But you may very well learn a bit about them from reading this and following the links to the appropriate pages for more information.
Indulgences are difficult things to understand, even for cradle Catholics. Do you know what an indulgence is or what it is not? There's a lot of confusion and mistaken beliefs about indulgences. The 1917 Catholic Encyclopedia hosted at New Advent has a terrific article about Indulgences. Catholic Answers has another good article on the subject.
The sale of indulgences was one powerful motivating factor for Martin Luther's publishing of his '95 theses', critical of the Catholic Church.
This post today, a plethora of links, wouldn't be complete without a list of Indulgences:
Particular Indulgences: Enchiridion of Indulgences (1968)
Plenary Indulgences: Plenary Indulgences
(Translation of top image, an indulgence as sold by John Tetzel: "By the authority of all the saints, and in mercy towards you, I absolve you from all sins and misdeeds and remit all punishments for ten days. John Tetzel")
2 comments:
I remember once hearing of a Catholic Church that sold very rich, highly decadent chocolates as a fundraiser...
they were marketed as "Indulgences"
Heh, heh. :-)
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