Indulgences are remissions of temporal punishments for sins that are already repented and forgiven through the sacrament. We must expiate, atone, and make reparations for our sins. Purgatory is where we atone and repent for the sins God has forgiven. We go to purgatory because the atonement we did for our sins was not enough.
God, in His mercy, gives us the possibility through the Church that while here on Earth, we can reduce our time in purgatory, which is indulgences. The consequence of sin, temporal punishment, is removed or reduced through indulgences. Of course, this can be done by good works and prayers, but with faith and love through indulgences, we can reduce the consequences, reparation, and atonement of our sins.
The Church has received from Christ graces, and the Church now distributes the grace of Christ. Through the Church’s ministers, indulgences are granted from the treasury of Christ’s graces. The Saints have merited from this through their acts of love.
There are two basic distinctions: plenary indulgences and partial indulgences. In a plenary indulgence, you receive the remission of all temporal punishments due to your committed sins. It is total reparation and atonement. But in this case, you have to make a perfect act of contrition and love, renounce attachment from any sin, go to confession, and receive Holy Communion.
However, even if we follow all the prescribed instructions for indulgence, we still do not have the guarantee that we have obtained complete remission from temporal punishment. Only God knows how pure our act of contrition and detachment from sin was. We may not have received the plenary indulgence, but at least a larger portion of those temporal punishments.
A partial indulgence is the remission of some of the temporal punishments for our sins. We can receive partial indulgences often, and it is relatively easier to do. There are even some prayers where we can receive a partial indulgence. If we cannot fulfill all the necessary conditions of a plenary indulgence, we can still receive the indulgence partially.
I think we should more often and consciously ask for partial indulgences. In the morning, I would suggest that you pray, “O my Lord, I want to receive all the indulgences that I can this day through all the prayers, gestures, and gifts that the Church has given that contain indulgences. I want to receive all of them today to reduce the punishments of my soul in purgatory.”
Or, when you are generous, you can say, “I will give all prayers of indulgences of this day to all the souls in purgatory so that Our Lady can distribute these indulgences for these poor souls.” This is a generous act from our side.
Dear visitors of Gloria Dei and all who have already written or who will write a personal message to me. I am grateful for your attention, your kindness, for your spiritual support and especially for your sacrifices and prayers for me. God may reward you!
