Indulgences

= = **What are Indulgences?** Indulgences are considered to be “remissions before God of temporal penalty for sin granted by ecclesiastical authority from the treasury of the Church, by way of absolution for the living and suffrage for the departed,” (1967, p. 524). In simpler terms, they are practices instituted by the Church that is said to shorten the purifying sentence of a worshipper and/or a family member who has passed away (1967). These practices were introduced in the Middle Ages, as Medieval Christianity began to flourish, and are still being carried out in many Catholic churches today. During the time of Medieval Christianity, indulgences were associated with the ideas of structure in the Church, as well as being used as a tool that would place follower in a degenerate state, as a result of their sin (Shaffern 1998). There are two types of indulgence, which are plenary indulgence and partial indulgence. A plenary indulgence removes all temporal punishments, which are considered to be sins performed on one’s self or others. A partial indulgence only removes some temporal punishments (Root 2001). Historians have pointed out that indulgences were meant to be understood as a religious movement. They are also considered to be expressions of the solidarity of a wider Church, with followers who are willing to carry out special tasks in addressing sins committed (2001).

Many followers believe that some type of penance for their sins would get them closer to God or Heaven. Medieval saints were avid collectors of indulgences, for they recognized the need for ecclesiastical intervention in the remission of sin (1998). The Church held the quality of the deceased saints in high positions, and depended on their merit to assist with their interventions. During the time of Medieval Christianity, many of the practices of indulgence included acts that promoted followers to worship various saints during their time of penance. Some followers were required to partake in a pilgrimage to visit a saint’s shrine (1998). However, not just any saint, these saints would have to be newly glorified. This way done to support the religious movements, in which the Church’s were promoting at the time (1998). This was not the only way in which followers were to receive indulgences, however. Performing good works of humility is considered to be another form of indulgence. Giving any assistance with any work that had to be done, whether it was in the church or in the community, was considered to be remission for sins (1998). The following acts fall under the tool of indulgence, as it was used in the Church:
 * Practices of the Indulgence System[[image:Indulgence_2.jpg width="132" height="176" align="right"]] **
 * **The Sacrament of Baptism:** where guilt and any other penalties attached to sin are remitted.
 * **The Sacrament of Penance:** where the guilt of sin and eternal punishment is removed, but the temporal punishment remains, which must be fulfilled in present life or in Purgatory.
 * **Confession:** a form of penance, where followers are required admit their sins to a Church officials o n a basis that is set by the church (Knight, 2009).
 * **Prayer:** also a form of penance, where followers would pray to the saints for forgiveness and be granted remittance by the church. They may also be granted forgiveness by seeing visions that resulted from their praying (1998).

**The Protestant Reformation**

As the era of Medieval Christianity came to an end, indulgences began to transform in what it meant to the Church. Other denominations of Christianity were beginning to be introduced, and with that the practices of indulgence were altered. The tool of indulgence was inherited by the Protestant Reformation era (1998). During this time, indulgences were abused for the sake of financial gain in the churches. Church authorities realized that they can persuade followers to pay for their sins through monetary sacrifices. Indulgences became known as a way to buy one’s way into heaven (2001). Many religious leaders were offended by this idea that there was a price that came with indulgence. Historian Roland Bainton even referred to the practice as “‘the Bingo of the sixteenth century’,” (1967). Rather than worshipping saint’s shrines or participating in pilgrimages, followers were asked to make “financial sacrifices for the cause of the Church or even the religion. Because they were considered sacrifices, followers probably didn’t question the practices. For some were so eager for forgiveness, they would do just about anything to get it. The rationale for the indulgence system had turned into “the notion that God’s grace is a kind of commodity, a physical substance which the saints have a surplus of and which can be stored in a kind of spiritual bank that ordinary Christians could draw on by performing certain acts,” (1967, p. 524). This sounds very similar to the original purpose; however the truth of the matter is that parts of this rationale had been taken literally. Many churches were buying and selling indulgences in an effort to fund their own Churches and/or even the authorities themselves.

