Indulgences

As promised in last week’s Shalom Indulgences will be explained in the present article.

Last week we mentioned Indulgences in our reflection on praying for the souls in purgatory. We said that we can speed up the cleansing or purging process of the souls by saying 1 Our Father, the Creed and any prayer for the intention of the Holy Father Pope Francis. These prayers are called Indulgences.

At the outset we believe that Our Mother the Church cares for all her children who left their earthly life on the way back to God the Father who created them. Since they are not completely cleansed they have to make a detour to a state called purgatory. Why?

In purgatory, according to our Catholic tradition, the soul is “suffering” the punishment due to sin, which is a form of cleansing. When a sin is forgiven through sacramental or personal reconciliation, the offense is erased, that is, the negative intentional act is condoned or pardoned. But the damage resulting from it REMAINS. The damage can be physical like a wound, money stolen, or moral like reputation destroyed or scandal created, etc. Now these damages are the debts or UTANGs of the deceased sinner that render him or her not yet completely ready for entrance into heaven. To be completely readied the “damages” have to be repaired, the debts repaid, the good reputation restored, etc.

This process called cleansing or purifying is facilitated or carried about by the Indulgences. What makes the Indulgences so powerful and effective? Again tradition and mysterious experiences of the Church have an answer.

The Church, the Body of Christ, is holy because of the virtues, merits and sacrifices of the saints and martyrs and uses them to pay for the damages and debts of the souls suffering in purgatory. Our indulgences make this possible. And the souls are grateful and in God’s mysterious providence help the needs of those who make use of the Indulgences. Next week a mysterious experience with a grateful soul.