Thanks for writing this, we need to talk about Catholic things, because so many today don't know of these things. I know people do all kinds of gymnastics to get that plenary indulgence of Divine Mercy, but they don't know that praying the holy Rosary will get them a plenary indulgence every day, ( if they are in a state of grace, prayed for the intentions of the pope, if they pray in a Church, or with a group (can be family). Good to see a Catholic mom writing here.
I've fallen in love with learning about the faith I've grown up in, and desire to share the goodness with others! The Church is so good. I'm so glad I studied indulgences further for this post. They are far less complicated than I thought. Thanks for reading! :)
Yes, indulgences are a gift. We cannot earn anything, but through participation in charity/love, we can cover a multitude of sins. Our cooperation with God’s freely given grace benefits the whole Body of Christ. By gaining an indulgence for ourselves or for others, we are lifting our gaze to Christ and obeying the Church—which has the power to bind and loose—to edify the Body. “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.” (Col i. 24, RSVCE)
Jamie, this is one of your best pieces yet. Honestly, I believe THIS could be your book or eBook: The Gentle Nudge—A Practical Guide to Indulgences. You’re the right person for the job.
I went to Mass today for First Friday, and reading your piece reminded me how closely this devotion aligns with the practice of indulgences: receiving the Eucharist in a state of grace, praying for the Holy Father’s intentions, and deepening our relationship with Christ.
As you explained, indulgences aren’t about “earning” something from God. They’re about opening ourselves to His mercy, healing the effects of sin, and continuing the journey of conversion.
I also went to Confession, and your piece is a powerful reminder of how indulgences help us grow in charity and intimacy with Christ. It’s not just about forgiveness—it’s about allowing God to fully restore and strengthen us.
Thank you for shedding light on this misunderstood practice. It’s a beautiful invitation to deeper trust in God’s mercy and a renewed commitment to holiness.
Thanks so much for sharing these thoughts Emmanuel, it brings me so much joy to read these words. I'll consider your recommendation to turn this into an ebook. Honestly, I'd assumed my individual posts are too short to be an ebook, and I like having these free and widely available, but if I could offer it for super cheap as an ebook to get more eyes on it, I think that'd be a win for the Kingdom!
Of course! Good writing deserves recognition. Interestingly enough, my best-selling ebooks are between 10-12 pages.
When you’re addressing a genuine pain point, brevity and actionable solutions are key. For anyone struggling with the concept of indulgences or looking to incorporate them for a richer spiritual life, this could be the perfect fit. It’s really just about expanding on this essay and giving people what they’re already asking for—simple, practical guidance.
Poof! Your ebook.
Personally, I work on a donation basis with these. I don’t believe in paywalling spiritual fulfillment. If someone can donate, great! They’re helping make it available for someone else who might not be able to at the moment.
I can perceive the sincerity in which you wrote your article, and I don’t doubt that the pieces fit together in your paradigm. But I don’t see the precedent for indulgences anywhere in Scripture. When you appealed to Moses who reminded God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, you stated that the merit of one human being was applied to other human beings later on. But this is a misunderstanding. First of all, Moses was not appealing to Abraham’s merit — rather he was appealing to God’s promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:5; 17:1ff). This appeal to God’s promise is repeatedly brought up throughout the Old Testament and the New. Moreover, in Romans 4, Paul expressly says that Abraham was *not saved* by his own work or merit. He was justified by faith, prior to being circumcised. The future of Israel was not secured by Abraham’s merit. It was secured by the blood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:12-14).
The only acceptable payment for sin, of any kind, is the blood of Jesus. Nothing else can atone. No indulgence, no striving, no human payment.
Thanks for your input! The interpretation of Exodus 32:11-14 could be both/and. I don't disagree that there is the renewing of God's Covenant with His people, but I also see a reminder of the obedience of past patriarchs. That obedience is what lead to God making the Covenant. Moses appeals to that in his discourse with God.
In Romans 4, Paul is talking about works of the law, not spiritual works.
The “treasury of merits” spoken of are the merits of Christ & the Saints. I like this piece from a General Audience of St. JP2: “The starting-point for understanding indulgences is the abundance of God's mercy revealed in the Cross of Christ. The crucified Jesus is the great "indulgence" that the Father has offered humanity through the forgiveness of sins and the possibility of living as children (cf. Jn 1: 12-13) in the Holy Spirit (cf. Gal 4: 6; Rom 5: 5; 8: 15-16).”