Since then, the indulgence system has gone through other reforms. Many denominations are attempting to get back to the original purpose of the system that was introduced by the Medieval Christians. The adoption of the idea that indulgences are expressions of the Church’s full confidence of being heard by the Father was established by the papal catechesis in 1999 (2001). John Paul stated that this expression is granted when their Lady asks Christ to alleviate or removal the painful aspects of punishment (2001). However, many of the original practices have been intertwined with the reformed practices. For instance, a Catholic reform ruled out that “the winner of an indulgence now gain the merit equal to that of his act of piety or charity.” (1967, p. 525). Many also believe that “indulgences are understood to apply to those who are in purgatory,” (Root 2001, p. 25). The Catholic Church believes teaches that indulgence can only apply to those who are already in purgatory. They believe that these individuals can gain indulgences through prayer (2001).
 * [[image:Indulgences_5.gif width="231" height="164"]]Catholic Reform **

Overall, the practice of indulgence has been a part of Christianity since Medieval times. Although reformations have altered the practices of the tool, it does not shake the beliefs of the followers. Followers still participate in the practices of indulgence, all for the purpose of the belief that they will receive God’s forgiveness for their sins and earn a spot in Heaven. Whether the Churches capitalize off of this belief, varies from church to church, but the belief will still remain, indulgences will shorten your sufferings or deceased loved one’s burdens on Earth and/or in the world thereafter.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Conclusion **


 * //Scholarly articles related to: Indulgences & Medieval Christianity://**

(1967). Indulgent about indulgences. //Christian Century//, //84//(17), 524-525. Retrieved from ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials database.

Root, M. (2001). The indulgence controversy, again. //First Things//, (118), 24-26. Retrieved from ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials database.

Shaffern, R. (1998). Indulgences and saintly devotionalisms in the middle ages. Catholic Historical Review, 84(4), 643. Retrieved from World History Collection database.


 * //__Article Reviews:__//**


 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: center;">1967: “Indulgent about Indulgences" ** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">Focus: During the Medieval centuries, the indulgence system was established in churches in an effort to shorten “the purgatorial sentence of a believer and/or his deceased loved one,” (524). As the author points out in this article, the system has lost its original purpose. This article discussed the attempted reformation of the indulgence system as it applies to the Catholic churches.
 * || **//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt;">Original //** || **//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt;">Reformation //** ||
 * **// The Indulgence System //** || According to Canon 911 (Catholic Church Law Code), Indulgence is “the remission before God of the temporal punishment due for sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, granted by ecclesiastical authority from the treasury of the Church, by way of absolution for the living and by way of suffrage for the departed” (524). || A proposal for a mild reform was introduced to the Vatican Council, where officials wanted to revise the original documents of Canon (524).

Historian Roland Bainton points out that the indulgence system “has since been cleansed of its crasser commercial elements, but its ‘works righteousness’ focus remains” (524). ||
 * **// According to the Catholic Church… //** || The underlying rationale suggests “the notion that God’s grace is a kind of commodity, a physical substance which the saints have a surplus of and which can be stored in a kind of spiritual bank that ordinary Christians could draw on by performing certain acts” (524).

It is considered to be “the Bingo of the sixteenth century” (524). || The bishops of the church believed that some reform was better than none, and therefore came up with the papal //motu proprio// (525).

The //motu proprio// states that “the winner of an indulgence now gains merit equal to that of his act of piety or charity,” (525). ||
 * **// Author’s Thoughts //** || The original purpose of indulgence is “a means by which the community of the faithful could help the contrite sinner overcome residual resistance to God and grow in spiritual maturity” (525). || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt;">The author sees the reformation as an intent “to reduce the quantitative, ‘ecclesiastical bookkeeping’ aspect of the indulgence system” (525).

The author points out that “the new ‘matching funds’ approach is…obviously arithmetical…” (525).

The author feels as though the original purpose is long gone. In addition, s/he believes that “the system is an unwieldy anachronism which should be dispensed with altogether” (525). || **//Implications://** The author of this article makes some very valid points as s/he describes the changes in the indulgence system. The system seems to have gotten away from the spiritual aspect of Christianity and focuses on the support of the Church. It seems as though the Church wants believers to feel as though the only way to get God’s grace is through monetary giving. You have to ask yourself, how much does true forgiveness really cost? (According to this system).

