Lesson 32: Satisfaction for Sin and Indulgences
1. What kinds of punishment are due to the sinner?
Two kinds of punishment are due to the sinner: eternal punishment and temporal punishment.
- Eternal punishment lasts forever. It is due to the sinner after committing a mortal sin. Eternal punishment is the punishment of hell.
- Temporal punishment lasts only for a time. It is the punishment that is due to the person who has committed a venial sin. It is also the punishment that is still due to the person whose mortal sins have been forgiven in the sacrament of Confession.
2. Does the sacrament of Confession, worthily received, always take away all punishment?
The Sacrament of Confession, worthily received, always takes away all eternal punishment; but it does not always take away all temporal punishment
Nonetheless the removal of all temporal punishment is possible: “A conversion which proceeds from a fervent charity can attain the complete purification of the sinner in such a way that no punishment would remain.” (CCC 1473)
3. Where do we pay the debt of our temporal punishment?
We pay the debt of our temporal punishment either in this life or in purgatory.
4. Is it better to satisfy for the debt of temporal punishment in this world or in purgatory?
It is better to satisfy for the debt of temporal punishment here in this world. Here in this world satisfaction merits an increase in Sanctifying Grace and thus brings us into closer union with God for all eternity. When temporal punishment is removed in purgatory the person no longer merits an increase in Sanctifying Grace.
5. Besides the penance imposed by the priest after Confession, what are the chief means of satisfying the debt of our temporal punishment?
Besides the penance imposed after confession, the chief means of satisfying the debt for our temporal punishment are:
- Doing works of mercy and charity towards our neighbor
- Participating fervently in the Mass, receiving Holy Communion often, and praying
- Doing various practices of penance, such as fasting from our favorite foods, TV programs, or music, etc.
- Receiving Indulgences
- Receiving Holy Communion on Mercy Sunday, after having gone to Confession a few days before the Feast.
6. Do any of these actions remove temporal punishment if we do not have Sanctifying Grace in our souls?
No, without Sanctifying Grace in our souls, none of these actions remove temporal punishment. This shows us that the removal of temporal punishment and the purification of our souls from the effects of sin is primarily the work of Christ. He purifies us through these actions when we possess Him by Grace. As He said, “Without me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
7. Are there days that we have to do penance?
Yes, there are days that the Church requires us to do penance: all the days of Lent (except the Sundays of Lent); and every Friday of the year.
All who are 14 and older must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and every Friday of Lent. Those from the age of 18-59 are also required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fasting means that we take one normal meal; and that we have no mor than two other snacks which do not add up to more than one meal.
On the Fridays outside of Lent, if we eat meat, we are required to do some other penance, Friday is a day of penance because Jesus died on Friday.
8. What is an indulgence?
An indulgence is a remission of temporal punishment. A plenary indulgence removes all temporal punishment. A partial indulgence removes a part of it.
The Church’s teaching and practice of granting indulgences rests on the Word of God as its firm foundation.
- Temporal punishment is a debt that has to be paid, and the person himself does not have to pay it. (Colossians 1:24)
- There is a treasury of merits in the communion of saints, who hare unite to Christ the Head of the Church. (Colossians 1:24)
- God gives from these abundant merits to the person who has done what the Pope and Bishops requires for the reception of an indulgence. (Mat 16:18-19)
9. What is required to receive a plenary indulgence?
One obtains a plenary indulgence by doing the following
- Being in the state of Sanctifying Grace.
- Doing the indulgent act.
- Going to Confession within a week of the time that the indulgence act was completed
- Going to Holy Communion
- Saying at least an Our Father and a Hail Mary for the intentions of the Pope
- Being truly converted: free from an attachment to even venial sin. (It is because of this last requirement, that we never know for sure if we have received the plenary indulgence or not)
If we do not have the dispositions necessary for a plenary indulgence, we will receive a partial indulgence.
