Sacrament of Reconciliation/Indulgence

“Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them” (Mtt.5:17) hence he was aware of this passage “Come let us talk this over, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool” [Isaiah 1:18] as a stepping stone to reconciling a soul with God; a deeper resolve never to repeat such lifestyle again because there is penalty for each sin committed by man (‘do not be drawn to a sin twice over, for you will not go unpunished even once’ Sirach 7:8) though God has granted forgiveness {“The Lord our God, you answered them, you were a God of forgiveness to them, but punished them for their sins” Ps.99:8} hence the confession of our sins to God through legally ordained catholic Priests who maintain the apostolic succession of the foundation laid on the apostles and prophets after resurrection (‘after saying this he breathed on them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone’s sins they are retained’ Jn.20:22-23) is second phase to submitting one’s sinful nature to God.

The last stage is the full indulgence given by legally ordained and loyal High priests (Bishops/Pastors/Shepherd) of the Church (Christ the Head of the Church; Eph.5:23) on specific days designated by the church (Maundy Thursdays, ordinations, all souls day and confirmation mass) as a checkmate on its abuse or misuse as individual or group [‘give a shepherd’s care to the flock of God that is entrusted to you: watch over it, not simply as a duty but gladly, as God wants; not for sordid money but because you are eager to do it ’ 1 Pet.5:2] and the partial indulgence we can gain for ourselves through alms-giving {‘almsgiving is a most effective offering for all those who do it in the presence of the Most High’ Tob.4:11}, mortification (“for my part, far be it from me to sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you or to instruct you in the good and right way” 1 Sam.12:23), ejaculatory prayers [‘so confess your sins to one another and pray for one another to be cured; the heartfelt prayer of someone upright works very powerfully’ James 5:16], fasting and prayers (‘one day while they were offering worship to the Lord and keeping fast the Holy Spirit said. I want Barnabas and Saul set apart for the work to which I have called them’ Acts.13:2).

Indulgence is the cleansing of the effects of sins that have been forgiven through the sacrament of reconciliation (Jn.20:22-23) granted to the Church through Christ the Head of the Church {Eph.5:23} represented by the High Priests in the different dioceses in unity (1 Cor.3:11) with the primacy of the High Priest of Rome who takes the successive position of St. Peter in line with this passage “So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my community. And the gates of the underworld can never overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven: whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” {Mtt.16:18-19}.