What is an "indulgence," and could giving to charity merit an indulgence?

Question

Please cite credible sources.

Answer 1

Credible and neutral source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indulgence

From the article: "An indulgence, in Roman Catholic theology, is the (full or partial) remission of temporal punishment for sins which have already been forgiven. The indulgence is granted by the church after the sinner has confessed and received absolution.

"Mortal sins destroy charity in the heart of man by a grave (serious) violation of God's law. It turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him. It deprives us of communion with God and therefore makes us incapable of eternal life.

"Punishments for sin can be temporal [or] eternal. Temporal punishments are temporary punishments - those that affect us in this life or in Purgatory. The more temporal punishments you incur, the more punishment/suffering you have to endure on earth or in Purgatory.

"An Indulgence is granted for the remission of the remaining temporal punishments due to sins that have already been forgiven."

In other words, when you commit a sin, you damage your relationship with God, which can be repaired by repenting and receiving forgiveness. That's the main thing--to return to a state of grace with God. However, you also incur a just punishment for breaking God's law.

Many Protestants reject the punishment part, but take a family analogy. Suppose a son gets mad and punches a hole through the drywall. Later he says he is sorry and asks for forgiveness. The parents forgive the sin, but still require him to repair the damage and clean the garage as a punishment. This is not unreasonable because the penalty requirement helps him think through the seriousness of the damage and disrespect.

Punishment for sin can be served during this life, by penance, or after death, in purgatory. Penance works best when you do some good work, such as volunteering at a homeless shelter.

Yes, giving to charity could merit an indulgence. However, the Church developed rules to prevent the buying and selling of indulgences--it can't be a quid pro quo.

Cheers,
Bruce

Answer 2

First of all, the merits upon which an indulgence is based are not our merits. Now that would be confusing. It is like the Jewish concept of the merits of the Fathers. An old concept.
There are conditions to an indulgence, of course, but they are not means of meriting.
I don't need a source. This is common Catholic knowledge.

Answer 3

In Roman Catholic theology, an indulgence is the full or partial remission of temporal punishment due to sins which have already been forgiven. The indulgence is granted by the church after the sinner has confessed and received absolution. ...

AS to your second question, no.

For further clarification why not talk to a priest?

Answer 4

An indulgence is something initiated by the Church's authority that removes some of your time in Purgatory.

One is authorized by the bishop, which need's the Pope's approval that removes some time.

The other is called for by the Pope, which removes all of your time in Purgatory.

Answer 5

An indulgence, simply put, is like time off for good behavior; or parole as opposed to serving the full sentence.

Answer 6

It's sort of a "You're ok" card in the Catholic Church. They use to hand out indulgences that would supposedly put you in good standing with God, or announce that God had forgiven your sin, or something.

In more corrupt times, ministers and priests would sell them to the highest bidders. They aren't a means to forgive sin, but more like an official announcement that you ARE forgiven of whatever sin you committed. It's rare that the Church "does" indulgences anymore.

Answer 7

Basically, it is a payment made for sin, to be forgiven.
Common sense says that no payment can be made other than that which was made by Jesus on the cross at Calvary.
It paid for many Cathedrals in Europe.
Martin Luther and the monk J.J. Tetzel debated all this in 1517, at the beginning of the Reformation.
The R.Catholic church made the assertion there was a treasury of merits laid up in Heaven which the church could draw from, there by the work of Christ, the Apostles and other saints, and martyrs, which the Pope would apply to Christian people to remit their temporal punishment.
NOTHING in the Bible substantiates this.

Answer 8

the only credible source I could cite for you would be
Idulgence - Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.com/indulgence

Answer 9

Indulgence is 'too much' of something, and no charity can be too much...for one should give all to charity if possible.

and by the way, MERRY CHRISTMAS!