at Holy Mass.

• Reading the Sagrada Escritura: at least half an hour.

• Visit the parish church on the titular feast and on August 2 (indulgence of the Porziuncola). The same goes for the cathedral church or co-cathedral or for quasi-parish churches.

• Receive the apostolic blessing in danger of imminent death. In the event that there is no priest, the Church grants this same indulgence as long as some prayers have been said regularly (the three usual conditions to obtain the plenary indulgence are met).

• Attend the preaching of some sermons, participating in the closing of a Holy Mission.

• Visit a church or oratory on the day of its holy Founder, praying an Our Father and a Creed.

• Visit the Patriarchal or Major Basilicas of Rome on the day of the titular feast, on any day of obligation or on any day of the year chosen by the faithful themselves: the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed must be prayed.

• Visit a church or oratory on All Souls’ Day (or with the consent of bishop, the Sunday before or after). This indulgence is only applicable to the souls of Purgatory.

• Visit a church or altar on the day of its dedication, praying an Our Father and a Creed.

• Use on the day of Saints Peter and Paul (June 29) some pious object blessed by the Papaor a bishop, praying a Creed.

• To the new priest at his First Solemn Mass, and to those who attend it.

• Renewal of the promises of baptism: at the Easter Vigil or on the anniversary of baptism.

• Visit the church where the diocesan Synod is celebrated while it lasts, praying the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed.

• Visit seasonal churches on their own day, attending morning or afternoon services.

• To the faithful who make their First Communion, and to those who accompany them.

• Visit to the cemetery in the first eight days of the month of November, praying (just mentally) for the faithful departed.

• In the pastoral visit, they can benefit from the indulgence once if they attend a sacred function presided over by the visitator.

Conditions for plenary indulgence

To gain a plenary indulgence, in addition to wanting to avoid any mortal or venial sin, it is necessary to pray or do the work that incorporates the indulgence by fulfilling three conditions:

sacramental confession

Eucharistic communion

Prayer for the intentions of Papa

With a single sacramental confession you can earn several plenary indulgences; On the other hand, with a single Eucharistic communion and a single prayer for the intentions of Papaonly one plenary indulgence is gained. The three conditions can be met a few days before or after praying or doing the work that incorporates the indulgence, but it is convenient that the communion and the prayer for the intentions of Papabe carried out on the same day.

The condition of praying for the intentions of Papais fulfilled if a single Our Father and a Hail Mary are prayed to its intention; But each faithful is granted the power to pray with any formula, according to their piety and devotion.

Plenary indulgence can only be earned once a day, but the faithful Christian can achieve plenary indulgence in article mortis, although on the same day he gained another plenary indulgence.

Partial indulgence may be earned several times a day, unless expressly stated otherwise.

The work indicated to obtain the plenary indulgence attached to a church or oratory consists of the pious visit of this place, praying the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed, unless in some special case other conditions are established.

Partial indulgence

The following prayers and actions have partial indulgence, all those marked with (*) can achieve plenary indulgence if its requirements are met:

• ‘To you, blessed Joseph…’.

• ‘To you, oh God, we praise you…’ (Te Deum)*.

• ‘Remember, oh most pious Virgin Mary…’.

• ‘Angel of God, you who are my custodian…’.

• ‘here we are, Mister, Holy Spirit…’.

• ‘Holy Apostles Peter and Paul…’.

• ‘Mercy, God mine…’ (Psalm 50).

• ‘Mary, Mother of grace and mercy…’.

• ‘Worship prostrate…'(Tantum ergo)*.

• ‘Oh, sacred banquet‘.

• ‘look at me, oh my beloved and good Jesus…’*.

• ‘Mister, to all those who for love…’ (Prayer for our benefactors).

• ‘Mister, God Almighty, who has brought us to the beginning of this day…’.

• ‘under your protection…’ (Sub tuum praesidium).

• ‘Mister, give them eternal rest…’ This indulgence applies only to the faithful departed.

• ‘Worship yourself devoutly…’ (I love you devote).

• ‘Soul of Christ…’.

• ‘Proclaim my soul…’ (Magnificat).

• ‘Let us pray for our Pontiff…’.

• ‘Jesus so sweet, whose charity…’.

• ‘From the depths…’.

• ‘Come, Creative Spirit…’ (Veni Creator).

• ‘Come, Holy Spirit…’ (Come, Spiritus Sanctus).

