Did the Church Ever Sell Indulgences? 

This is by far the most comprehensive answer given to those who attack the Catholic Church on the subject. Some of my own doubts have been cleared, thanks to the analogies. Thank you, Fr. Schmitz, and may our Lord Jesus do wonderful things through you.

Just wanted to say I love your channel. I've never belonged to any specific sect (no one in my family is a practicing Christian), and admittedly I have always had my reservations about Catholicism. But you put things into user-friendly terminology and give the message of the "good news" without just filling your channel with motivational cherrypicked fluff. Huge fan, please keep it up! God Bless.

Thank you for this! Even 7 years later I'm enjoying this. As a Catholic Christian who teaches secular students (who ask questions about the Reformation) I find this is extremely valuable.

Excellent video Father Mike!!! We can also gain Plenary Indulgences for souls in Purgatory on a daily basis if we go to weekly Confession, go to daily Mass, pray for the Pope daily, do the proscribed act each day (pray Rosary in a Church/Chapel OR do Stations of the Cross in a Church/Chapel, OR read the Bible for half an hour a day, OR give alms daily, OR do half an hour of Eucharistic Adoration daily) and not be attached to sin.

As a Lutheran, I found this video to be interesting. I can see where Martin Luther could have misinterpreted what was happening. Thank you & God Bless.

I'm a Lutheran, but I love this channel. I have always been taught that indulgences was buying your way into heaven. I now understand much more. Thank you!

I feel like I just got smacked upside the head and that the light bulb went on. This makes things so clear. Thank you!

Very informative, but if the Church never sold indulgences then why did they banned the sale of indulgences in 1567?

Ephesians 2: 8-9 For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God's gift, so that no one can boast about it. You are saved by God's grace not your works!

God bless you Fr. Mike for your powerful witness. Catechism is severely lacking in today's Church. Thank you for your effort to change that.

One of the controversies about indulgences was that Friar Johann Tetzel was accused of accepting money to provide indulgences to forgive sins that had not yet been committed, thereby providing permission to commit sin. I think everyone can agree that that would be objectionable.

Your channel is part of the reason why I’m converting to Catholicism!

If money is given by a donor, even as an act of alms-giving, and the donee makes a promise that the donor in return has x amount of years off purgatory, on a piece of paper comparable only to a receipt, and it is signed, you have a clear transaction. An assiduous person will not overlook the fact that contemporaneously, clergy were under instruction to extract as much revenue as possible from their congregations for St. Peter's. They were able to sell so very many indulgences through spiritual threats and bribes. It was a nasty situation.

The church never taught they should be bought or sold, and yet thats what happened. But i thought the catholic is the one true church who has never changed? Truth is the catholic church has changed quite a bit.

Careful about minimizing the corruption of indulgences. Pope Leo X was the supreme authority in the Church when the reformation occurred. He did authorize return payments for remission of sins. He could have ignored Martin Luther but he didn’t because he was threatened by a schism. I think Jesus would have spoken about indulgences in the Gospels if they were really important

Great video Fr.Mike, thank you. Though I just find it troublesome and tiring at times to explain our Catholic belief to the non-Catholic Christians. They will have a tons of doctrines to throw at us but when we try to explain it, they simply won't listen. They are just so defiant.

I thought I understood indulgences, but that totally cleared up a lot of my misconceptions!! Thank you Fr. Mike! You're da bomb.

With the building of the new St. Peter's in Rome there was a lot of pressure to raise money for its construction, and magnificent and luxurious it is!

"Ask Catholic Answers" LOL You are hilarious father!!!! I love your videos! :D

Jaw dropped!! I just saw this was uploaded on my birthday!

Okay, I understand your point. I just don't understand why it wasn't explained this way to Priest Martin Luther. If what you say is true then he should have recognized this as a miscommunication and gone on his Mary way... but that's not what happened...

As a Protestant that watches your channel, I really enjoy it. I do disagree with some of your theological points (in part because the channel seems to be dedicated to Catholics from Catholics and therefore skips a lot of the justifications for certain beliefs), but on whole I like the channel. However, while the Catholic Church may not have sold indulgences Ex Cathedra or de Jure, they certainly sold indulgences de facto during the 1500's, in Germany at the least. I understand your point that the Church itself might not have done so, but priests did so, and I was hoping to see that admitted in the video.

