Salvation & Grace
Indulgences
An indulgence is the remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven, granted through the Church's ministry.
Catholic teaching
Indulgences do not forgive sin or buy salvation; sin's guilt is already forgiven through confession, but temporal consequences of sin may remain and can be remitted by drawing on the Church's treasury of the merits of Christ and the saints. Historical abuses in the sale of indulgences were themselves condemned by the Church at Trent.
Biblical foundation
Paul himself forgives an offender 'in the person of Christ' and speaks of applying the merits of his own sufferings 'for the sake of his body, the Church,' illustrating the communal application of merit that underlies indulgences.
Scripture references
Historical evidence
The Council of Trent in 1563 retained indulgences as a use of Christ's power of binding and loosing while sharply condemning 'all base gain for securing them,' correcting the very abuses that had triggered Luther's protest in 1517.
The Church Fathers
“The Church's daily prayers and works of mercy for the dead avail to lighten their punishment.”