10. What are some actions that we can do every day in order to gain a plenary indulgence every day?
Some actions that we can do every day to obtain a plenary indulgence are:
- Saying the rosary in front of the Blessed Sacrament or in our family.
- Spending at least half of an hour in prayer and adoration to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
- Spending at least a half of an hour reading the Bible with the veneration that is due to God’s Word and as a form of spiritual reading
- Doing the Stations of the Cross in the Church.
To receive a plenary indulgence every day, it is also necessary to daily say the prayers for the Holy Father’s intentions, to receive Holy Communion daily, to be in the state of Grace, and to be detached from every venial sin. It would be sufficient however to go to Confession just once every two weeks
11. How does one obtain a partial indulgence?
To obtain a partial indulgence a person must:
- Be in the State of Sanctifying Grace;
- Have the intention of gaining the indulgence, which can be a general intention at the beginning of the day to receive all the indulgences possible;
- Perform a work carrying with it a partial indulgence;
- Be at least inwardly contrite for past sins.
How much of a person’s temporal punishment is removed by means of a partial indulgence will depend upon the degree of love with which a person does the indulgence act. For example, if the love with which the person does the indulgence act removed one fourth of a person’s temporal punishment; God, because of the will of the Church, would remove another fourth of the person’s temporal punishment
12. Are there some actions that the Church has attached partial indulgences to?
Yes, to some actions the Church has attached a partial indulgence. The following are some of them.
- A visit to the Blessed Sacrament with the purpose of adoring Jesus (When it is a half an hour or more it is a plenary indulgence)
- Reading the Bible with the veneration that is due God’s Word and as a form of spiritual reading (If it is a half an hour or more it is a plenary indulgence)
- Recitation of the Rosary. (If it is recited in the Church or in the family a plenary indulgence is granted)
- Saying prayers such as the “Apostles’ Creed”, the “Hail Holy Queen,” the “Come, Holy Spirit,” and many others.
- Making and saying devoutly “the Sign of the Cross”
- Studying your catechism.
- While performing your duties and the enduring the difficulties of life you raise your mind in humble trust to God and make, at least mentally, some pious invocation. (The following are examples of invocations: My God; Jesus; Father; I love you; All for You; I give You thanks; Blessed be God; Give me strength; Save me; Hail Mary; Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me; etc.)
- When, in a spirit of faith, you devote yourself or your goods in compassionate service to your brothers or sisters in need.
- When, in a spirit of penance, you voluntarily abstain from something which is not sinful and pleasing to you.
Indulgences are not attached to the reception of the Sacraments. The Sacraments are far more sanctifying and purifying than an indulgence, since a sacrament is the action of Christ Himself.
13. How often can we receive an indulgence?
We are able to receive a plenary indulgence only once a day.
A partial indulgence may be gained many times a day.
14. For whom can you receive an indulgence?
You can receive an indulgence for yourself for someone who is deceased. You cannot receive an indulgence for another person who is alive.
Divine Mercy Sunday
Jeus appeared many times to St. Faustina (1905- 1938), a humble nun from Poland. He asked many times that a feast day be dedicatd to the Divine Mercy and that this feast be ccelebrated on the Sunday after Easter. Pople John Paul II declared the Second Sunday of Easter to be the Feast of Divine Mercy in the year 2000, when he canonized St. Faustina. Our Lord promised that all those who receive Holy Communion on that day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment due to sin. It is necessary to go to confession a few days before the feat and to receive Holy Communion in the state of Grace. A perons must also have trust in Jesus an show deeds of nercy to his neighbor for love of Jeuss in order To receive this gift. This means that if a person fulfills these things all the temporal punishment de to the isns of his whole life are removed. If we were to die right after receiving Holy Communion on Mercy Sunday, we would go immediately to heaven without any purgatory. This is an extraordinary gift of God’s mercy for our times. Saints have said that it would be possible to spend years in purgatory satisfying for our temporal punishment. On Divine Mercy Sunday Jeuss removes all of it.
