BLOG POST | Hey Deacon!

Help me understand indulgence.

Prior to my studies for the diaconate, when I heard the word “indulgence” it made me feel uncomfortable. I knew indulgences were associated with Martin Luther when he rightfully accused the Church of selling indulgences to raise money to rebuild St. Peters Basilica. What was intended as almsgiving associated with an act of penance morphed into abuse and greed.  This scandal started the Reformation and nearly destroyed the Church’s Tradition of ‘giving’ indulgences as a great gift to the faithful.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, 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. CCC 1471

Confused? Let me try to make it easier to understand.

First, what is Temporal Punishment?

When we sin, we harm our relationship with God (CCC 1472).  God in His love and mercy forgives the guilt of any sin for which we are truly sorry. However, God in His justice requires that we atone for sin, or heal the hurt caused by sin.  This is what we call Temporal punishment. For in order to enter into the eternal happiness of heaven, we need to be purified of our worldly attachment. Even after our sins have been Sacramentally forgiven. This happens through temporal punishment either on earth or through the purification of purgatory.  

Second, what is the Treasury of the Church?

Scripture tells us that all Christians are a part of the Body of Christ. When one part suffers, we all suffer. When one part rejoices, we all rejoice (1 Cor 12:26).  This includes the faithful in purgatory and the saints in heaven.  The saints intercede on our behalf and pray for us. 

The Treasury of the Church contains all of the infinite merits of Christ’s suffering and prayers, and the good works and prayers of the Blessed Mother and all of us on earth and all the Saints in Heaven (CCC 1474-1477). As the Minister of Redemption, the Church invokes their aid to help reconcile penitents and alleviate the temporal punishment due to sin.

When Jesus established the Church, he told St. Peter; I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. -Matthew 16:19

This is one of the scriptural foundations for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and also is the basis of the Church’s authority to distribute graces from the treasury of the Church, that is, deciding on what actions merit the special graces of indulgences.

In next week Hey Deacon, I will speak to the type of indulgences.