The greatness of Saint Joseph is that he was the spouse of Mary and the father of Jesus. In this way, he placed himself, in the words of Saint John Chrysostom, “at the service of the entire plan of salvation”.
-Pope Francis Patris Corde
The Church document “Apostolic Constitution on Indulgences” defines an indulgence as “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 . . . An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin. Indulgences may be applied to the living or the dead.”
A key to understanding indulgences is first to understand the temporal punishments incurred by sin. The reality is that sin results in guilt and punishment. When a person sins, he incurs guilt and there are consequences as well, punishments for the sins we have committed. As Scripture says, “For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil" (Eccl. 12:14).
The effects of sin are both temporal - in this world - and eternal. Our sins affect those around us and offend God Who exists eternally. The offense of sin, one could say, has ramifications in our time and in eternity.
Thankfully, when one repents and confesses his sins, God removes that guilt and washes away, by His mercy and through the Precious Blood of Jesus, the eternal punishment our sins had incurred. However, those temporal effects, those worldly consequences of our sins, those remain. Jesus died for our sins, and by doing so, paid the ransom for our offenses. Yet, He did not relieve us of our obligation to repair what we have done, nor did He wash away the negative effects our sins may have in the lives of others. Additionally, the attachment to sin that sometimes remind in our hearts may also remain. These are the temporal effects of sin. These must be purified in us before we may reach heaven.
It is important to remember that sin has a double consequence. Mortal sin deprives us of communion with God and therefore makes us incapable of eternal life, that would be the 'eternal punishment' of sin. Yet every sin, even venial, involves an unhealthy attachment to creatures or cretaion, which must be purified either during or our lives or in Purgatory. This purification frees us from the 'temporal punishment' of sin.
These two punishments, temporal and eternal, must not be viewed as a kind of vengeance inflicted by God, but as a dreadful consequence of the very nature of sin. But remember, our Lord said to the Apostles, “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Mt 18:18)
His Church has the authority to “loose” our sins through the sacrament of confession and even “loose” the temporal effects of our sins through the longstanding practice of indulgences.
Important things to remember about indulgences:
When these conditions are met, the faithful can then perform one of the particular actions or pray the prayers that the Church has designated for the indulgence, and to do so with the intention of gaining an indulgence for oneself or for a loved one in purgatory.
There are quite a few prayers and actions that the Church has promoted in this Year of St. Joseph to receive the indulgence.
Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God entrusted his only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man.
Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage, and defend us from every evil.
Amen.