Would you say there are any consequences for our sins?
Before I can have a conversation with anyone about "is purgatory supported by Scripture", I have to start with the question "do you accept that 2 Maccabees is Scripture" and if the answer is "no" then we need to backtrack to "let's define all terms that are used in this conversation" to avoid serious confusion.
Thanks for the post! Speaking as a Protestant genuinely curious about Catholicism (I have a dusty copy of the Catechism I need to be brave and read!), I appreciate the post but am still not clear on the concepts. Let me rehearse the moves for your argument, if you don't mind.
As for Purgatory:
Step 1. Nothing unclean can enter Heaven (Revelation 21:27). [Scripture]
Step 2. Many die with an attachment to sin but still connected to the grace of God. [Citation?]
Step 3. Those souls must be purified and made clean before entering heaven…we call this “Purgatory”. [Citation?]
I have no problem with logical inference. Theology requires it. I studied Augustine and Aquinas in college under a very grounded Catholic professor, and loved every minute. That said, the first step had Scripture while the second two steps were pure inference. And it's where inferences weave together in wild directions that the theology isn't quite grounded.
As for indulgences, as a Protestant I find this practice puzzling. I read through the linked indulgence primer, and it's where it becomes "Do this for 30 minutes and you're good" that I find the hangup. Well, alright. Please point to the Epistle where it's stated and I'm with you 100%. Otherwise, if the Church as institution has the power to forgive sins--not Christ--that becomes a slippery slope. Why not pay for it while we're at it?
I could go on and debate many other points, but this medium just doesn't work for that. Please don't take my tone as bad--just curious. Some Protestants and Catholics hate each other, but I genuinely love learning about Catholicism. My wife and I often remark that if not for a few reservations--big ones at that--we both wonder why we never converted.
Hey Adam! I appreciate your comment and your questions. I've been meaning to reply, but haven't had the chance to sit down and write out a thoughtful response.
On Purgatory:
For step 2 ("Many die with an attachment to sin but still connected to the grace of God."), we can look at 1 John 5:16-17, which says, "If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life. This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should pray. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly." I don't think it is unreasonable to say that spiritual death is being spoken about here. Matthew 5:19, "Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven", also seems to be evidence that one could have "small sins", which Catholics would call "Venial sins", and still enter Heaven. I would also say, generally speaking, it would be fair to say that most die with at least some sinful desire, which is what "attachment to sin" means.
For step 3, Revelation 21:27 would still apply, assuming steps 1 & 2 are true.
The Catechism is a great resource, but there's not much on Purgatory. I recommend the book "Purgatory is For Real" by Karlo Broussard if you want more Biblical cases.
As for indulgences, I wouldn't get too caught up in the numbers. If the Church said "pray with scripture", we'd ask "how long?"
In article 12 of "Indulgentiarum Doctrina", it says: "Since by their acts the faithful can obtain, in addition to the merit which is the principal fruit of the act, a further remission of temporal punishment in proportion to the degree to which the charity of the one performing the act is greater, and in proportion to the degree to which the act itself is performed in a more perfect way, it has been considered fitting that this remission of temporal punishment which the Christian faithful acquire through an action should serve as the measurement for the remission of punishment which the ecclesiastical authority bountifully adds by way of partial indulgence." If one would do the works prescribed to gain an indulgence with the mindset of "do 'x' and I'm good", as if checking off boxes, it doesn't seem as if charity is present in the heart. The entire encyclical would be good to read if you want to check it out: https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-vi_apc_01011967_indulgentiarum-doctrina.html
As for your point on the Church forgiving sins, I do want to clarify that indulgences do not forgive sins. They remit the consequences of sin. Here's a paragraph from the Catechism regarding the forgiveness of sins: "Only God forgives sins. Since he is the Son of God, Jesus says of himself, 'The Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" and exercises this divine power: "Your sins are forgiven.' Further, by virtue of his divine authority he gives this power to men to exercise in his name." (Paragraph 1441)
Hopefully this answers your questions! I think I touched on everything you mentioned, but feel free to let me know if I missed something. :)
Thanks for writing this, we need to talk about Catholic things, because so many today don't know of these things. I know people do all kinds of gymnastics to get that plenary indulgence of Divine Mercy, but they don't know that praying the holy Rosary will get them a plenary indulgence every day, ( if they are in a state of grace, prayed for the intentions of the pope, if they pray in a Church, or with a group (can be family). Good to see a Catholic mom writing here.