This is why I like being Catholic. We aren’t blind, we apply logic and reason to the teachings in order to better understand them and to also better ourselves.

In Mexico City to this day they still sell indulgences (indulgencia plenaria).

I enjoyed your commentary father. And while you may be correct in saying that the "Church" never condone nor advocates the selling of indulgences. It would be disingenuous to say that it did not happen. And that every instance where it did appear to happen it was just a miscommunication of some sort. I'm Catholic and very proud to be one. But I'm also not afraid to admit to mistakes that the church made then or now. The people who make up the church are not perfect. And some of them have gone very evil things in the 2000 years we've been around. And the selling of indulgences did happen. Granted some of it may have been miscommunicated or misunderstood - it was nevertheless widespread enough to cause some real problems even at that time.

Good works is the fruit of our salvation.

Thank you for this.

I dont think simon the magician died, in acts it says he was told by peter to repent, and then he asked peter to pray for him. Afterwards it doesn't make any mention of him again

You should get a gold medal for those mental gymnastics sir. Pope Leo X himself extended indulgences to those willing to help fund St Peters Basilica. Bishops all over Europe were selling indulgences. it was one of the direct causes of the reformation. the argument that it wasnt accctually the church that was selling indulgences (you know, just every person that made up the Church from the pope down)and it's not acccctually selling if you're just donating alms doesn't hold historical water. also, you got any scriptural references to back up your theology or is this just some stuff some dudes in Rome made up?

Your zeal for your church is great but just a quick question so I have a reference. Where is the Bible reference? Did I miss that in the video or is this a Roman Catholic thing only?

I get conflicted when my church says I need to pay 100.00 to have the confirmation classes. I have 4 kids. That's a lot of money. So my kids go unconfirmed. Makes me sad.

Fr. Mike, what seminary did you go to??

How do Catholics feel about reading God's word after sin and then we give because we know that is God's will.

I've been doing indulgences and I didn't even know!! :)

Thanks for this amazing video! Really helped me understand indulgences even more 😊😊 Godbless your team Fr.Mike!!

Great video as always

Great video, Fr. Mike. This really helped me understand the need for indulgences and the history, too. I found your video also helped my understanding of purgatory.

Martin Luther did not leave the Roman Catholic Church; he was kicked out.

"We didn't sell indulgences, we just took money to get you out of purgatory "

I love how his explanation of how the Church wasn't selling indulgences sounds exactly like they WERE selling indulgences.

I was guided by a minister in my own church at St. Anthony of Padua, The Woodlands, TX that if you rob you just go to confession and everything will be fine. I told them I do not believe that a mortal sin and even worse intentionally done, one is completely forgiven. God expect us to do reparation more than pilgrimages, or indulgences. One has to give back what has been taken unjustly to whomever you took it from and not only pilgrimages, indulgences, confession, prayer and communion will only help.

In Spain they pay €500 to carry the float of Mary (The Virgin) at Semana Santa. They pay to light an electric candle in order to spend less time in purgatory. I could go on and on. Indulgences existed and still exist.

If you are donating to get something in return, you aren’t donating. You are purchasing. Likewise; If you are giving gifts to those who donate (and they are aware of that), you aren’t giving gifts. You are trading. 7:08 "... so how about this: if you donate, give alms, to the Church to the building of St. Peter's, that's an indulgence." This is marketing. In order to have more people donate, you promise them indulgences. So when they make a donation, you give them indulgences to fulfill your promise, and not as a gift. Which is, in fact, trading of indulgences. Please, don't be dishonest. It's really not a good look for the Church. I'll be praying for you.

This really seems to line up brilliantly with 1 Timothy 4. :1-2

Why did you disable the comments on your immaculate conception of Mary video? Don't want anyone telling people the truth?

Historically they actually did sell them it was banned in 1567

Are we not separated from God right now? By His strips we are healed...

I'm a protestant who likes your channel. You gave no scripture to support indulgences. Major sin, venial sins, the wages of all sin is death. In Christ alone is the only solution

"As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs." Explain this one Father.

