Guardian Angels News

Last Sunday’s homily sparked several thoughtful questions from parishioners, particularly regarding indulgences and their connection to the Jubilee Year. This article aims to offer a deeper understanding of indulgences, a practice often misunderstood yet deeply rooted in the Church’s teaching and tradition.

What Are Indulgences?

An indulgence is a remission of the temporal punishment due to sin whose guilt has already been forgiven. While the sacrament of Confession absolves us from sin, its effects on our soul may still require purification, either in this life or in Purgatory. Indulgences provide an opportunity for this purification through the Church’s application of the merits of Christ and the saints.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1471) explains that the Church has the authority, given by Christ, to distribute indulgences to aid the faithful in their journey toward holiness. These are not “automatic tickets to heaven” but a gift of grace meant to encourage repentance and spiritual growth.

Indulgences in Scripture and Tradition

The practice of indulgences is rooted in both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. In Scripture, we see the concept of God’s mercy and the remission of sins repeatedly emphasized. For example, in Matthew 16:19, Jesus tells Peter: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” This authority to bind and loose is understood by the Church to include the power to remit the temporal effects of sin.

Another scriptural foundation is found in 2 Maccabees 12:46, where Judas Maccabeus prays for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins. This reflects an early understanding of the efficacy of prayers and sacrifices for the purification of souls, a concept carried forward in the Church’s teaching on indulgences.

Tradition further illuminates the practice. From the early centuries of Christianity, the Church has taught that the merits of Christ and the saints form a “treasury of merit” that can be applied to the faithful. St. Paul’s writings also reflect this communal aspect of the Church, where one’s sufferings and prayers benefit others (Colossians 1:24). Over time, this understanding developed into the formal teaching on indulgences, particularly clarified during the Councils of Florence and Trent.

Types of Indulgences

There are two kinds of indulgences:

• Partial Indulgence: Removes part of the temporal punishment for sin.
• Plenary Indulgence: Removes all temporal punishment, provided the person fulfills the necessary conditions.

How Do We Gain an Indulgence?

To receive an indulgence, the faithful must meet specific requirements:

1. Be in a state of grace at the time the indulgence is performed.
2. Have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin.
3. Sacramentally confess sins.
4. Receive the Holy Eucharist (preferably on the day of the indulgenced act).
5. Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father (e.g., one Our Father and one Hail Mary).

In addition to these conditions, the indulgenced act—such as making a pilgrimage, reading Scripture, or praying the Rosary—must be completed.

Indulgences and the Jubilee Year

The year 2025 is a Jubilee Year, a special time of grace and renewal proclaimed by the Church. During a Jubilee, the Church often grants plenary indulgences for specific pilgrimages, prayers, and acts of charity. This year presents an opportunity for spiritual renewal and a deeper experience of God’s mercy.

For example, walking through a designated Holy Door during a Jubilee Year can be an indulgenced act, symbolizing our journey from sin to grace. This gesture, accompanied by the proper spiritual conditions, becomes a powerful moment of encounter with God’s mercy.

The Purpose of Indulgences

Indulgences remind us of the interconnectedness of the Church—on earth, in Purgatory, and in heaven. They encourage us to live lives of virtue, pray for the souls in Purgatory, and rely on the infinite merits of Christ.

As we journey through this Jubilee Year, let us embrace this opportunity to grow in holiness, seek God’s mercy, and strive to become better witnesses to His love in the world.

In this sacred season, let us rediscover the richness of our faith and draw closer to the heart of Christ.

 

In Christ,

Fr. Joe Connelly