Catholics: What exactly is an Indulgence and how much does it cost to buy one?

Answer 1

I can get you one for $3.50... but it won't get you out of the really good sins

Answer 2

+ Purgatory +

To discuss indulgences, first we have to talk about Purgation (or Purgatory).

Are you perfect now? Most people would say no.

Will you be perfect in heaven? Most people believe yes.

Purgatory (or purgation) is the process of God's love changing our imperfect selves into perfect beings. Depending on the amount of change needed by different people this can be an easy or slightly harder process.

Everyone in purgatory is on their way to heaven. I don't think Mother Teresa of Calcutta had a very hard time of it.

+ Indulgences +

The concept is that a person can do acts of penance now on earth to make purgation easier.

Penance is internally turning one's heart toward God and away from sin in hope in divine mercy and externally by fasting, prayer, and almsgiving.

A corruption grew in the Church many years ago where rich people would give enough alms (money to the Church) to essentially buy an easy way to heaven. This was one of Martin Luther's protests (hence Protestants) and shortly thereafter the Catholic Church cleaned up this practice.

In 1567 Pope Pius V canceled all grants of indulgences involving any fees or other financial transactions.

But remember because everyone in purgatory is already on their way to heaven, indulgences do not get you into heaven. They just make purgation easier.

I guess if you did not believe in purgatory then there would be no reason to worry about indulgences.

With love in Christ.

Answer 3

"The remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins forgiven as far as their guilt is concerned, which the follower of Christ with the proper dispositions and under certain determined conditions acquires through the intervention of the Church, which, as minister of the redemption, authoritatively dispense and applies the treasury of the satisfaction won by Christ and the saints" (Pope Paul VI, Apostolic Constitution on Indulgences)

They are therefore, not something you can buy.

PS. Temporal punishiment - think of it as this. Say you break the neighbor's window. You ask forgiveness for doing that and they give it to you. That part is all taken care of, but the window is still broken and needs to be replaced, which would be your responsibility, even though you've been all forgiven.

Answer 4

An indulgence, as I understand it, is appealing to the Church to use their huge, banked collection of good mojo they've accumulated for all their good and pious deeds, and using some of it to erase some of your misdeeds.

It's basically the same principle as the absolution of all sins following baptism, but allows for the absolution of some sins after someone's already been baptised.

At one time, the Church actually sold these Indulgences in exchange for cash - on the idea that the bankroll of alms would be used to perform good deeds, build churches, etc. that would help erase your misdeeds.

However, Pope Pious V in 1567 put an end to the selling of Indulgences. So you're about 450 years too late to take advantage of the cash-for-forgiveness program.

Answer 5

You cannot buy them.

An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints." (1983 Catechism ¶ 1471)

And here is what indulgences are not: they are not permission to commit sins in the future; they are not "get out of Hell free" cards; they are not the forgiveness of the guilt of sin. They have nothing to do with eternal salvation; they are only for the temporal effects of sins that have already been forgiven through Penance (or a perfect Act of Contrition, as the case may be).

Answer 6

"An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints." (1983 Catechism ¶ 1471)"

I need a law degree to get through that.

Answer 7

I can get you some "hot indulgence" that fell off the back of a truck for 20 bucks.

Answer 8

A indulgence were a document you bought that guaranteed your direct entry into heaven(no questions asked). Of course they were very expensive, and were canceled after the protestant reform in the Trent council.

Answer 9

I think there are 3 in every Monopoly game.
They say "get out of jail free."

Answer 10

They stopped allowing that particular fundraiser about 3 centuries ago, sorry.

Answer 11

Sad to tell you that it is sold out! No new stock coming in!