Plenary Indulgences in the Year of Saint Francis
Like the Jubilee of Hope before it, the Jubilee Year of Saint Francis offers opportunities for the faithful to gain plenary indulgences. These are outlined on pages 3–4 of the Decree announcing the Year. Indulgences may be gained for oneself or for the souls of the faithful departed.
Gifts of Mother Church
What are indulgences? These generous gifts of Mother Church are among her most misunderstood practices. Non-Catholics have long wondered how such copious grace can be given away for so little; indeed, controversy over indulgences was a triggering factor in the debates leading to the Protestant Reformation. Even within the Church, the concept is not always clearly explained, and can be mistaken for “a spiritual shortcut,” in the words of Bishop Krzysztof Nykiel.
In reality, the concept of indulgences is closely related to that of Reconciliation. In the words of the Catechism, §1471, quoting Pope Saint Paul VI: “An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven.”
This “temporal punishment,” the Catechism continues, is not something God assigns to the sinner out of anger; it is not “punishment” at all in the human sense. Rather, it follows necessarily from the sin itself. Sin not only harms our relationship with God and neighbor, but disrupts the order within us, which must then be put right. This is why a penance is assigned after confession: to heal the damage caused by sin. Indulgences are another means our generous God has provided of healing our hearts.
Remedies All
Indulgences may be plenary or partial; a plenary indulgence is one that remedies all (Latin: plenus) of these temporal consequences. The above explanation shows why detachment from sin is a necessary condition for a plenary indulgence; by this detachment, the Church means that one must sincerely hate sin and want to avoid it in the future. In order to receive the outpouring of healing grace, one must not choose to hold on to any interior obstacles.
In his comments to Vatican News, Bishop Nykiel summarized an authentic understanding of the nature and value of indulgences. “It is essential,” he says, “to understand that indulgence is first and foremost an encounter with God, and that its power lies not in our human efforts, but in the grace of God that transforms the heart.” The indulgence is not “magic” nor a “shortcut” but a way God touches the heart that is open to Him. It bears fruit “when a person consciously opens themselves to God’s transforming power, allows Him to act in their heart, heals relationships, forgives, and is converted.”
The gift of indulgences can indeed help us to imitate Saint Francis this year, if we welcome it for what it is: an opportunity for conversion, a means to allow God to reach us more deeply and sanctify us. After all, all goodness is God’s work; the saints are those who allow Him to work most freely and fully in them.
