Indulgence

Indulgence, in Roman Catholic practice, the full or partial remission before God of temporal punishment for sins that have been forgiven. It is granted by ecclesiastical authority and is considered to be a special form of intercession made by the whole church through its liturgy and prayers for the reconciliation of one of its members, living or dead.

In the early Christian church, severe penitential observances were imposed by the local priest or bishop on all who had been guilty of serious sins. It was believed that sins must be atoned for, at least in part, by the sinner in this world rather than in the next. Works of atonement consisted of fasts, pilgrimages, floggings, and other penances of greater or less severity imposed for a specified period of time. Gradually, church authorities substituted lesser works of devotion (such as prayers or almsgiving), accompanied by indulgences equivalent to the corresponding periods of more severe penance.

It was not until the 12th century that theological reflection focused on indulgences. At first there was some opposition to the practice, but toward the end of the 12th century the attitude of theologians gradually became more favorable. At the same time, the granting of indulgences became increasingly a prerogative of the pope.

During the Middle Ages, abuses surrounded the practice of granting indulgences. Their sale, with what appeared to be automatic spiritual benefits, even without personal repentance, led Martin Luther and other leaders of the 16th-century Protestant Reformation to abandon the practice altogether.

The Roman Catholic church still grants indulgences, but the practice has been simplified since 1967. At that time reforms were introduced limiting the occasions for obtaining indulgences and dropping the time equivalents.