eral of our
past sins.

Q. 838. {230} What should we do while the priest is giving us
absolution?
A. While the priest is giving us absolution we should from our heart
renew the Act of Contrition.

LESSON TWENTY-FIRST.
ON INDULGENCES.

Q. 839. {231} What is an Indulgence?
A. An Indulgence is the remission in whole or in part of the temporal
punishment due to sin.

Q. 840. What does the word "indulgence" mean?
A. The word indulgence means a favor or concession. An indulgence
obtains by a very slight penance the remission of penalties that would
otherwise be severe.

Q. 841. {232} Is an Indulgence a pardon of sin, or a license to commit
sin?
A. An Indulgence is not a pardon of sin, nor a license to commit sin,
and one who is in a state of mortal sin cannot gain an Indulgence.

Q. 842. How do good works done in mortal sin profit us?
A. Good works done in mortal sin profit us by obtaining for us the grace
to repent and sometimes temporal blessings. Mortal sin deprives us of
all our merit, nevertheless God will bestow gifts for every good deed as
He will punish every evil deed.

Q. 843. {233} How many kinds of Indulgences are there?
A. There are two kinds of Indulgences--Plenary and Partial.

Q. 844. {234} What is Plenary Indulgence?
A. A Plenary Indulgence is the full remission of the temporal punishment
due to sin.

Q. 845. Is it easy to gain a Plenary Indulgence?
A. It is not easy to gain a Plenary Indulgence, as we may understand
from its great privilege. To gain a Plenary Indulgence, we must hate
sin, be heartily sorry for even our venial sins, and have no desire for
even the slightest sin. Though we may not gain entirely each Plenary
Indulgence we seek, we always gain a part of each; that is, a partial
indulgence, greater or less in proportion to our good dispositions.

Q. 846. Which are the most important Plenary Indulgences granted by the
Church?
A. The most important Plenary Indulgences granted by the Church are (1)
The Indulgences of a jubilee which the Pope grants every twenty-five
years or on great occasions by which he gives special faculties to
confessors for the absolution of reserved sins; (2) The Indulgence
granted to the dying in their last agony.

Q. 847. {235} What is a Partial Indulgence?
A. A Partial Indulgence is the remission of part of the temporal
punishment due to sin.

Q. 848. How long has the practice of granting Indulgences been in use in
the Church, and what was its o