• ‘Jesus so sweet, Redeemer of the human race…’ (Consecration to Christ King).

• ‘we thank you…’

• ‘Mister… deign to send his holy angel…’.

• ‘Mister, may your grace inspire…’.

• ‘Visit, Sir this room…’.

• Pray the Hail.

• Pray the holy Rosary.

• Pray the Angelus during ordinary time.

• Pray the Creed, whether the Apostolic or the Nicene-Constantinopolitan*.

• Pray the Regina Coeli during the Easter season.

• Pray Lauds or Vespers for the Office of the Dead.

• Prayer of any of the Litanies approved by the Church, among others: of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of Saint Joseph and of the Saints.

• Pray prayers to ask for vocations.

• Pray for Christian unity.

• Prayer of any of the parvo offices.

• Say a prayer in honor of a saint on the day of his liturgical celebration.

• Adoration of Most Holy Sacramento(Visit to Most Holy)*.

• Make an act of contrition.

• Read Sagrada Escrituraas a spiritual reading*.

• Spiritual communion.

• Attend the Novenas on the occasion of Christmas, Pentecost or the Immaculate Conception.

• Any act of faith, hope or charity.

• Do a moment of mental prayer.

• Renew the promises of baptism*.

• Teach or learn Christian doctrine.

• Make the Sign of the Cross, pronouncing the usual words.

• Visit the catacombs.

• Attend the preaching of the word of God*.

• Visit a church or oratory on the days when the pastoral visit takes place*.

• Use pious objects with the proper blessing*.

• Visit seasonal churches on their own day.

General conditions for partial indulgence

Partial indulgence is granted to faithful Christians who, in the fulfillment of their obligations and in the suffering of life’s difficulties, raise their soul to God with humble confidence, adding, even if only mentally, some pious invocation.

Partial indulgence is granted to the faithful Christian who, moved by the Spirit of faith, gives himself or his goods, with feelings of mercy, to the service of brothers in need.

Partial indulgence is granted to the faithful Christian who, in a spirit of penitence, voluntarily deprives himself of something lawful and pleasant.

Provisions for obtaining the jubilee indulgence

Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary

With this decree, which complies with the will of the Holy Fatherexpressed in the Bull for the convocation of the Great Jubileeof the year 2000, the Apostolic Penitentiary, by virtue of the faculties granted by the Supreme Pontiff himself, determines the discipline that must be observed to obtain the jubilee indulgence.

All duly prepared faithful can benefit copiously from the gift of indulgence throughout Jubilee, according to the provisions specified below.

Keeping in mind that the indulgences already granted, either in a general way or by a special rescript, remain in force during Great Jubilee, it is remembered that the jubilee indulgence can be applied as a suffrage for the souls of the faithful departed. With this practice an act of supernatural charity is made, due to the bond through which, in the mystical Body of Christ, the faithful still pilgrims in this world are united to those who have already ended their earthly existence. During the jubilee year, the rule according to which plenary indulgence can be obtained only once a day remains in force (33).

The culmination of Jubilee is the encounter with God Father through Christ Salvador, present in his Church, especially in his Sacraments. For this reason, the entire jubilee journey, prepared by the pilgrimage, has as its starting and ending point the celebration of the sacrament of Penance and the Eucharist, paschal mystery of Christ, our peace and our reconciliation: this is the transformative encounter that opens to the gift of indulgence for oneself and for others.

After having worthily celebrated the sacramental confession, which in an ordinary manner, according to the complete can. 960 del CIC y el can. 720 del CCEO, debe ser en su forma individual e, the faithful, once the required requirements have been met, can receive or apply, for a prudent period of time, the gift of plenary indulgence, even daily, without having to repeat the confession.

It is appropriate, however, that the faithful frequently receive the grace of the sacrament of Penance, to deepen their conversion and purity of heart (34). Participation in the Eucharist – necessary for each indulgence – should take place on the same day that the prescribed works are performed (35).

These two culminating moments must be accompanied, above all, by the testimony of communion with the Church, manifested with prayer for the intentions of the Roman Pontiff, as well as by works of charity and penance, according to the indications given below. These works want to express the true conversion of heart to which communion with Christ leads in the Sacraments. Indeed, Christ is himself the indulgence and propitiation for our sins (1 Jn 2, 2). He, infusing the hearts of the faithful with the Holy Spirit, who is ‘the forgiveness of all sins’ (36), drives each one to a filial and confident encounter with the Father of mercy. From this meeting arise the commitments of conversion and renewal, of ecclesial communion and of charity towards the brothers.

