Does the Catholic Church teach that we can choose when to use an indulgence?
score:5
Can we choose when to use an indulgence?
The short answer is no.
Here is the thing: Indulgences are applied to the soul at the moment that all the requirements of gaining a particular indulgence (partial or plenary) are accomplished.
The Church has always taught that indulgences do not apply to sins not yet committed. The Catholic Encyclopedia notes, "[An indulgence] is not a permission to commit sin, nor a pardon of future sin; neither could be granted by any power." - Myths about Indulgences
What an indulgence is not:
It is not a permission to commit sin, nor a pardon of future sin; neither could be granted by any power. It is not an exemption from any law or duty, and much less from the obligation consequent on certain kinds of sin, e.g., restitution; on the contrary, it means a more complete payment of the debt which the sinner owes to God. It does not confer immunity from temptation or remove the possibility of subsequent lapses into sin. Least of all is an indulgence the purchase of a pardon which secures the buyer's salvation or releases the soul of another from Purgatory. The absurdity of such notions must be obvious to any one who forms a correct idea of what the Catholic Church really teaches on this subject. - Catholic Encyclopedia
Here are a few points on indulgences from the Vatican:
To gain indulgences, whether plenary or partial, it is necessary that the faithful be in the state of grace at least at the time the indulgenced work is completed.
A plenary indulgence can be gained only once a day. In order to obtain it, the faithful must, in addition to being in the state of grace:
— have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin;
— have sacramentally confessed their sins;
— receive the Holy Eucharist (it is certainly better to receive it while participating in Holy Mass, but for the indulgence only Holy Communion is required);
— pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff. - THE GIFT OF THE INDULGENCE.
Now if the faithful have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin there is no reason to save up points for a rainy day since they are in earnest about remaining in the state of grace at all times.
More post
- 📝 The Dead Sea Scrolls and Protestant canon
- 📝 How to know when a text on religion is using hyperbole to describe Heavenly joy?
- 📝 How can an all powerful supreme being be either good or evil?
- 📝 Do LDS believe other churches to be the church of Satan?
- 📝 Where did Chesterton's idea that a heresy was a fixation on a particular virtue within Christianity come from?
- 📝 How can Heaven exist if we know that people in Hell will suffer?
- 📝 What's the biblical basis for protesting government mandates that threaten basic democratic rights?
- 📝 Why did Jezebel curse herself?
- 📝 What is the theological justification for only the priest drinking the wine in a Catholic Mass?
- 📝 Why did God not want man to have the knowledge of good and evil?
- 📝 What was the general opinion of the Early Church Fathers concerning the giants/nephilims?
- 📝 Why should contraceptives not be cheap and widely available?
- 📝 Can you only have a sacramental marriage?
- 📝 Does a Christian have to believe in Hell?
- 📝 What is the basis for Systematic Expository Preaching?
- 📝 Are there Christians that believe that God is a substance?
- 📝 Why is vengeance for the Lord?
- 📝 Which prophecies are fulfilled outside of Scripture?
- 📝 What was the weight of Noah's ark before and after the animals were loaded on to it?
- 📝 What is the difference between a Christian and a Messianic Jew?
- 📝 If "God is spirit" then how can the incarnation be possible? How does Nicene theology interpret John 4:24?
- 📝 Moses - did he kill thousands?
- 📝 Why is it hard for a rich man to go to heaven?
- 📝 Does this mean He will help us overcome difficulties in this life?
- 📝 What is the origin of the idea that Miriam, sister of Moses, was a virgin?
- 📝 According to Catholicism what happens after Death on the General Judgment Day?
- 📝 Transition from a natural to a sacramental marriage
- 📝 Do we know the fates of any of the implausible relics Martin Luther described?
- 📝 Is having a moment of silence for someone anti-Christian?
- 📝 St. Peter Speaking on Behalf of All the Apostles
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church teach that we can choose when to use an indulgence?
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church teach that it has the authority to change what is morally right and wrong?
- 📝 On what basis does the Catholic Church teach that women cannot be ordained?
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church teach that Jesus' Human Nature was created?
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church teach that some who died before Christ are still in Limbo? Why?
- 📝 How does the Catholic Church explain passages that seem to use culturally specific logic?
- 📝 Does the Catholic church teach that sin is "transmitted" by the father?
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church teach that humans are superior to all other creations on Earth?
- 📝 Why does church tradition teach that one third of the angels fell with Lucifer when no verse supports that
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church teach that God requires our consent to work miracles on us?
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church teach that modern churches have guardian angels?
- 📝 What does the Catholic Church teach about the communication that takes place among the Persons of the Trinity?
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church teach that we need to pray for Jesus?
- 📝 When Christ refers to the end times, does the Catholic Church say that he was was referring to the destruction of the Temple, or the apocalypse?
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church teach that the Catholic faith is demonstrably true?
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church teach that belief in the possibility of more than 3 persons in God is heresy?
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church teach that the early death of Jesus on the Cross, had been ordained by God the Father?
- 📝 What does the Catholic church teach about fate of non-Catholic christians?
- 📝 What does the Roman Catholic church teach about those who die having never heard of Christ?
- 📝 Does Catholic doctrine teach that the Incarnation would have taken place regardless of Adam's decision?
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church teach there is only one person?
- 📝 What does the Catholic Church mean when it calls humans co-creators with God?
- 📝 Under what basis does the Catholic Church condemn the use of drugs while permitting alcohol?
- 📝 Does the LDS Church teach that murder is unforgivable?
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church officially claim that the Bible is insufficient without tradition?
- 📝 How does the Catholic Church choose the patron saint of a parish church?
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church have a contingency plan for the case that the pope and all cardinals are dead?
- 📝 How does the Catholic Church respond to the claim that its authority to interpret scripture is based on circular reasoning?
- 📝 Does the Catholic church believe that God really forgives by confession alone?
- 📝 Can a baby be baptized in a Catholic Church if the mother does not have papers proving she was baptized?