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt;">Michael Root, “The Indulgence Controversy, Again” ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**// Focus: //** The controversy over the indulgence system has been ongoing since the beginning of its time. Root explains how the system of indulgence has evolved from its original purpose to how it is practices in Catholic churches. In his explanation, he discussed the many aspects that have gone through reform, as indulgences have been placed under a microscope and scrutinized by many historians and Churches. Many abuses that surrounded indulgences in the early Reformation era were banned by the Council of Trent and the reforms of the Catholic Reformation (24). || In addition, previous studies have shown “how indulgences changed as penance itself changed, with the rise of frequent private confessions” (24). || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt;">The indulgence system is considered to be “an institution invented by no one and the creation of a series of incremental changes that occurred over centuries” (24). The indulgence system is known to be an aid in the struggle with consequences of sin that forgiveness does not remove (25). || “Recent Catholic teaching go far to situate indulgences within a genuine pursuit of repentance in daily life and to remove the rather impersonal, quid pro quo transactional language that has sometimes been associated with them” (25). || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt;">Many theologians and historians questioned the rationales of the original purposes of indulgence. As a result, they began to view the Constitution and come up with their own conclusions on the idea of indulgences as it applies to the Church. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**// Implications: //** Throughout this article, Root introduces some really critical factors of indulgences that will have anyone questioning their meanings. There are many ideas of indulgence that can be interpreted in different ways. As a result, the Churches have taken their interpretations and applied them to how they will work for their followers. The teaching of indulgences still include some of the original concepts, however interpretation is key when implementing the practices in the Church. ** Robert Shaffern, “Indulgences and Saintly Devotionalisms in the Middle Ages” ** **// Focus: //** Indulgences were definitely introduced during the Medieval era, and were defined as “remissions of temporal penalty for sin granted by the Episcopal authority of the Catholic Church,” (643). In this article, Shaffern provides, in great detail, the types of practices that were introduced through the indulgence system in the medieval era. These practices explained the indulgence system as a religious movement, during this time. Others grieved over “the number of indulgences and the sizes of remission being granted by Christendom’s prelates as an attack on true penitence and contrition” (643). || Indulgences have been associated with mechanicalism, decadence, and formalism in late medieval Christianity (643). Researcher D’Avray believed that the system of indulgences should be understood as a religious movement and not a problem within the medieval church (643). || Indulgences were also granted where miracles had taken place at saint’s shrine. Indulgences were granted through the transfer of relics from on location to another (644). Many instances are provided to show how several practices have led to the granting of indulgences. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt;">In granting indulgences, many of the practices involved the canonized saints of this time (643). Indulgences were also granted to the loved ones of the deceased; however these loved one would have to deal with the long suffering of their family’s sin, in their lives’ (644). || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**// Implications: //** With all of the methods mentioned and the connection between indulgences and highly regarded religious figures of the Church, one would wonder why there has been so much doubt in the practices of the system. In medieval times, it seems as though the system of indulgence was introduced to the Churches in an effort to increase the spiritual beliefs of Christianity. Many people believed that the acts of penance would grant them salvation in life and life thereafter. It isn’t until later that indulgences are viewed to mislead the followers of the Church and to provide monetary benefits for their authorities.
 * || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">** Evidence ** || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">** Main Idea ** ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**// What are Indulgences? //** || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt;">What exactly indulgences were may be a bit foggy for most Protestants, but they do know indulgences were something bad, very Roman Catholic, and had something to do with working or, worse, buying one’s way into heaven (24). || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt;">“Whatever else one may say about indulgences, they are not quite what they used to be (24).
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**// The Origin of Indulgences //** || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt;">Studies showed the roots of indulgences in the solidarity of the Church with persons carrying out the sometimes severe public penance required by the early Church (24).
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**// Changes in Indulgence //** || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt;">Popular minds believe that purgatory is what indulgences are all about (25).
 * || ** Evidence ** || ** Main Idea ** ||
 * **// Views of Indulgence //** || Critics have questioned “the Church’s authority to remit penalties for sin because indulgences lacked spiritual authority” (643).
 * **// Indulgences and The Saints //** || “Prelates granted indulgences as approval and encouragement to saintly cults. Prelates granted indulgences to promote new devotional movements. The saints eagerly sought indulgence for the benefit of their own souls or those of their followers” (643). || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Indulgences and the saints met in several different ways in medieval religion (643) . ||
 * **//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt;">Practices //** || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt;">Followers would be granted indulgences by visiting the shrines of saints, visiting the tombs of saints, participating in a pilgrimage.