Catholic commentary on culture, media, and politics.

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Indulge thyself

Pope Benedict XVI has granted a full plenary Indulgence in honor of our Blessed Mother's Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8. That's this Thursday.

Here are the basics of what you need to do, the conditions and benefits thereof, etc, and here is a pithy Q&A explanation on what an Indulgence is and is not, by Jimmy Akin.

Indulgences are one of those deliciously Catholic distinctives you don't want to bring up in the first conversation with a Protestant inquiring about the Faith. But a rich and grace-filled reality nonetheless.

9 Comments:

Blogger Patrick Prescott said...

I clicked on the link, saw "Miravalle" and my eyes glazed over.

3:35 PM

 
Blogger Patrick said...

Okidoki.

3:38 PM

 
Blogger Patrick Prescott said...

Marian theology was always a difficult thing for me and people like Miravalle only made matters worse.

Patrick

4:59 PM

 
Blogger Patrick said...

Personally, I have no Marian theology. I can't account for your dislike of Mark Miravalle. I just boil my relationship to the Blessed Mother down to simple things: Jesus got his body (with which he saved us) from someone who loved him very much. Jesus suffered in that body, and his mother shared in it somehow as a way of affirming that we can share in his suffering for our salvation. Jesus loves her with all his heart, and we can hardly outdo him in that.

Of *course* there is Marian maximalism. But this exists on the fringe of 0.0000004 percent of the Catholic population.

10:56 PM

 
Blogger Patrick Prescott said...

Mary has been a stumbling block for me since I was a child.

I don't personally dislike Dr. Miravalle. I don't know him personally. I just find what I perceive to be a borderline Marian obsession to be of little help to someone like me. It’s a turn off. I remember when Mrs. Keuter used to yearly bring the Fatima statue to our school and tell us all about the Blessed Mother and remind us to pray our rosary. I remember going home and telling my Mom, “Mrs. Keuter is weird.” Maybe she was that fringe you speak of. I have bigger issues than Marian devotion, obviously. Nevertheless, it has remained a consistent sticking point.

9:03 AM

 
Blogger Patrick said...

Hope you enjoy the Burning Lake prepared for you and all haters of Our Lady of Fatima since the foundation of the world.

- Mrs. Keuter

9:29 AM

 
Blogger Patrick Prescott said...

You know what Mrs Keuter looked like? Edith Bunker. Same hair. Same sagging breasts. Same polyester dress with the little tie at the waist. Mrs. Keuter, however, was also blessed with a big mole between her upper lip and her nose. It really completed the look.

2:22 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Patrick,

I thought you were checking me out!

7:57 PM

 
Blogger Patrick said...

A lovely visual. You have a gift.

10:16 PM

 

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