1) to the Birmingham Mail:
Dear Editor,
I have been very amused this past week, as one British journalist after the
other thinks he can write about a non-event. I refer to the Pope not, I
repeat not, saying one can obtain an indulgence via Twitter. I trust the
taste of bad eggs as they now catch up with what the Vatican says about the
matter is obnoxious enough for these journalists to make more of an effort
to find out the truth before rushing in to criticise any other RC practices.
An indulgence is a form of prayer that involves Confession, Holy Mass, Holy
Communion in a state of grace and - depending on a particular Indulgence's
particular spiritual demands - may also involve visiting a particular church
or a place of pilgrimage. If a Roman Catholic carries out the spiritual
devotions with sincerity and faith, he believes a certain portion of his
time in Purgatory - supposing he goes there - will be shortened. Christ
gave the Catholic Church the keys of "binding and loosing" which has many
applications. God is outside Time, of course, but the Church deals with
human beings and uses terms such as this or that Indulgence having a value
of this or that many days. But the number of days is metaphorical. It is a
measure of a kind but not to be taken literally. Indulgences are a
wonderful spiritual gift, and one that all faithful Catholics should try to
obtain as often as possible.
Yours sincerely,
2) to the Sunday Mercury
Dear Editor,
1) George Tyndale of your paper joins the ranks of other British
journalists whose knowledge of RC religous practices is dismally low. They
rush in to pontificate (sorry, could not resist that) on the slightest
Internet rumour. Poor chap. If his Catholic ignorance is not aligned also
to dishonesty, I trust he has now taken on board what the Vatican has to say
on the matter and has humbly removed the egg off his face. To gain an
Indulgence, one must be in a state of grace by making a sincere Confession
then attending Holy Mass and receiving Holy Communion. One must also,
depending on the particular Indulgence, present oneself at a particular
church or particular place of pilgrimage. The RC Church was given the power
of binding and loosing by Christ himself and she makes judicial use of her
power to encourage the faithful. God of course is outside Time. But the
Church has to work within Time, so uses measures of Time in a metaphorical
sense to describe the portion taken off a penitent's time in Purgatory
granted by an Indulgence, supposing he goes there in the first place. Every
Catholic should try to obtain Indulgences; they are a gift from God. If a
reader does not believe God guides the RC Church, he will sniff, but he will
not be disdainful on the other side.
2) Mr. Tyndale thinks of Hell as cosy and warm. I ask him to consider that
without God there is no light and therefore no warmth. There is only pitch
darkness and the bitterest cold. Without God there is no joy, only "wailing
and gnashing of teeth" in Christ's own words. I know where I would prefer
to be.
Yours sincerely,
Francis 1
Benedict XVI
John Paul II
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