As most Lutherans are aware, the Reformation began quietly and unofficially on 31 October 1517 when Luther published his “Ninety-five Theses,” also known as the “Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences.” These brief statements initiated a cascade of publications which would rock the church into the present day. The main theological issue then, as now, is the doctrine of justification by faith alone. In other words, one either receives salvation as a free gift from God won on the cross through Christ alone through faith, or one contributes in some way to one’s salvation through merit-earning good works. In other words, either Christ has done enough or he had not for our salvation.
In the Roman Church’s teaching, souls which are not “pure enough” for entry into heaven upon death are sent to Purgatory (from word “to purge”) to have their sins removed through fiery torment. To shorten one’s time in Purgatory, the Pope can issue special reprieves, called Indulgences. Neither Purgatory or Indulgences has any biblical foundation.
As many recall, in 1999 the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Vatican signed the so-called “Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification.” Through this sham document, many claim that Lutherans and Catholics now have basic agreement on justification by faith. Since 1999, however, the Vatican has issued many Indulgences. Furthermore, in 2017, many LWF member churches plan to celebrate the Reformation with the Roman Church, which still condemns Luther as a heretic.
In the meantime, the Vatican’s Apostolic Penitentiary officially continues to issue Indulgences. The latest Indulgence can be obtained from the First Sunday in Advent 2014 until 02 February 2016. The whole text of this Indulgence is as follows. Note that this Indulgence can be applied to souls in Purgatory.
Decree
by which are established the works to be performed in order to obtain the gift of Indulgences on the occasion of the Year of Consecrated Life
The Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, having requested that this Apostolic Penitentiary duly determine the conditions to obtain the gift of Indulgences with which the Holy Father Francis, on the occasion of the forthcoming Year of Consecrated Life, intends to extend for the spiritual renewal of religious Institutes, with the utmost fidelity to the charism of the founder, and in order to offer to the faithful of the whole world a joyful occasion to confirm Faith, Hope, and Charity in communion with Holy Roman Church, under the most special mandate of the Roman Pontiff, this Apostolic Penitentiary willingly grants Plenary Indulgence, under the usual conditions (Sacramental Confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father), to all the individual members of Institutes of Consecrated Life, and to the other faithful truly contrite and moved by the spirit of charity, to be obtained from the First Sunday in Advent of the current year until 2 February 2016, that can be also applied as suffrage for the souls in Purgatory:
a) In Rome, every time they take part in International Meetings and celebrations on the calendar established by the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and for an appropriate amount of time, dedicate themselves to pious thoughts, concluding with the Our Father, the Profession of Faith in any legitimately approved form, and pious invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary;
b) In all Particular Churches, at each time in which, on the diocesan days dedicated to consecrated life and in the diocesan celebrations set for the Year of Consecrated Life, they piously visit the Cathedral or another holy place designated and approved by the local Ordinary, or a conventual church, or an oratory of a Cloistered Monastery, and there recite publicly the Liturgy of the Hours or, for an appropriate amount of time, dedicate themselves to pious thoughts, concluding with the Our Father, the Profession of Faith in any legitimately approved form, and pious invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary;
Members of Institutes of Consecrated Life who, due to illness of other grave cause, are prevented from visiting these holy places can equally obtain the Plenary Indulgence if, with complete detachment from any sin and with the intention of accomplishing as soon as possible the three usual conditions, accomplish a spiritual visit with deep desire and offer the infirmities and pain of their own life to the Merciful God through Mary, with the addition of prayers as indicated above.
In order that access to the attainment of this divine grace through the keys of the Church, may more easily be obtained through pastoral charity, this Penitentiary diligently exhorts the Canon Penitentiaries, capitularies, the priests of the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies for Apostolic Life and all those duly authorized to hear confessions, offer themselves readily and with a generous spirit to celebrate in the Sacrament of Penance and administer Holy Communion to the sick often.
The present Decree is valid for the Year of Consecrated Life. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary.
Promulgated in Rome, at the Apostolic Penitentiary, 23 November 2014, the Solemnity of Christ, King of the Universe.
Cardinal Mauro Piacenza
Major Penitentiary
Msgr Krzysztof Nykiel
Regent
[Maybe the Vatican will issue a special Reformation Indulgence for the Lutheran World Federation in 2017!]
