ON HOLY INDULGENCES,
AND THE
CONDITIONS REQUISITE FOR GAINING THEM.
TO THE DEVOUT READER.
Two bitter fruits are produced in the soul by sin: first, Guilt, which deprives us of grace and the friendship of God; and second, Its Penalty, which forbids us the enjoyment of God in Paradise. The penalty of sin is twofold, being partly eternal, partly temporal. Guilt, together with the eternal penalty of sin, is entirely remitted to us by means of the infinite merits of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of Penance, provided only that we approach that Sacrament with fitting dispositions. On the other hand, as regards the temporal penalty of sin, inasmuch as it is not commonly wholly remitted to us by this Sacrament, very much remains to be discharged, either in this life by means of good works or penance, or else in the next life by means of the fire of Purgatory. But what man is he that can penetrate into the deepest and most hidden judgments of God? Who can tell how much in this present life the Divine Justice may exact in payment of the debt he owes to God, or whether his penances have gained for him the entire, or only the partial, remittance at God's hands of that temporal penalty which he has to undergo; and who, in the life to come, when he can only satisfy by burning fire, will not think that a fearful mode of payment?—a payment, too, which will be exacted of him to the last farthing. Blessed for ever, then, and praised be the most merciful and tender Heart of our Divine Redeemer, Jesus Christ He from its very origin imparted to His Holy Catholic Church the power to grant to us, and to us the capability to receive, a portion of this treasure of Holy
