History of Indulgences

Indulgences date to the early days of the Church and their use entails praying for the release of the faithful departed from Purgatory. Praying for the dead has its basis in Judaism (2 Macc. 12:42-46), of which Catholicism is the fulfillment (Matt. 16:18-19; Gal 6:15-16).

Misuses of indulgences took place over time, particularly in advance of the Protestant Reformation, and yet the Church’s actual teaching has never changed. For more on indulgences, including their misuse by some in the Church, see our “Primer on Indulgences” and “Myths About Indulgences.” See also CCC 1471-79. We also have a couple of tracts on Purgatory.