We must atone for our sins even after they are forgiven, either in Purgatory in the next life or by acts of penance in this life.

An indulgence is the Church’s special intercession with God for the remission of temporal punishment due to sin which has already been forgiven.

Making use of her power to minister the redemption of Christ, the Church intervenes to dispense the treasure of the superabundant merits of Christ and the saints, to the faithful who are rightly disposed, for the remission of temporal punishment due their sins.

Sacramentals are blessings, ceremonies, or religious articles instituted by the Church for our use, in order to increase our devotion and to aid in our Salvation. The difference between sacraments and sacramentals is that the sacraments were instituted by Jesus Christ; they give grace to our souls by their own power. The sacramentals were instituted by the Church and are …

The conditions for gaining a plenary indulgence are: a. One must be baptized and in the state of grace. b. One must receive Holy Communion each time a plenary indulgence is sought. c. One must go to confession several days preceding or following the indulgenced action. A single sacramental confession suffices for gaining several plenary indulgences. d. One must have …

By the proper use of sacramentals, men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy.

Yes, all indulgences, without exception, may be offered by way of intercession for the departed. Although we may gain indulgences for ourselves, we may not offer them for any other living person.

Some of the sacramentals are: (a) the consecration and dedication of churches; (b) the blessing pronounced on men and women who enter a religious brotherhood or sisterhood; (c) the blessing given in the Nuptial Mass to the bride; (d) the blessing given to a mother after childbirth; (e) the Sign of the Cross; and (f) various blessed articles, like Rosaries, …

A plenary indulgence is a complete release from the temporal punishment due for sins already forgiven. Only one plenary indulgence may be obtained each day. A partial indulgence removes part of the temporal punishment due for sins already forgiven. Several partial indulgences may be obtained each day.

Baptism is the sacrament through which we are: (1) reborn as children of God, (2) united with Jesus into His death and Resurrection, (3) cleansed of Original Sin and personal sins, and (4) welcomed into the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ. Baptism is the sacrament through which we are reborn as children of God. Baptism is directed toward our …