Let's look at what an indulgence.The definition has to be - a complete or partial exemption from punishment for sins committed, which gives the church a believer.Repentance (this is absolution) usually given during confession.Why it was necessary to introduce such a difficult concept?The believer will come to the priest.Bye.Priest sentenced him.The believer will perform.And he will be forgiven all sins.So it was in normal circumstances.But increasingly began to arise situations where a weekly visit to the Temple became impossible.For example, everywhere there were believers who wish to undertake a pilgrimage to the Holy Places.What should I do in this case?Do not repent - is unthinkable.But the pilgrimage there is nothing pleasing to God.
was coined the concept of "indulgence»
This kind of absolution in advance.That is, people pay a certain amount committed to the Church their obligation to atone for sins.For him, it did have priests and monks, fulfilling his "punishment".This believer is exempt from compulsory church attendance, because the possibility of such a journey, he did not.Like all perfectly logical.The man paid for his spiritual obligation to fulfill church officials, while he is busy with other pious deeds.
meaning of indulgence
indulgentia Latin means "grace" or "forgiveness."This privilege not bestowed just.In order to get the scroll (and indulgence was a written document), it was necessary to have a sufficiently good reason.If in the early stages with the reasons for which the believer asked "grace" seriously dealt (These include: a pilgrimage, participate in the Crusades, and some others), then over time it became possible to obtain a plenary indulgence to anyone who wishes for a bribe.Money donated to the church.Thus, over time, it became possible to rephrase some concept: indulgence - is receipt of redemption has not committed sin for a cash reward.But this sense of the concept of acquired immediately.
heyday indulgences
Since the introduction of the concept actually we used it very rarely, considering that repentance has yet to take place in person.Allow rearrangement of responsible action on another's shoulders Church did not want to.Only in very rare cases, a person can be granted an indulgence.This was considered a kind of proof of the imperfection of man.He is weak and sinful.Rarely does the use of indulgences Church only underscores this fact.But during the Crusades all changed dramatically.Many soldiers of the Church went to distant lands with a Godly mission.Not only do they lose the ability to perform penance, so also for the sins of the campaign have flocked countless.Thus, everyone who went camping in the name of Christ, the Church received the remission of sins that he commits during the journey.
Expanding the concept
In the Middle Ages, "repentance" is already given, not only to travelers.As broadly "indulgence" - a "grace" then begin to use it in less fundamental cases.So there is an opportunity to "buy" the right to use the eggs in the post.A special "grace" received the monastic orders.Over time, the notion of indulgences has changed dramatically.It is perceived not as a penance, and as allowing the Church to commit any sin.They began to believe that the document does not relieve the only redemption but also from the most objectionable acts of God.Such a position was of great criticism from the enlightenment of minds.