I've fallen in love with learning about the faith I've grown up in, and desire to share the goodness with others! The Church is so good. I'm so glad I studied indulgences further for this post. They are far less complicated than I thought. Thanks for reading! :)
Yes, indulgences are a gift. We cannot earn anything, but through participation in charity/love, we can cover a multitude of sins. Our cooperation with God’s freely given grace benefits the whole Body of Christ. By gaining an indulgence for ourselves or for others, we are lifting our gaze to Christ and obeying the Church—which has the power to bind and loose—to edify the Body. “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.” (Col i. 24, RSVCE)
This helped me understand indulgences more deeply. Thank you for writing -- it was very thorough and well written :)
Thanks so much for reading! I'm glad it was helpful :)
Jamie, this is one of your best pieces yet. Honestly, I believe THIS could be your book or eBook: The Gentle Nudge—A Practical Guide to Indulgences. You’re the right person for the job.
I went to Mass today for First Friday, and reading your piece reminded me how closely this devotion aligns with the practice of indulgences: receiving the Eucharist in a state of grace, praying for the Holy Father’s intentions, and deepening our relationship with Christ.
As you explained, indulgences aren’t about “earning” something from God. They’re about opening ourselves to His mercy, healing the effects of sin, and continuing the journey of conversion.
I also went to Confession, and your piece is a powerful reminder of how indulgences help us grow in charity and intimacy with Christ. It’s not just about forgiveness—it’s about allowing God to fully restore and strengthen us.
Thank you for shedding light on this misunderstood practice. It’s a beautiful invitation to deeper trust in God’s mercy and a renewed commitment to holiness.
Thanks so much for sharing these thoughts Emmanuel, it brings me so much joy to read these words. I'll consider your recommendation to turn this into an ebook. Honestly, I'd assumed my individual posts are too short to be an ebook, and I like having these free and widely available, but if I could offer it for super cheap as an ebook to get more eyes on it, I think that'd be a win for the Kingdom!
Of course! Good writing deserves recognition. Interestingly enough, my best-selling ebooks are between 10-12 pages.
When you’re addressing a genuine pain point, brevity and actionable solutions are key. For anyone struggling with the concept of indulgences or looking to incorporate them for a richer spiritual life, this could be the perfect fit. It’s really just about expanding on this essay and giving people what they’re already asking for—simple, practical guidance.
Poof! Your ebook.
Personally, I work on a donation basis with these. I don’t believe in paywalling spiritual fulfillment. If someone can donate, great! They’re helping make it available for someone else who might not be able to at the moment.
How do you know if you have no attachment to venial sin?
Attachment to sin would be a desire towards sinful behavior, so if one would only desire good, there would be no attachment to sin.
I can perceive the sincerity in which you wrote your article, and I don’t doubt that the pieces fit together in your paradigm. But I don’t see the precedent for indulgences anywhere in Scripture. When you appealed to Moses who reminded God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, you stated that the merit of one human being was applied to other human beings later on. But this is a misunderstanding. First of all, Moses was not appealing to Abraham’s merit — rather he was appealing to God’s promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:5; 17:1ff). This appeal to God’s promise is repeatedly brought up throughout the Old Testament and the New. Moreover, in Romans 4, Paul expressly says that Abraham was *not saved* by his own work or merit. He was justified by faith, prior to being circumcised. The future of Israel was not secured by Abraham’s merit. It was secured by the blood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:12-14).
The only acceptable payment for sin, of any kind, is the blood of Jesus. Nothing else can atone. No indulgence, no striving, no human payment.
Thanks for your input! The interpretation of Exodus 32:11-14 could be both/and. I don't disagree that there is the renewing of God's Covenant with His people, but I also see a reminder of the obedience of past patriarchs. That obedience is what lead to God making the Covenant. Moses appeals to that in his discourse with God.
In Romans 4, Paul is talking about works of the law, not spiritual works.
