Feb 7, 2007

Plenary Indulgence

According to Catholic World News, the Vatican has promised Catholics who participate by praying during the World Day of the Sick on February 11, a plenary indulgence.

February 11 is the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and ceremonies will be held in Seoul, Korea as well as other locations throughout the world.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia online version, “An indulgence is the extra-sacramental remission of the temporal punishment due, in God’s justice, to sin that has been forgiven, which remission is granted by the Church in the exercise of the power of the keys, through the application of the superabundant merits of Christ and of the saints, and for some just and reasonable motive.”

An indulgence, it points out, is not used to forgive sin, nor as permission to sin in the future.

Indulgences has long been a topic misunderstood by Catholics and non-Catholics alike - including myself. I'm vowing to myself, however, to look more into this topic and write articles about it so please stay tuned and write in with any questions or opinions you may have on this subject.