Author Topic: Conditions for a Plenary Indulgence (Read 1325 times)

Caminus · « **on:** December 02, 2010, 10:05:46 PM »

This past All Soul's Day, I noticed several websites containing the same information on the conditions necessary for obtaining a plenary indulgence. Take this for an example:

Quote

From the
Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter--
October 2005 Newsletter
Indulgences for the Poor Souls
Current regulations in force by Pope Benedict XVI

I On All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2) a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls, is granted to those who visit any parish church or public oratory and there recite one Our Father and one Credo.

II On all the days from November I though November 8 inclusive, a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls, is granted to those who visit a cemetery and pray even if only mentally for the departed.

Conditions for both indulgences:

1. Only one plenary indulgence can be granted per day.

2. It is necessary to be in the state of grace, at least by completion of the work.

3. Freedom from attachment to sin, even venial sin, is necessary; otherwise the indulgence is only partial. (By this is meant attachment to a particular sin, not sin in general.)

4. Holy Communion must be received each time the indulgence is sought.

5. Prayers must he recited for the intentions of the Holy Father on each day the indulgence is sought. (No particular prayers are prescribed. One Our Father and one Hail Mary suffice, or other suitable prayers.

6. A sacramental concession must he made within a week of completion of the prescribed work. (One confession made during the week, made with the intention of gaining all the indulgences, suffices.)

Number 3 stands out as I read the old Raccolta which stated:

Quote

iii. As a third and last condition of gaining a Plenary Indulgence and remission of all sins, venial included, it is required that we detest these said venial sins, and moreover lay aside every affection to all such sins in general, as well as to each in particular. God grant us of His holy grace that such dispositions be found in all those Christians who are desirous of gaining these Indulgences; and grant us likewise to remember, that whilst we do our utmost to gain them, we ought always, notwithstanding, to endeavour at the same time to bring forth worthy fruits of penance, and by means of other wholesome penal works, as well as works of mercy and devotion, to pay to the Divine justice some satisfaction for the misdeeds we have done.

http://www.franciscan-sfo.org/ap/rac/indulgences.htm

Note the contradiction? Are Catholics being misled into thinking that they may be acquiring plenary indulgences when in fact they are not?

gladius_veritatis · « **Reply #1 on:** December 02, 2010, 10:30:58 PM »

Of course such a thing is possible -- I would even call it likely.

ALL of reality has been falsified, perverted, etc -- from the water/soil/food up to the beliefs and practices of the true religion, and everything in between.

Caminus · « **Reply #2 on:** December 02, 2010, 10:32:36 PM »

That's what I keep trying to tell my wife. EVERYTHING is corrupted, it is all but a hollow shell of what it once was.

sedetrad · « **Reply #3 on:** December 02, 2010, 10:40:37 PM »

God Bless you, Caminus! As a single man, my path is far easier. I do not always agree with you, but you have been a Catholic exemplar.

Roman Catholic · « **Reply #4 on:** December 03, 2010, 04:13:43 AM »

Quote from: Caminus

That's what I keep trying to tell my wife. EVERYTHING is corrupted, it is all but a hollow shell of what it once was.

What else can we expect to get from tools of Satan, but utter corruption?

Roman Catholic · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2010, 04:17:57 AM »

Quote from: Caminus

This past All Soul's Day, I noticed several websites containing the same information on the conditions necessary for obtaining a plenary indulgence. Take this for an example:

Quote
From the
Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter--
October 2005 Newsletter
Indulgences for the Poor Souls
Current regulations in force by Pope Benedict XVI

I On All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2) a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls, is granted to those who visit any parish church or public oratory and there recite one Our Father and one Credo.

II On all the days from November I though November 8 inclusive, a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls, is granted to those who visit a cemetery and pray even if only mentally for the departed.

Conditions for both indulgences:

1. Only one plenary indulgence can be granted per day.

2. It is necessary to be in the state of grace, at least by completion of the work.

3. Freedom from attachment to sin, even venial sin, is necessary; otherwise the indulgence is only partial. (By this is meant attachment to a particular sin, not sin in general.)

4. Holy Communion must be received each time the indulgence is sought.

5. Prayers must he recited for the intentions of the Holy Father on each day the indulgence is sought. (No particular prayers are prescribed. One Our Father and one Hail Mary suffice, or other suitable prayers.

6. A sacramental concession must he made within a week of completion of the prescribed work. (One confession made during the week, made with the intention of gaining all the indulgences, suffices.)

Number 3 stands out as I read the old Raccolta which stated:

Quote
iii. As a third and last condition of gaining a Plenary Indulgence and remission of all sins, venial included, it is required that we detest these said venial sins, and moreover lay aside every affection to all such sins in general, as well as to each in particular. God grant us of His holy grace that such dispositions be found in all those Christians who are desirous of gaining these Indulgences; and grant us likewise to remember, that whilst we do our utmost to gain them, we ought always, notwithstanding, to endeavour at the same time to bring forth worthy fruits of penance, and by means of other wholesome penal works, as well as works of mercy and devotion, to pay to the Divine justice some satisfaction for the misdeeds we have done.

http://www.franciscan-sfo.org/ap/rac/indulgences.htm

Note the contradiction? Are Catholics being misled into thinking that they may be acquiring plenary indulgences when in fact they are not?

How brazen. What a blatant change.

So are Catholics supposed to be misled into thinking they can gain a plenary indulgence if they are unattached to a particular sin, but at the same time also attached strongly to any number of other, perhaps even worse sins?

Seems insane.

hollingsworth1 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2010, 07:57:01 AM »

As a convert from Protestantism, I admit to never having fully understood what "Plenary indulgence" means. I still don't really.

Roman Catholic · « **Reply #7 on:** December 03, 2010, 08:06:55 AM »

Quote from: hollingsworth1

As a convert from Protestantism, I admit to never having fully understood what "Plenary indulgence" means. I still don't really.

What particular brand of Protestantism did you come from?

Caminus · « **Reply #8 on:** December 03, 2010, 11:09:09 AM »

Quote from: hollingsworth1

As a convert from Protestantism, I admit to never having fully understood what "Plenary indulgence" means. I still don't really.

When the guilt of sin is forgiven, there remains a debt of punishment for the crime. If we do not make sufficient satisfaction for our sins on earth, Purgatory is a place of expiation where we complete our atonement. What precise measure God alone knows. An indulgence is a partial or full remission of the temporal debt of punishment due to our sins. Many of the Saints did not sin mortally against God, yet they lived a life of reparation. These supererogatory works form a treasury of merits which can be applied by the authority of the Church to the faithful or the souls in purgatory. It is a wonderful doctrine which reveals a most merciful and indulgent God. I would recommend reading a book on Purgatory, especially An Unpublished Manuscript on Purgatory. You can get it in book form as well. It's a profound work.

innocenza · « **Reply #9 on:** December 03, 2010, 11:51:58 AM »

It's relevant to remark that persons may fufill all the conditions for gaining an indulgence except the one that is crucial -- forsaking all attachment to sin.

stevusmagnus · « **Reply #10 on:** December 03, 2010, 11:54:18 AM »

Besides technically recognizing indulgences on paper, has any post conciliar Pope ever emphasized them?

In most of Novus Ordo land, they would laugh at you if you brought them up, thinking the entire practice was banned after the Reformation. Also since everyone is basicallly good and saved, what use are indulgences anyway?

I think the while idea of purgatory itself is ridiculous to these moderns, much less indulgences. After all if a merciful God would never damn us, isn't it ridiculous to think he would punish us temporally? Isn't that vindictive?

Sigh..