Q&A: It is my understanding that Plenary Indulgences is being “played down” by the Church. If this is so, why then, of all places, would plenary indulgences be offered for joining (and renewing one’s Consecration within) the Association of Mary, Queen of All Hearts?
Father J. Patrick Gaffney, SMM
Submitted by Member: W.H., New Orleans, LA.
Potentially Earning . . .
A reply to your question demands a detailed article on indulgences! Space forbids such a project now, so let’s briefly outline some aspects of indulgences. The revised Code of Canon Law gives a succinct definition of indulgences (Canon 992), the core of which is; “An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment for sin, the guilt of which is already forgiven. ”
Simply put, it may be explained in the following manner; an indulgence is the joining of the intercession of the entire Church to certain prayers or good deeds, so that these prayers or good actions may more effectively spring from the depth of sincere charity and love for our God. So instead of saying these prayers “alone,” in a unique way the entire Church is joining in with me so that the intercessory prayer may express a total surrender of love to Our Lord. And the more sincere my love of God, the more it flows from true charity, the more the consequences of sin are destroyed.
. . . a Plenary Indulgence
There are, for example, certain prayers which the church deems so beautiful that it formally and in a special way makes the intention of interceding with the person reciting the prayer. Therefore, the prayer truly becomes the cry of the entire Church. The prayer is begging God with me for that depth of love. Love which wipes away the traces of the effects of forgiven sin.
Such a prayer is called an indulgenced prayer. In recent times, the Church has clarified the understanding of indulgences. It also has greatly reduced the number of indulgenced prayers. It does so that there can be no trace of exaggeration or abuse.
The Church shows its esteem for the Spirituality of Saint Louis de Montfort. It shows this esteem when it includes among its indulgenced prayers the Act of Consecration to the Eternal and Incarnate Wisdom (on certain occasions), and the joining of the Association of Mary, Queen of All Hearts, etc.
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