(Editor’s note: Deacon Frank Agnoli presents the seventh in his series of articles on the healing sacraments. He is director of liturgy and of deacon formation for the Davenport Diocese.)
If a friend asked you about indulgences, what would you say? Would you look away sheepishly, and mutter something about “we don’t do that anymore”? Do you see indulgences as a sort of “magic eraser” for the soul, a way to earn forgiveness of sins, or an ecclesial “get-out-of-jail-free” card worth so many days off of purgatory? It is clear that indulgences are not well understood and, as a result, we tend to stay away from these helps on our journey of conversion.
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