Indulgences

Indulgences are an unchanging doctrine and a great gift of mercy of the Catholic Church. They are also a teaching that is often misunderstood. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church's section on indulgences, "an indulgence is 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 through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints" (1471). 

Learn more about indulgences with the resources below and see how you can add these holy acts to your spiritual life.

Pope Francis granted a plenary indulgence for the Year of St. Joseph
Plenary Indulgence for the Year of St. Joseph

Pope Francis and Bishop Hying have granted plenary indulgences in response to the Coronavirus pandemic:
Plenary Indulgence from Pope Francis
Plenary Indulgence from Bishop Hying

RESOURCES EXPLAINING INDULGENCES
Primer on Indulgences, EWTN
Primer on Indulgences, Catholic Answers
What Is an Indulgence, from Blessed Is She
Grasp the Gift of Indulgences, from OSV
Myths About Indulgences, from Catholic Answers
The Enchiridion of Indulgences (Manual Listing All Indulgences)