Rev. Fr. David Okolie
Dearest friends, remember that I promised to make this post on INDULGENCE, because of its link to the Faithful Departed within this month of November, especially November 1 – 8. I am here to fulfill my promise.
Now, INDULGENCEย is a remission before God of the Temporal Punishments due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditionsย through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the TREASURY of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints (CCC, n. 1471).
โTemporal Punishment’ is the punishment that remains after the guilt of sin has been forgiven upon going to a Sacramental Confession to a validly ordained Catholic Priest (Cf. CCC, nos. 1472-1473).
What the above means is that when one commits sin, he/she incurs double punishments, namely: Eternal punishment and Temporal punishment. If the person repents and goes to Confession, the Eternal punishment, together with the guilt of sin is removed while the Temporal punishment remains. The person will have to work out the removal of the โTemporal punishment’ by himself/herself. If that is not done and the person dies, he/she will remain in the PURGATORY until those โTemporal Punishments’ are cleared. One of the ways to remove the accumulated Temporary Punishments is through gaining of INDULGENCEย (cf. CCC, nos 1471, 1474-1479).
Fortunately, the above Indulgence is obtained between November 1 – 8 (All Souls Day inclusive). This Indulgence can be obtained for the Departed Souls in Purgatory through the acts of those who are still living. Lest I forget, this Indulgence can either be Plenary or Partial. It is Plenary if it clears all the Temporal Punishments. While it is Partial if it clears part of the Temporal Punishments.
๐๐ผHow do I pray for the Dead, to gain Indulgence for them?
Well, you can pray for the DEAD through any of the following ways:
๐๐ผ1. Visit devoutly a cemetery or simply pray mentally for the dead (Plenary Indulgence).
๐๐ผ2. On All Souls Day, and from Nov. 1 – 8, visit a church or chapel with devotion and there recite the Our Father and the Creed (Plenary Indulgence).
๐๐ผ3. Recite devoutly Lauds or vespers of the Office of the Dead (Partial Indulgence).
๐๐ผ4. Or make the invocation โEternal rest grant unto them, O Lord and let your perpetual light shine upon them; may they rest in peace, Amen (Partial Indulgence) (cf. Enchiridion of Indulgences, edition of 1999, concession 29).
Please, to make the above EFFECTIVE, you must have fulfilled the following conditions or fulfill them not later than 20 days afterwards:
i) Go for Confession and detach yourself from sins.
ii) Attend Holy Mass and receive Holy Communion.
iii) Pray for the intentions of the Pope (usually 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and 1 Glory be).
๐๐ผDo not forget that you can also request HOLY MASS for the Deadย (cf. 2 Macc 12:38-46).
Remain blessed๐๐ผ
