Many times questions arise regarding Indulgences. Below are a few quick answers to the most common of misunderstandings and/or questions.
Q. Aren’t Indulgences “Old Church”?
A. Simply put, no! “Old Church” and “New Church” have no validity or meaning for Catholic doctrine. Indulgences are just as important today (and needed) as they were in the early Church and the intervening years.
Q. What is an Indulgence?
A. An Indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven. An indulgence is obtained through the Church who, by virtue of the power of binding and losing granted Her by Christ Jesus, intervenes in favor of individual Christians. She opens for them the treasury of the merits of Christ and the saints to obtain from the Father of Mercies the remission of the temporal punishments due for their sins. (Catechism of the Catholic Church: 1471-1479)
Q. How are the Indulgences to be used and/or applied?
A. An Indulgence is partial or plenary, according to if it removes either part or all the temporal punishment due to sin. It may be applied to the living or the dead, for themselves or the souls in Purgatory. One must be properly disposed to receive the Indulgence. To gain an Indulgence, one must be baptized, not excommunicated, and in the state of grace, at least at the time of completion of the prescribed works. You must also have the intention of receiving the Indulgence and fulfill the enjoined works at the stated time and according to the tenor of the grant.
Q. There are two types of Indulgences: Plenary and Partial. What are the differences?
A. The usual conditions for gaining a Plenary Indulgence are in addition to good work it is attached.
—Confessions and Holy Communion on the day of the performance of the good work or within a week before or after.
—Prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father (One Our Father and Hail Mary) or another devotional prayer.
—Exclusion of all attachment to sin, even the slightest venial sin (hence the reason for a thorough examination of conscience). If these conditions are not met, then it becomes a Partial Indulgence. A Partial Indulgence is grated to the faithful, who in performance of their daily lives, raise their minds with humble confidence to God, adding a pious invocation; or, give of themselves or of their goods to serve others in need; or, in a spirit of penance, voluntarily deprive themselves of what is licit and pleasing to them; or, devoutly use religious articles (crucifixes, rosaries, scapulars, medals) properly blessed by a priest.