For the next Jubilee the rule is also confirmed according to which confessors can commute, in favor of those who are legitimately prevented, both the prescribed work and the required conditions (37). Cloistered religious men and women, the sick and all those who cannot leave their home, may make, instead of visiting a particular church, a visit to the chapel of their own house; If even this is not possible, they will be able to obtain the indulgence by spiritually uniting themselves with those who carry out the prescribed work in the ordinary way, offering to God their prayers, sufferings and inconveniences.

Regarding the necessary requirements, the faithful can obtain the jubilee indulgence:

1) In Rome, making a pilgrimage to one of the Patriarchal Basilicas, namely, St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, the Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior of the Lateran, the Basilica of St. Mary the Maggiore or that of St. Paul Outside the Walls on the Via Ostiense, and participating there with devotion in the Holy Mass or in another liturgical celebration such as Lauds or Vespers, or in an exercise of piety (e.g. Way of the Cross, the Marian Rosary, the recitation of the hymn Akathistos in honor of the Mother of God); also visiting, in a group or individually, one of the four Patriarchal Basilicas and remaining there for a certain time in Eucharistic adoration or in spiritual meditation, concluding with the ‘Our Father’, with the profession of faith in any of its legitimate forms and with the invocation to the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this special occasion of Great Jubilee, the following places are added to the four Patriarchal Basilicas and with the same conditions: the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, the Basilica of Saint Lawrence next to the Verano cemetery, the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Divine Love and the Christian Catacombs (38).

2) In the Holy Land, observing the same conditions and visiting the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem or the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth.

3) In the other ecclesiastical constituencies, making a pilgrimage to the cathedral church or to other churches or places designated by the Ordinary and attending there with devotion a liturgical celebration or another type of exercise, such as those indicated above for the city of Rome; also visiting, in a group or individually, the Cathedral church or a Sanctuary designated by the Ordinary, remaining there for a certain time in spiritual meditation, concluding with the ‘Our Father’, with the profession of faith in any of its legitimate forms and with the invocation to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

4) In every place, going to visit for a convenient time the brothers in need or with difficulties (sick, imprisoned, elderly alone, handicapped, etc.), as if making a pilgrimage towards Christ present in them (cf. Mt. 25, 34-36) and fulfilling the usual spiritual, sacramental and prayer requirements. The faithful will certainly want to repeat these visits during the Holy Year, being able to obtain plenary indulgence in each of them, obviously only once a day.

The jubilee plenary indulgence may also be obtained through initiatives that concretely and generously favor the penitential spirit, which is like the soul of Jubilee. Namely: by abstaining for at least one day from superfluous things (for example, tobacco, alcoholic beverages, fasting or practicing abstinence according to the general norms of the Church and those of the Episcopates) and giving a proportionate sum of money to the poor; supporting works of a religious or social nature with a significant contribution (especially in favor of abandoned children, youth with difficulties, elderly people in need, and foreigners in the various countries where they seek better living conditions); dedicating a convenient part of one’s free time to activities of interest to the community or other similar forms of personal sacrifice.

(20) John Paul II, Incarnationis Mysterium, Bull of convocation of the Great Jubileeof the Year 2000, 9.
(21) Catechism of the Catholic Church,1471.
(22) ibid., 1472.
(23) ibid., 1473.
(24) Paul VI, Apostolic Constitution Indulgentiarium Doctrine, 5.
(25) Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1474.
(26) Paul VI, Indulgentiarium Doctrine, 5.
(27) Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1475.
(28) Paul VI, Indulgentiarum Doctrina, ibid
(29) Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1476.
(30) Paul VI, ibid., 1477.
(31) Cf. Pablo VI, ibid., 8, Council of Trent; DS 1835, ibid., 1478.
(32) ibid., 1479.
(33) Cf. Enchiridion indulgentiarum,LEV 1986 norm. 21, 1.
(34) ibid.,norm. 23, 1-2.
(35) ibid.,norm. 23, 3.
(36) ‘Quia ipse remissio omnium peccatorum’: Missale Romanum,Super oblate, Sabbath post Dominicam VII Paschae.
(37) Cf. Ench. indulgence., norm. 27.
(38) ibid.,conces,14.