Whereas
we have the power in our hands to save our brother, by becoming
co-redeemer ourselves, together with Jesus our Savior and our
Redeemer!
Don't forget about Indulgences
Mother Church has some wonderful treasures in store for us --
let's take a closer look at some of them!
"Through indulgences the faithful can obtain the remission
of temporal punishment resulting from sins for themselves and also
for the souls of Purgatory"
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1498)
What is an indulgence? Here is what the Catechism of the
Catholic Church has to say:
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.
"An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it
removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to
sin." Indulgences may be applied to the living or the
dead."(1471)
Jesus gave to his disciples, and therefore to the Church, the
power to bind and to loose, and down through the centuries, in
many different ways, the Church has used this channel of the mercy
of God towards the living and the dead.
Everything concerning indulgences was revised by Pope Paul VI;
the results can be found in The Book of Indulgences, Rules and
Grants, published June 29, 1968 (Vatican Publishers).
"The aim pursued by ecclesiastical authority in granting
indulgences is not only that of helping the faithful to expiate
the punishment due to sin, but also that of urging them to perform
works of piety, penitence and charity--particularly those which
lead to growth in faith and which favor the common good."
"And if the faithful offer indulgences in suffrage for the
dead, they cultivate charity in an excellent way and while raising
their minds to heaven they bring a wiser order into the things of
this world."
"Although indulgences are in fact free gifts, nevertheless
they are granted for the living as well as for the dead only on
determined conditions...the faithful have to love God, detest sin,
place their trust in the merits of Christ and believe firmly in
the great assistance they derive from the communion of
saints."
As a result of the reform, all distinctions of day, month, and
year have been abolished; the only distinction retained is that
between plenary and partial indulgence.
We should also note the following:
NO ONE PERSON CAN GIVE THE INDULGENCE HE OBTAINS TO ANOTHER
PERSON WHO IS STILL LIVING.
BOTH PLENARY AND PARTIAL INDULGENCES CAN ALWAYS BE GIVEN FOR
THE DEAD.
"The faithful who use with devotion an object of piety
(crucifix, cross, rosary, scapular or medal) properly blessed by
any priest, can acquire a partial indulgence. But if this object
is blessed by the Supreme Pontiff or any bishop, the faithful who
use it devoutly can also acquire a plenary indulgence on the feast
of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, provided they also make a
profession of faith using any legitimate formula."
In Medjugorje, on July 18, 1995, Our Lady said:
"Dear children, today I call you to place more blessed
objects in your homes and call everyone to put some blessed object
on their person. Bless all objects, and thus Satan will attack you
less because you will have armor against him."
"To acquire a plenary indulgence it is necessary to
perform the work to which the indulgence is attached and to
fulfill three conditions: sacramental confession, Eucharistic
Communion and prayer for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff. It
is further required that all attachment to sin, even to venial
sin, be absent."
The condition of praying for the Supreme Pontiff's intention is
fully satisfied by reciting one "Our Father" and one
"Hail Mary." Nevertheless, the individual faithful are
free to recite any other prayer according to their own piety and
devotion toward the Supreme Pontiff.
The new reform provides for three concessions:
1. Partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who, in
fulfilling their duties and in facing the adversities of life,
raise their souls to God with humble confidence, and add in their
heart a pious invocation.
2. Partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who, with a
soul full of faith and mercy, give themselves of their goods to
their brothers in need.
3. Partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who, in a
spirit of repentance, deprive themselves spontaneously of
something.
Plenary indulgence can be obtained on the following occasions:
1. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for at least one
half-hour.
2. Recitation of the entire rosary in church, as a family or in
community.
3. Making the Stations of the Cross.
4. Reading Holy Scripture for at least one half-hour.
5. A church visit between Noon of November 1 and Midday of
November 2, for the intention of the deceased.
6. Visiting a cemetery, for the intention of the deceased.
7. Taking part in a First Hold Communion ceremony, or the first
Mass of a Priest, or the anniversary of 25, 50, or 60 years of
priesthood.
8. Renewing one's baptismal promise during the Easter Vigil.
9. Adoration of the Cross during the Good Friday liturgy.
10. Papal benediction, even when received listening to the
radio or watching on television.
By going to confession regularly, one can obtain many plenary
indulgences.
Only one plenary indulgence a day is permitted, but one may
obtain a number of partial indulgences on one day by reciting
certain prayers suggested by the Church, such as:
1. To you, Blessed Joseph
2. Angelus Domini
3. Soul of Christ, sanctify me
4. Act of Spiritual Communion
5. The Creed
6. The Office of the Dead
7. Psalm 130 (De profundis)
8. Litanies of the Most Holy Name of Jesus
9. Litanies of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
10. Litanies of the Most Precious Blood
11. Litanies of the Blessed Virgin Mary
12. Litanies of Saint Joseph
13. Litanies of the Saints
14. Magnificat
15. Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary
16. Psalm 51 9(Miserere)
17. Prayer for priestly or religious vocations
18. Prayer for Unity of the Christians
19. Salve Regina (Hail, Holy Queen)
20. Sign of the Cross (devoutly done)
21. Tantum ergo (Let us adore the Sacrament)
22. Te Deum
23. Veni Creator (Come, Holy Spirit)
This list is not complete.
Partial indulgences are obtained through concerted acts of
faith, hope, and love, in the midst of the trials of life and as
we carry out the duties of our daily lives. Indulgences are also
obtained by acts of charity towards our neighbor, voluntary
fasting, and ejaculatory prayers or spontaneous thought addressed
to God, to the Blessed Mother, to the Holy Family. The Book of
Indulgences contains a list of suggest prayers; it is a precious
book to read.
My grateful thanks to Jody Brittain who
kindly gave me this text
Jody's
Website
Eucharistic
Apostles