Is there in the Church, attaching to the power of the keys, a power which frees man from the penalties due to sin, other than by sacramental absolution and the imposition of a Penance?
Yes; and it is the power of the indulgence (XXV. 1).
In what does this power consist?
It consists in this, that the Church from the infinite and inexhaustible treasures of the merits of Jesus Christ, of our Blessed Lady, and of the saints, can take, in satisfaction for sin, what corresponds in all or in part to the satisfaction which the sinner owes to the justice of God in this or in the next world. The power also extends to this, that an indulgence can be applied to certain particular individuals, and by the effect of this application they are freed from their debt towards the justice of God (XXV. 1).
What is required in order to make this application?
Three things are necessary: he who makes this application must have the authority to do so; there must be a state of grace in him to whom the application is made; and a motive of piety which is the reason for making the application, that is, something that refers to God's honour or to the welfare of the Church, as pious practices, works of zeal or of the apostolate, almsgiving, and the rest (XXV. 2).
These works which are the motive or the reason of the indulgence, are they the price thereof?
In no wise, for an indulgence is not the remission of a penalty which can be bought (XXV. 2).
Is it only those who fulfil the conditions above mentioned who benefit by the indulgence?
They may themselves give this benefit to another, by gaining the indulgence for this other; for instance an indulgence may be gained for the benefit of the souls in purgatory when he who concedes the indulgence gives such faculty (XVII. 3, Obj. 2 Code, Canon 930).
Next - The Catechism of the Summa - Tertia Pars - XL. OF THE MINISTER OF THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE, AND OF THE POWER OF THE KEYS: OF ABSOLUTION; OF INDULGENCES; OF THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS; AND OF EXCOMMUNICATION (D)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments are subject to deletion if they are not germane. I have no problem with a bit of colourful language, but blasphemy or depraved profanity will not be allowed. Attacks on the Catholic Faith will not be tolerated. Comments will be deleted that are republican (Yanks! Note the lower case 'r'!), attacks on the legitimacy of Pope Francis as the Vicar of Christ (I know he's a material heretic and a Protector of Perverts, and I definitely want him gone yesterday! However, he is Pope, and I pray for him every day.), the legitimacy of the House of Windsor or of the claims of the Elder Line of the House of France, or attacks on the legitimacy of any of the currently ruling Houses of Europe.