Posted on 01/16/2005 1:21:22 AM PST by heyheyhey
VATICAN CITY, JAN 14, 2005 (VIS) - A Decree from the Apostolic Penitentiary, dated December 25, 2004 and published today, states that during an audience granted on December 17, 2004 to Cardinal James Francis Stafford and Fr. John Francis Girotti, OFM.Conv., respectively penitentiary major and regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary, "the Holy Father wished to enrich with indulgences several determined acts of worship and devotion to the Most Holy Sacrament, which are indicated below. ... The Decree will be in force during the Eucharistic Year, starting with the day of its publication in the L'Osservatore Romano. Notwithstanding any disposition to the contrary." Following are excerpts:
"A Plenary Indulgence is granted to all faithful and to each individual faithful under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer in keeping with the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff, with the soul completely removed from attachment to any form of sin), each and every time they participate attentively and piously in a sacred function or a devotional exercise undertaken in honor of the Blessed Sacrament, solemnly exposed and conserved in the tabernacle.
"A Plenary Indulgence is also granted, under the aforesaid conditions, to the clergy, to members of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and to other faithful who are by law obliged to recite the Liturgy of the Hours, as well as to those who customarily recite the Divine Office out of pure devotion, each and every time they recite - at the end of the day, in company or in private - Vespers and Night Prayers before the Lord present in the tabernacle.
"The faithful who, through illness or other just cause, are unable to visit the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist in a church or oratory, may obtain a Plenary Indulgence in their own homes, or wherever they may be because of their ailment, if, ... with the intention of observing the three usual conditions as soon as possible, they make the visit spiritually and with the heart's desire, ... and recite the Our Father and the Creed, adding a pious invocation to Jesus in the Sacrament.
"If they are unable to do even this, they will receive a Plenary Indulgence if they unite themselves with interior desire to those who practice the normal conditions laid down for Indulgences, and offer the merciful God the illnesses and discomforts of their lives."
The Decree asks that priests, especially pastors, inform the faithful "in the most convenient manner" of these dispositions, prepare, "with generous and ready spirit," to hear confessions and to lead the faithful "in solemn public recitation of prayers to Jesus in the Sacrament." The faithful are likewise exhorted "to give open witness of faith and veneration for the Blessed Sacrament" as proposed in such acts as Eucharistic procession and adoration, and Eucharistic and spiritual communion."
FYI.
Please, ping around.
What is an indulgence?
Indulgence is a remission in whole, or in part, of the temporal punishment due to sin. It is not permission to commit a sin, nor is it forgiveness of the sin itself. A sin can only be forgiven in Confession.
Although an indulgence can grant relief here on earth, it is usually thought of in terms of the afterlife. When we die, unless our soul is in a state of perfect grace, we will most likely go to Purgatory before entering heaven. There our souls will be cleansed and readied to enter into God's presence. Simply put, indulgences give us some time off for good behavior.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07783a.htm
Nice encyclopaedia reference on indulgences from the Catholic Encyclopaedia.
Already posted and pinged, yesterday.
I'm kinda chuckling at old and tired's answer. He is sounding old and tired. :^D
To be more precise, the scandal at the heart of Luther's ire was the practice of *selling* indulgences. Some devious monk was wandering around Germany claiming to give indulgences to anyone who would help him build a church. Rome did agree with Luther that the practice was abhorable, and in fact, the monk, was a con man, not with the authority of Rome.
You have to understand the concept of purgatory: Catholics believe that the souls of those who have faith, but whose faith is not so complete as to have ridded their lives of all sin, must be cleansed of their sin in the after life. This is not a denial of the efficacy of Christ's atonement; this is for those who have ascented to accepting Christ, but who have clung in part to sin. Nor is purgation for sins committed before baptism, I believe, as they are washed fully away at baptism
By accepting certain graces, identified by the Pope, those who call themselves Christians but who are struggling against their depraved will to purify themselves, may receive some measure of purification by participation in acts of contrition and works of mercy. These avts are called "indulgences."
I tell kids who ask about purgatory this (I teach 5th grade Catechism classes), to give them an idea: I call it the spiritual beauty shop, where you get ready to be in the presence of God. All those traces of sin have to be cleaned up. You wouldn't go to a wedding or special event all scrungy, would you?
People in purgatory are saved, but not yet ready to be able to handle being in God's presence because of the way we are marked up by our sins. So they go there to get all the marks cleaned up until they are ready.
When I mention indulgences to them, I say that these are things the church wants to encourage us to do because they are good for our relationship with God, and the church asks God (at this level, I don't really get into the binding and loosening stuff) that if we do these things, would he please take time off our time in purgatory for doing these here on earth.
It's not the 100 per cent technically perfect definitions, but it does give them the grasp of it. This comes up around All Saints Day because we do something where we pray for our beloved dead, both in the class and as a parish.
You're treading into some dangerous waters asking what an indulgence is. I'm going to assume you are sincerely interested and not looking for a theological debate.
You are correct in assuming that I am sincerely interested. I am a Christian but not Catholic. I went to a Catholic Church from 9-14 yo but did not accept the Catholic ways. I accepted Christ when I was 27.
I won't debate the Bible. I accept it as the Word of God. He clearly said what He meant and meant what He said.
I am curious as to why you consider it treading into dangerous waters,asking about indulgences. I consider dabbling in the occult to be treading into dangerous waters.
Thank you for your response.
BTTT!
Somenity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
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