Post by postcynical on Jul 2, 2009 23:58:39 GMT
Hello, this is my first post here. I found the place through MichaelG's account on boards.ie. I've some particular queries that I'd like help with. On 29th June was the feast of Sts Peter and Paul and marked the end of the Pauline year celebrating 2000 years since his birth. The Pope declared that anyone who made a pilgrimage to Rome would receive a special indulgence. But that others who participated in the local liturgy during the Pauline year could also receive an indulgence.
1. Would I have received an indulgence by fulfilling the usual requirements on the 29th? (was not in a state of mortal sin, prayed a creed, took Eucharist, prayed for the Pope's intentions...)
2. Can I offer an indulgence for another living person? Or is it only for the faithful departed?
3. I haven't developed a good understanding of indulgences and to be honest I do not really believe in them as yet. I do not mean this to antagonise. I see and experience the teachings of 'tied graces' and 'tied sacraments' where the grace of a devotion might only reach fruition at a later time. Accepting the church's position as my default position when unsure, I am happy to avail of an indulgence if it's on offer, despite my lack of conviction in indulgences themselves. Does this lack of faith disqualify me from attaining the indulgence?
(sorry for poor articulation)
4. Can indulgences be aggregated? Eg do two 33% remissions combine to give a 66% reduction of time in purgatory (naively)?
5. Is the indulgence a 'trading' of Earthly merit for repented/confessed sins which the dead person did not have a chance to redeem? Does a good confession not clear the dead person of all sins or is the indulgence offered for unconfessed sins? Why can our works be required in addition to Christ's redemption of the dead person's sins?
As is clear, I'm quite naive about this aspect of the church's teachings but I have a companion in faith who seeks these indulgences for a bereaved loved one.
God bless,
1. Would I have received an indulgence by fulfilling the usual requirements on the 29th? (was not in a state of mortal sin, prayed a creed, took Eucharist, prayed for the Pope's intentions...)
2. Can I offer an indulgence for another living person? Or is it only for the faithful departed?
3. I haven't developed a good understanding of indulgences and to be honest I do not really believe in them as yet. I do not mean this to antagonise. I see and experience the teachings of 'tied graces' and 'tied sacraments' where the grace of a devotion might only reach fruition at a later time. Accepting the church's position as my default position when unsure, I am happy to avail of an indulgence if it's on offer, despite my lack of conviction in indulgences themselves. Does this lack of faith disqualify me from attaining the indulgence?
(sorry for poor articulation)
4. Can indulgences be aggregated? Eg do two 33% remissions combine to give a 66% reduction of time in purgatory (naively)?
5. Is the indulgence a 'trading' of Earthly merit for repented/confessed sins which the dead person did not have a chance to redeem? Does a good confession not clear the dead person of all sins or is the indulgence offered for unconfessed sins? Why can our works be required in addition to Christ's redemption of the dead person's sins?
As is clear, I'm quite naive about this aspect of the church's teachings but I have a companion in faith who seeks these indulgences for a bereaved loved one.
God bless,