X. Indulgences
Catechism number 1471
The doctrine and practice of indulgences in the Church are closely linked to the effects of the sacrament of Penance.
What is an indulgence?
"An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment
due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian
who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions 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."81
"An
indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of
the temporal punishment due to sin."82 Indulgences may be applied
to the living or the dead.
The punishments of sin