What Are Indulgences And How Do They Work?

There are consequences whenever we sin. Sin separates us from God. In the case of mortal sin, unless we repent of it, it may take us to hell.

Even when we repent of our sins and return to God, He may allow us to experience the consequences of our sins.  If for example, someone was involved in a robbery, then even if they are truly sorry for what they have done, and their lives are turned completely around, they still have to pay the consequences for their crime which will be some time in prison.

For those of us who are parents , when your child does something wrong, there will be some form of punishment attached to that wrongdoing , even if we are sorry for what they have done. If there is no punishment associated with the wrongdoing, then that child can grow up thinking there are no consequences when they do something wrong. As such they will think that we can do almost anything and get away with it.

Good parenting demands that the wrongdoing of a child be linked with some form of punishment – there must be some consequence for their actions. For instance a ban from looking at television or from playing their favorite game or something to that effect. Now if the child is truly sorry, and is showing signs of this maybe by doing good deeds to make up for what they did wrong, then the parent made decide to reduce the punishment – to reduce the consequences the child has to endure, without lifting it all together. The parent can mitigate the consequences the child would otherwise have had to experience as a result of the wrongdoing.

The same thing happens with us when we embrace means of growing in holiness, God can likewise mitigate the consequences that we would have otherwise experienced as a result of our sins. Now because of the involvement of the Catholic Church in our lives, in our spiritual growth, and because we are subjects to the church, and the church holds the power of the keys, the church can also intervene to help relieve some of the consequences that we would otherwise experience because of our sins.

So the Church can present the faithful with “incentives” that if they performs particular spiritual exercises that will foster their spiritual growth in holiness, then the Church will intervene on behalf of the participants, using the power of the Keys, so as to mitigate the consequences that they would otherwise experience on account for their sins. Examples of actions that can be performed that will foster the growth in holiness includes praying more often, reading the Bible , regularly attending and participating in Holy Mass, regularly attending the sacrament of reconciliation, and performing acts of charity.

Plenary Indulgences

Plenary indulgences are not very easy to obtain. If obtained, they will remove all the consequences of sins that can be removed. Conditions for this type of indulgence include going to confession, receiving Holy Communion, praying for the intentions of the Holy Father, as well as being detached completely from all sin. It is the last condition that makes this type of indulgence very difficult to obtain.

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