Author Topic: What does this mean please? (Read 815 times)

theology101 · « **on:** May 06, 2012, 01:56:03 AM »

I was reading about the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary and it said under the indulgences section:

Both partial and plenary indulgences can always be applied to the dead, but only by way of suffrage.

What does that mean? Rather what does suffrage mean in this context? I thought it meant voting rights lol. I would like to start applying indulgences to my departed mother, so I need to know what this means.

LordPhan · « **Reply #1 on:** May 06, 2012, 04:28:12 AM »

I will attempt to answer your question.

Lets get the first and most often touchy point out of the way.

If you are damned you cannot be saved. Indulgences do not take away Mortal Sins, they take away punishments due in purgatory.

So assuming the person you want to help is in purgatory and not in hell, you can say Rosaries for their intentions and perform acts of penance in their name to help them reach heaven faster.

Most Orders share in their prayers with their dead as well.

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #2 on:** May 06, 2012, 08:59:51 AM »

If you see a word that's confusing, look it up.
From dictionary.reference.com ............

suf·frage
   [suhf-rij] Show IPA
noun
1.
the right to vote, especially in a political election.
2.
a vote given in favor of a proposed measure, candidate, or the like.
3.
Ecclesiastical . a prayer, especially a short intercessory prayer or petition.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin suffrāgium voting tablet, vote, equivalent to Latin suffrāg ( ārī ) to vote for, support + -ium -ium

The connotation you quote obviously has nothing to do with voting, and is regarding church, or "ecclesiastical" matters (ecclesia is church, as in extra ecclesiam nulla salus).

One good trick is to replace the word with its definition, and then read the sentence again:

Both partial and plenary indulgences can always be applied to the dead, but only by way of a prayer, especially a short intercessory prayer or petition.

Hope that helps.

Sigismund · « **Reply #3 on:** May 06, 2012, 09:58:59 AM »

With a little effort, you might be able to make that more condescending...

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #4 on:** May 07, 2012, 12:55:01 PM »

No condescension intended.

Sorry you see it that way.