There's something tricky in here for me, and I am hoping you can clear it up so I can consider showing this to the youth group at my parish. You swap out the word punishment for consequences, and then give the example of a temporal consequence as greater likelihood of sinning in the future. You then state that the spiritual exercises that the church gives us as indulgences open us up to the healing effects of grace - up to there I'm with you. After this, you state that they're not magical; rather, the exercises strengthen the soul, and use the example of post-surgery physical therapy. This is where I'm feeling a bit like I'm in murky waters. It's a tricky analogy because with PT I am literally doing the exercises that fix, say, a lack of rotation in the shoulder. The analogy implies that when I do these exercises, I am fixing myself in the same manner. I find that because of this analogy, the idea of grace gets a bit muddled in your explanation; it almost becomes an aside, like " indulgences are spiritual exercises that strengthen my soul (...through grace...) which results in less temporal consequence". and it feels like it takes grace out of the picture, even if it's given some lip service. I wonder why grace is not more clearly addressed? What comes up for me after the explanation is: I'm pretty sure that I can apply my indulgences to another person, for example a soul in purgatory. And if so, it can't *just* be that indulgences are spiritual exercises that strengthen my soul (through grace?) which result in less temporal consequences here on earth. There is a literal greater access to grace, whether for me or for another who is not doing the spiritual exercises, through my following the steps listed. Are we leaving that out because it seems too magical? I admit that it's been problematic for me, feeling too simple, which is why I was interested in watching your video. To be clear, I'm not saying that you stated that grace wasn't involved, I'm just saying that I lose sight of it in the analogy. Can you address this, and talk a little more about the grace aspect of indulgences in a more direct way to clear up any confusion? Thanks in advance

1. Give alms so that you can feel better. 2. Church gets load of cash. 3. Practically speaking, it will feel like you are buying your own justification. Yay! not. note: I implore you to try Ephesians 2:8-9 instead.

As an ex-catholic who questioned indulgences, i actually like your explanation of this.

Why can't you just admit that the Catholic Church of the time was very corrupt and needed some reformation? By the way, Luther had some wacky ideas, but he was right with many of his criticisms of the church. I'm Catholic, by the way.

It’s historical fact that the Catholic Friar Tetzel was selling indulgences so that dead loved ones could get out of purgatory sooner. When you say that indulgences reduces our temporary consequences, are you referring to consequences on earth or purgatory? Full disclosure, I’m a Protestant. But wanting clarification so that I can understand.

What you explained is selling indulgences. Exchanging money for indulgences is a sale

This was a huge explanation for me. Thank you.

My Lord and God said it's over,,,the debt was paid in full,,,Isaiah 53 all sins were laid on him.

I’m not very religious personally. BUT I love your videos, informative and interesting

Selling indulgences turned into confession....never understood how saying a few hail Mary's made things alright again ....

Indulgences are not biblical. Thanks for not quoting a single scripture to “teach” us how “indulgences are biblical”

I do get what you´re saying about buying indulgence but i think there is more to it than misinterpretation. Its not like Luther had a hard time understanding the concept of alms. He himself was a catholic and a very knowledgeable one at that. If you read his 95 thesis you see that his criticism isn´t against the charity and the blessing which that brings but against the fact that you where able to buy forgiveness (he was still a catholic as he made them public). And yes that´s how it was being marketed and sold to people. Instead of helping the poor on earth(not that they don´t wanted that) the church asked and quite frankly scared people to buy relatives and friends out of purgatory. And the reason was to build a boasting building. So no I don´t buy your reading of the past but agree with your vision for the present. God bless!

Question because you could pay alms to the church after confession right? After confession thr priest usually tells me to pray but I assume the priest could also say do a good work or something like that if so then that clears it up

This is a pretty huge deal, where in the bible does it talk about this? I have never seen it anywhere.

You mention that giving money for indulgence is one of the way that Jesus recommends. Where is that in the Bible? How about the indulgences for the people that are in the purgatory? They cannot give any money, but the family can give money for them?

Father can you share more specific Catechism and Scriptural references when you explain church teachings like this? It’s great but sometimes when you just say “it’s biblical” but don’t give the references, it’s hard to share with certain Protestant brethren who want the actual verses

While I appreciate your affability, I also note the disingenuousness. I guess you call it equivocation. My suggestion is whenever you make a video you must provide some reliable books so that people can double check your claims. Thanks.

I was a born Hindu and remained so for 20 yrs before I accepted Christ and one of the person instrumental in leading me to Christ was a Catholic and my first Bible was a Catholic Bible . IAM neither a Protestant nor Catholic but going just by the Bible I just don't find enough evidence to justify all the Catholic practices .may be I am yet to learn them.but fellow Catholics I love you all as brothers and sisters in Christ .

