Indulgences: an outstanding act of supernatural charity

The Jubilee will exorcise the indulgence's bad name, says Frances Hogan
TtE YEAR 2000 coincides with he Great Jubilee of the Lord. The Holy Father has been preparing the Church for this great event for many years. In his recent Bull of Indiction written at the end of 1998, he gave us immediate preparation. We are all familiar with the major Jubilee issues such as the cancellation of debt for the poorer countries, and the pilgrimage, but there is an important Jubilee issue that has received almost no mention: the Jubilee indulgence.
When Jesus began his mission to Israel 2000 years ago he chose a Jubilee programme deliberately. Because he was God's Messiah, Jesus chose Isaiah 61: 12 to explain his work It involved preaching good news to the poor, liberty to captives, new sight to the blind, and setting the downtrodden free, thus proclaiming "the Lonl's year of favour". The Lord's year of favour means the
Lord's extraoniinary indulgence to his undeserving chil
dren. The whole rrrr •
therefore. be explained in terms of the Jubilee.
We need to become aware of an extraordinary privilege that the Holy Father has granted to each of us for this year only. This is thc privilege of gaining a plenary indulgence on each day of the Jubilee Year, an Indulgence that can be applied either to ourselves, or to the souls in Purgatory. Because indulgences have had a bad press due to our ancient friend Martin Luther, many priests are embarrassed to speak on this subject.
Instead, they should be encouraging us towards "an outstanding act of supernatural charity" by asking us to offer the indulgence for the souls in Purgatory, experiencing their final purification in preparation for glory.
You may ask: "What is an indulgence?" To put it simply, an indulgence is a gift that you do not deserve, and can never presume to receive. Parents know the value of such gifts to their children, either to repair relationships, or to encourage a struggling child. Jesus gave such a gift to the so-called "good thief' from the cross.
As far as we know this man had done nothing to deserve me wonderful gift of forgiveness and salvation that Jesus gave to him, just because he asked for it! It is one of the greatest moments in human history, one that encourages us to trust the infinite goodness of God. The Church is the Body of Christ, and continues to offer Jesus' astounding mercy to every soul in need of God's mercy. What she does is that she offers us the wonderful fruits of the infinite merits of Jesus if we co-operate with certain actions that will unite us to Jesus more deeply. If we wish to gain the indulgence even on a daily basis we must live in reconciliation with the Lord The indulgence will not be given to one who deliberately lives in rebellion against God's will in their daily lives. This is the foundation step.
To gain the indulgence we must receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and live in co-operation with God's will, insofar as we know it. The Holy Father asks us to confess our sins and make reparation to God for our faults.
He then explains that sin always has another dimension that we hear little about these days. This is called "the temporal punishment due to sin". What this means is that there is "fallout" from our actions. Let me give you an example: If I put my hand into the fire (the sin) I can then
ri)vteo the the repaired
to
(the repentance), but it will take some time for my hand to heal fully (the temporal punishment due to sin).
It is in this third stage that we experience the indulgence of the Lord. He gives us special grace for the healing process to speed up. In the plenary indulgence he heals the thing fully. The Holy Souls in Purgatory are people who are saved by Jesus, but still need to experience some purification or healing in order to be completely ready for the happiness of heaven.
It is a most extraordinary act of charity to gain for them the grace to be released into glory by the plenary indulgence that heals them fully in a moment.
The Holy Father reminds us of the deep bonds that unite the members a the Body of Christ, where both our grace and our suffering can benefit others. He cites Colossians 1:24 where Paul says: "In my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church." In the book of Revelation, St John describes the Church as being dressed in a wonderful robe, made of "fine linen, which is the righteous deeds of the saints".
Everything belongs to Christ, the Pope reminds us. As we also belong to him, our deeds become his, and therefore acquire healing power from him. The Pope says that this is what is meant by the treasures of the Church, "which is the good deeds of the saints". In this wonderful body of believers that we belong to, the Lord can, and will, apply grace to others just because we ask him. He says so himself in John: "You may ask for what you will and you will get it" To apply the indulgence to our brothers and sisters in Purgatory is to fulfil the scripture to "set the captives free", which is an important Jubilee action. If we all get as many indulgences as possible for the Holy Souls, we will have gained intercessors in Heaven who will pray for us, their benefactors, but they will not stop until you have joined them in glory! In this Jubilee action there is benefit for everyone. The Church benefits by having more of her members in glory, thus fulfilling her mission for the salvation of souls.
Here are the conditions for gaining this wonderful grace: 1. Fulfil the general requirements for indulgences. These are: Have the intention to gain the indulgence (for yourself ur for the Holy Souls).
Recent Sacramental Confession.
Attend Eucharist and receive Holy Communion (on the day of the indulgence).
Pray for the Pope's intentions (Our Father, three Hail Mary's, Glory be.) Detachment from all sin (even venial, otherwise the indulgence is partial).
It must be obvious that we wish to ask this plenary indulgence from the Lord that we most live in conformity with His Holy Will. Once we repent and confess our sins it is not necessary to confess every time we want to gain the indulgence, but only when it is necessary.
On the day of the indulgence we are asked to attend the Eucharist, because this is the source of the grace that is being asked for. Jesus alone can give us this grace, so we must communicate with him, and unite him in this sacrifice.
2. Complete the prescribed works: a) Public pilgrimage to Rome or the Holy Land: This can be done individually or as a group. The indulgence can be gained by going to one of the designated basilicas there AND (the above conditions fulfilled) you then attend in this basilica either Eucharist, Lauds, Vespers, Stations of the Cross, Rosary, and/or adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. You must also say the Creed, and a prayer to Our b) Public or private pilgrimage in your own country: for those who cannot go outside their own country they can gain the indulgence by attending the above services in their own cathedral, or in one of the designated churches in their own diocese which their bishop arranged. There you just spend some time in meditation, say the Our Father, Creed, and a prayer to Our Lady.
c) Enclosed religious communities, and those in prisons and hospitals may gain the indulgence in their own private chapels.
d) You may also go on pilgrimage to your national shrine and attend one of the services above or, if you cannot do that, you can spend some time in prayer there, and include the prayers for the Pope's intentions plus the Creed and a prayer to Our Lady.
e) In any place: You may go on pilgrimage
anywhere to visit Christ in the sick, the elderly, the handicapped, or the imprisoned. Afterwards say the above prayers and Jesus will take this as done to himself.
f) At home: You can gain the indulgence by fasting from unnecessary consumption, The Pope suggests fasting from smoking and alcohol on the day of the indulgence. We can gain it also by fasting from food, but you must give the money saved thereby to the poor, and he suggests we give it to children's causes, or to the elderly, sick or poor in your own area. We can also gain the indulgence by any form of sacrifice offered to Jesus and in union with him offered for the good of others.
In other words the Pope has node it as easy as possible for us to gain this indulgence, and in gaining it, to grow in holiness at the same time.
Finally, remember that you can gain this indulgence on each day of the Jubilee, and in gaining it you can serve your brothers and sisters, both on earth and in Purgatory, thus strengthening the bonds of hive in the Body of Christ. What is more, you will be responsible for a lot of people in heaven being grateful to you for helping them, and they will pray for you in turn. This is wonderful grace! Have a busy, but wonderful Jubilee!
Frances Hogan is founder and director of the Kolbe Trust