What Is an Indulgence?

What is an indulgence?

Pope Francis sees that this is a time of crisis for the world and so has pulled out all stops in lavishing forgiveness on God's people.

Last week, Pope Francis announced that because all of humanity is living in a time "marked day after day by anguished fears, new uncertainties and above all widespread physical and moral suffering," the Church offers a plenary indulgence to any Catholic affected by the virus, to healthcare workers and their families, to those who pray for the end of the epidemic, and to those who die without being able to receive final rites.

But some have asked, "Do we still have indulgences?" and "What is an indulgence?" Let's first explain an indulgence in theological terms: Even though a person has been forgiven for the sin, there are still the effects of that sin that must be dealt with. We can deal with the effects of the sin during our lives through prayer, penance and good works. However, sometimes we cannot do all that is needed during our lifetimes. After our death, purgatory is the opportunity for God to continue to cleanse us in order to bring us into the glory of the Divine Presence-to make us "presentable." This still sounds a little strange. A metaphor might make it clearer.

Let's imagine that your mother purchased your First Communion outfit. You then go out in it and play in the grass and dirt. It is filthy. Of course, your mom is upset, but when she sees that you are truly sorry for what you did, she forgives you completely because she loves you. However, even if we are forgiven, there is still the matter of the stained and dirty outfit. We cannot wear it at First Communion. It needs to be washed, perhaps several times, in order for you to be able to participate in the celebration of First Communion.

Sometimes during our earthly life, even after we have been forgiven, we may not have accomplished all the cleansing that is necessary. God gives us the opportunity to continue the cleansing process after death in purgatory.

An indulgence can eliminate the need for purification after our death. (The First Communion outfit is sent to a one-hour dry cleaner.) In order to receive such an indulgence, we need to distance ourselves from every kind of sin, to unite ourselves spiritually though means of communication to the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, to recite the Holy Rosary, to the practice of the Way of the Cross or to other forms of devotion, and recite at least the Creed, the Our Father, and a pious invocation of the Blessed Virgin Mary." If we cannot do it at this time, we should do so as soon as possible.

The Church remembers and prays for those who are dying from the virus in isolation, without aid of the sacraments, entrusts each of them to divine Mercy by virtue of the communion of saints and grants those faithful a Plenary Indulgence at the point of death.

Don't poke fun at indulgences as "buying our way to Heaven" or receiving a "Get out jail free card." Rather an indulgence is just one more way that God pours his mercy on all of us.