God's grace is not earned in any way. Grace is God's unmerited favor. Whoever is born again can approach the throne of God to find mercy and help in time of need.

thank you fr. Mike this really help me to understand

I couldn't get past him calling himself "Father".... absolutely contrary to what Jesus told us

What would sinners do without the almighty church making up stuff?

Hi Father, Will there ever be a reunion with the Orthodox Church?

When we are getting punished in the celestial world..can we get a local anesthetic like when iI have a procedure so as to minimize discomfort.

of course. thats the reason why luther go out from cathoilic church. the ticket to paradise isliving a life pleasing in His sight and by penitence, indulgences, confession confirmation these are salvationby works.

Wow! Vital information….Our Lady Our Lady….pray for us…growing to know and love Christ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹🙏🏾

Great explanation!

So we can pay back for our own sins? I thought we just had to pray for forgiveness for our sin, since Jesus paid the price for us and have us salvation.

Luther didn't leave the Catholic church he was kicked out, and his 95 theses mainly decried the SELLING of indulgences being promoted over some of the very same things that this video claims to be the indulgence! Let all confusion increase! Ugh...

That does make sense!

@Fr. MIKE, what are the Scriptural basis for Indulgence?

Thank you. Paz en Cristo

what makes you believe that Christians have the authority to revoke the temporal consequences due to sin? how can Catholics have the confidence that the indulgence actions and penance that they prescribe can in fact revoke the temporal consequences of that specific sin? doesn't the common definition of "indulgence" itself completely contradict your definition of indulgence?

"Common sensical" 🤣🤣🤣🤣

When did current view of indulgences come into focus?

Another explanation is comparing sin to nailing a nail into a board... When you go to confession the nail is removed, but there there still remain the hole left by the nail, there is a damage that we still need to repair... When we receive an indulgence is like repairing that damage... A plenary indulgence would repair all the holes.

In the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, an indulgence is "a way to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for sins". It MAY REDUCE the "temporal punishment for sin" AFTER DEATH in the state or process of purification called PURGATORY. - Wikipedia

#askfrmike Fr, would like to know how Indulgences are Bible based. I understand the concept of confession (John chapter 20:21-23 - definitely Bible based) which was directly given to us by Jesus. But how did we arrive at the concept of Indulgences and that Indulgences can actually reduce our "time" enduring this necessary Temporal Punishment? - which, btw, sounds a lot like Purgatory. In the "olden days" of my parents, there was always a number of days' attached to the particular Indulgence, meaning the person's soul would have that many fewer days to spend in punishment. Don't understand how the Church can administer a reduction of time spent in Purgatory. Isn't that God's decision? And what exactly is the penance for that we are given after confession? I thought for many years THAT was our punishment. Thanx!

need historical documentation.

So Father, who keeps track? Of the number you have and what they may be applied towards And when are they used up?

“He die, he die because of that!l”. LOL. Never thought I’d hear a priest say something that way.

Liar liar pants on fire

Very well explained! Thank you Fr. Mike! God bless!

Simon does not appear to have died because of what he did in Acts... Peter asked him to repent and the story ended.

This is amazing. Thank you Father

As a Lutheran and student of history... I think you did a clever revisionist take with " never taught" that indulgences could be sold and bought for spiritual gain. It is very well documented that this was the understanding of the lay people at the time buying them..and pretty strong silence and misdirection from Rome to keep the money flowing. The motives of the Lutheran Princes may have been just as greedy...but indulgences were sold and that money flowed to Rome. Actions speak much louder than words in this case.

Liked and subscribed! very clear explanation. Godbless you too Fr. Mike.

You don't want to pray? Not in the mood for fasting? Just buy... *ehem* ... I mean be charitable. How about this: Find a homeless person and buy them a meal, don't give the church money directly. Problem solved.

there is this one guy who thinks that we sacrifice Jesus again at mass and he says that is one of the reasons y he is not catholic anymore.

You can believe this is what indulgences are, and may very well be the modern interpretation of the concept. But to say that the church never sold indulgences is either being ignorant or wicked or both. This video is simply historically inaccurate.

What connections of any do indulgences have with purgatory or people in purgatory?