INDULGENCES. An Indulgence is a remission of the temporal punishment due to sin after contrition has been shown (contritio cordis), confession has been made (con fessio oris), and absolution has been given. The prac tice is peculiar to the Roman Catholic Church. In ancient times atonement (satisfactio) for great sins could only be made by many years of severe penance. In course of time, however, a lesser work, but a specific good work, in virtue of the " treasure of merits " accumulated by the saints, was substituted for a greater work. Such a work might take the form of alms to the poor, to churches, and to monasteries, or of pilgrimages, etc. In dulgences may be plenary (indulgcntia plenaria) or par tial (indulyentia minus plena): temporal or perpetual; particular, that is to say, for a special diocese, or general, that is to say, for the whole Church. One of the most famous of the plenary indulgences granted by the Roman Catholic Church is that of her jubilee. Other well known examples are the indulgence granted to the dying by priests, and the indulgence given with the Pope's blessing. " The most celebrated local indulgences are gained by visiting the seven chief churches and privileged altars at Rome; by pilgrimages to the holy places in Palestine; or visiting the stations mentioned in the " (Catholic Dictionary). Indulgences are granted
also to persons who wear rosaries, scapulars, medals, etc. " With respect to the natural consequences of sin, such as disease, infamy, etc., the Roman Church does not pretend to possess any power; but with respect to those punish ments which God inflicts on sinners, either in this world or in purgatory, she claims to have absolute jurisdiction conferred upon her by Christ, with the power of the keys. . . . If, now, the Church should remit those punishments from mere mercy, and without any satis factio, she would violate the divine justice, which demands that every sin shall be balanced by a good work. But how, then, does the indulgentia of the Church enter into the transaction? Partly through the doctrine of good works as opera operata, that is, as values which can be transferred from one to another; and partly through the doctrine of communio sanctorum, or the co ownership of the Church in the inexhaustible fund of good works which Christ and the saints have left, and of which they have no need themselves " (Schaff-Herzog). See Schaff-Herzog; William Benham; the Prot. Diet.; the Cath. Diet.