GENERAL AUDIENCE: THE GIFT OF INDULGENCE

VATICAN CITY, SEP 29, 1999 (VIS) - "The gift of indulgence" was the theme of John Paul II's catechesis during the general audience held this morning in St. Peter's Square.

The Holy Father indicated that the theme of indulgences "is a sensitive issue on which there has been no lack of historical misunderstanding. ... In the present ecumenical context, the Church feels the need for this ancient practice, seen as a significant expression of God's mercy, to be well understood and received."

The reconciliation of the sinner with God, which is itself a gift, implies a compromise by man on a personal level and by the Church "in its sacramental commitment. ... In fact, man must be progressively 'cured' of the negative consequences that sin has produced in him. ... In the hope of a full cure, the sinner is called to start down the path of purification towards the fullness of love."

The Holy Father went on: "Temporal punishment itself has the function of 'medicine', to the degree to which man lets himself be called to profound conversion by it."

John Paul II affirmed that indulgence is "'the 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'."

"There is therefore a 'treasure of the Church' which is 'dispensed' by means of indulgences. This 'distribution'... is, above all, an expression of the absolute faith the Church has that she will be heard by the Father when ... asking Him to diminish or cancel the painful aspect of punishment, developing the medicinal significance (of punishment) through other paths of grace."

The Pope concluded by highlighting that, above all, indulgences "are an aid towards a more generous and radical commitment. ... Consequently, it would be erroneous to imagine that this gift can be obtained simply by adopting a certain form of external behavior. Rather, (such behavior) is required as an expression and support on the path of conversion."

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