I realize I'll probably be attacked because I am about to post something being taught (my words) to Catholic youth concerning Indulgences and Purgatory. Let's just how many will say this is not "official" RCC teaching.
------------------------------------------------------------
The Church's Treasury of Grace The Catholic Church is able to grant indulgences because she draws on the infinite merits of Christ, Mary, and all the saints. Blessed Mary of Quito, a Spanish nun, saw in a vision a vast treasure, which, God explained to her, symbolized the graces and merits of Jesus (the treasure of the Church!) from which indulgences are taken. These graces and merits can be obtained by anyone who fulfills the conditions, usually quite easy, for receiving an indulgence. People who don't bother to take advantage of indulgences are like travellers passing through a field full of precious jewels, who don't even take the trouble to bend over and fill their pockets, even though they know they will need these treasures when they reach their destination.
. . . . . .
DID YOU KNOW?? Although you can't apply the indulgence to a living person (they have to get their own indulgences!) you can ask God to apply your indulgence to relieve the Holy Souls in Purgatory. And don't forget to ask the Holy Souls to pray for you when they get to Heaven; you'll be gaining friends in high places!
Catholic Youth Networking
Catholic Youth
Why let this "infinite treasury" go to waste. It is worth a lot of money.
That is pretty much the way I viewed indulgences. When my mother passed away 11 yrs. ago, my dad told their friends instead of flowers to send money in my mothers name to the Pink Sisters in St. Louis. He recieved back notices telling him that people had sent money in and that mom would recieve indulgences for the prayers they would say in her name. The more money people sent the more prayers were said, and if some one sent in a really huge amount, she got a whole mass said in her name. Of Course I don't know how much you get for each prayer and mass, but more money bought more prayers.
Sorry to the Catholics for relating this but that is the way it was.
Becky