The “treasury of merits” spoken of are the merits of Christ & the Saints. I like this piece from a General Audience of St. JP2: “The starting-point for understanding indulgences is the abundance of God's mercy revealed in the Cross of Christ. The crucified Jesus is the great "indulgence" that the Father has offered humanity through the forgiveness of sins and the possibility of living as children (cf. Jn 1: 12-13) in the Holy Spirit (cf. Gal 4: 6; Rom 5: 5; 8: 15-16).”
Would you say there are any consequences for our sins?
Before I can have a conversation with anyone about "is purgatory supported by Scripture", I have to start with the question "do you accept that 2 Maccabees is Scripture" and if the answer is "no" then we need to backtrack to "let's define all terms that are used in this conversation" to avoid serious confusion.
Thanks for the post! Speaking as a Protestant genuinely curious about Catholicism (I have a dusty copy of the Catechism I need to be brave and read!), I appreciate the post but am still not clear on the concepts. Let me rehearse the moves for your argument, if you don't mind.
As for Purgatory:
Step 1. Nothing unclean can enter Heaven (Revelation 21:27). [Scripture]
Step 2. Many die with an attachment to sin but still connected to the grace of God. [Citation?]
Step 3. Those souls must be purified and made clean before entering heaven…we call this “Purgatory”. [Citation?]
I have no problem with logical inference. Theology requires it. I studied Augustine and Aquinas in college under a very grounded Catholic professor, and loved every minute. That said, the first step had Scripture while the second two steps were pure inference. And it's where inferences weave together in wild directions that the theology isn't quite grounded.
As for indulgences, as a Protestant I find this practice puzzling. I read through the linked indulgence primer, and it's where it becomes "Do this for 30 minutes and you're good" that I find the hangup. Well, alright. Please point to the Epistle where it's stated and I'm with you 100%. Otherwise, if the Church as institution has the power to forgive sins--not Christ--that becomes a slippery slope. Why not pay for it while we're at it?
I could go on and debate many other points, but this medium just doesn't work for that. Please don't take my tone as bad--just curious. Some Protestants and Catholics hate each other, but I genuinely love learning about Catholicism. My wife and I often remark that if not for a few reservations--big ones at that--we both wonder why we never converted.
Hey Adam! I appreciate your comment and your questions. I've been meaning to reply, but haven't had the chance to sit down and write out a thoughtful response.
On Purgatory:
For step 2 ("Many die with an attachment to sin but still connected to the grace of God."), we can look at 1 John 5:16-17, which says, "If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life. This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should pray. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly." I don't think it is unreasonable to say that spiritual death is being spoken about here. Matthew 5:19, "Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven", also seems to be evidence that one could have "small sins", which Catholics would call "Venial sins", and still enter Heaven. I would also say, generally speaking, it would be fair to say that most die with at least some sinful desire, which is what "attachment to sin" means.
For step 3, Revelation 21:27 would still apply, assuming steps 1 & 2 are true.
The Catechism is a great resource, but there's not much on Purgatory. I recommend the book "Purgatory is For Real" by Karlo Broussard if you want more Biblical cases.
As for indulgences, I wouldn't get too caught up in the numbers. If the Church said "pray with scripture", we'd ask "how long?"
In article 12 of "Indulgentiarum Doctrina", it says: "Since by their acts the faithful can obtain, in addition to the merit which is the principal fruit of the act, a further remission of temporal punishment in proportion to the degree to which the charity of the one performing the act is greater, and in proportion to the degree to which the act itself is performed in a more perfect way, it has been considered fitting that this remission of temporal punishment which the Christian faithful acquire through an action should serve as the measurement for the remission of punishment which the ecclesiastical authority bountifully adds by way of partial indulgence." If one would do the works prescribed to gain an indulgence with the mindset of "do 'x' and I'm good", as if checking off boxes, it doesn't seem as if charity is present in the heart. The entire encyclical would be good to read if you want to check it out: https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-vi_apc_01011967_indulgentiarum-doctrina.html
As for your point on the Church forgiving sins, I do want to clarify that indulgences do not forgive sins. They remit the consequences of sin. Here's a paragraph from the Catechism regarding the forgiveness of sins: "Only God forgives sins. Since he is the Son of God, Jesus says of himself, 'The Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" and exercises this divine power: "Your sins are forgiven.' Further, by virtue of his divine authority he gives this power to men to exercise in his name." (Paragraph 1441)
Hopefully this answers your questions! I think I touched on everything you mentioned, but feel free to let me know if I missed something. :)