I have to admit that this kind of “language” which might have been relevant in certain times, is not going to get across to today’s modern man and woman. However, what the Church is trying to say is that to receive God’s mercy it is imperative to prepare one’s heart and commit oneself. Today there are many ways to do this including being more self-aware, getting in touch with our true self and our false self in a prayerful spirit.

In olden times the Church used to tell you “say three Hail Maries, walk from here to there, say a rosary and then confess”. These conditions still make sense for some but do not make sense for many others. What we should really emphasise is being aware of what is happening within us, within our heart, striving to move towards love and authenticity.

What is a plenary indulgence?
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church No. 1471…

The doctrine and practice of indulgences in the Church are closely linked to the effects of the sacrament of Penance.

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. An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin.” Indulgences may be applied to the living or the dead.

Read more:
– Pope Benedict 16th On The Future Of The Church
– Top Pope Francis’ Quotes About The Church

The post A Catholic Explains Plenary Indulgence appeared first on Universe of Faith.

1. Jesus Gives The Keys Of Forgiveness To The Church

“The Church accompanies the sinner in the journey of conversion. It is a little difficult to understand how a man can forgive sins, but Jesus gives this power. The Church is the depository of the power of the keys, of opening or closing to forgiveness. God forgives every man in his sovereign mercy, but he himself willed that those who belong to Christ and to the Church receive forgiveness by means of the ministers of the community…

In this way Jesus calls us to live out reconciliation in the ecclesial, the community, dimension as well. And this is very beautiful. The Church, who is holy and at the same time in need of penitence, accompanies us on the journey of conversion throughout our life. The Church is not mistress of the power of the keys, but a servant of the ministry of mercy and rejoices every time she can offer this divine gift.
Pope Francis, General Audience, 20th November 2013

2. Confession Is A Good Opportunity During Lent

“The confessional is not a torture chamber, but the place in which the Lord’s mercy motivates us to do better.”
Interview With Pope Francis by Fr Antonio Spadaro, September 2013

Read more:
– Examination Of Conscience For Adults And Teens
– Healing A Difficult Father Daughter Relationship – A Spiritual Experience

Watch:

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Dear Louisa,
You are old enough now to read this message from mum and dad. This message is about why we wanted you to be baptised when you were a little baby. And why in the Catholic Church? It is not a question that can be rushed because for us it is easy to fall into standard answers that do not come from the heart. We will try to be as sincere as possible.

So here it goes.

Catholic baptism meaning

We want you to be baptised:

• So that you can have faith in a higher being we call God. We would like you to cultivate this faith and not let it fade away.
• So that you understand that there is more to what your eyes can see and what your ears can hear. There is a source of great goodness, and it is not human in origin.
• So that you hear a positive and independent message, different from the sad and biased messages that the world around you might give you. Everyday life can be full of distractions, “fads or full of messages of desperation that things are getting worse. The Gospel and the Church will give you steadiness and consistency in your morality that is not pushed around by daily life.
• So that your faith will help you deal with death and suffering in this world. They are things that are not to be feared if you have trust in God.

We want you to be baptised:

• So that your faith can help you explain the meaning of the wonders and order in the physical world around you.
• So that you have a framework (for lack of a better word) in your mind of what happens when we all die. You will not get a clear idea, but your faith will guide you towards living a good life on this earth in preparation for the next life. There is the next life. This life on earth is not for “grabbing as much as you can, while you can” as if time is running out (as the material world would have you believe). Please ask your fellow Catholics how they deal with their preparation for the next life.
• So that by discussing and questioning us, your mum and dad, you help us and challenge us to know what we believe in. You can help mum and dad stay on the right path because we all make mistakes. By discussing, God will be in our presence and we will be a happier family.
• So you can stand back up if you fall spiritually. If you are overwhelmed by life, you know that there is God who will accept you the way you are. You know that you can always improve your situation. The Gospel is not for saints only but for everyday sinners to improve their lives after lapses of spiritual blindness.

We want you to be baptised:

• So you can have a share of old-time-tested wisdom that is true and not subject to current trends or socially accepted norms. You can ask us your parents for advice. But another source of advice is available to you through the Church and the Bible.
• So that you can carry on the Christian tradition from your families. You could have been born in a Muslim, Buddhist, etc. family but we are Christian. Our heritage has a lot to do with Christianity. We want you to be part of it in an official way.
• So that you have a link with your ancestors. You can pray for them and ask them for guidance. Their life challenges were not different than yours, but they somehow decided to keep the Christian faith that has trickled down to you.
• So you will have a support network from other members of the Church during your life from your childhood, adolescence, adulthood all the way to your death bed.
• So you will have a sense of purpose in your everyday life and not just exist. The reason why we are born on this earth is not to make money or be successful in a material way. Instead, it is a journey of self-discovery with its ups and downs. The goal that Christians believe in is to build a close relationship with God.
• So that, other than your family, friends and humans in general, you will have a higher being to confide in and to ask for guidance. By this I mean prayer. Think of it as a friend who is always with you. A friend who sees what your situation is who is not limited by what you can see.

We want you to be baptised:

• So that if everyone around you is slipping away, you have a rope to pull you in the right direction.
• So that you have access to the other sacraments throughout your life. Your mum and dad married in the Catholic Church. This can be also available to you if you chose to do so.
• So that when you go to Church you will get a mini-vacation from your life. A good vacation is a break where you rest and when you return you are calmer and you see life in a different way.  Mass will make you spend time with yourself and help you grow your relationship with God, no matter how distracted you are from your daily life. It will help you re-focus your scope in life. If you are going through a rough time you will get a positive message. When you are happy you will have a place to thank God.
• So that you know that you can get forgiveness. We all make mistakes but we are entitled to forgiveness. The Christian faith gives us a community to obtain this forgiveness.
• So that being in the company of your fellow Christians within the Church you will lead a righteous life. For your mum and dad, that means you will live a good life. If you have a choice between the easy but unjust or the difficult and just, you look into your conscience and with prayer with you chose the latter. The teachings of the Christian faith will guide you in making the right decisions when you are surrounded by insecurity or doubt.
• So that you can suppress our worldly survival instinct: egoism. The Christian faith will guide you to love your fellow humans even if it means going against your own personal interest. For your mum and dad, that means being a good daughter, a good friend, a good worker, a good citizen, a good mother, a good person.

Mum and Dad

Catholic baptism meaning

Read more:
– How to Teach Children About Faith – by Bishop Mario Grech
– Top Pope Francis’ Quotes About the Church

The post Catholic Baptism Meaning- “Why We Wanted You Baptised” appeared first on Universe of Faith.