The “Analogy of the Table” on “Indulgences”

CEBU, Philippines - A Roman Catholic relative wrote last January 14 (The Freeman, p. 19), “I even question my religion a lot.” He had also asked me in person a question on “indulgences.”

But before applying my “Analogy of the Table” (The Freeman, September 21, 2014; p. 16) to the question on “indulgences,” we should steer clear between two dangers, the Scylla of dogmatism and the Charybdis of relativism or subjectivism. One falls into dogmatism when he just pays attention to the table forgetting that it has sides. On the other hand, he commits relativism or subjectivism if he just pays attention to the sides forgetting the table.

An Italian priest formerly belonging to the Salesians of Don Bosco, who turned Bible Baptist and eventually married a Sunday School teacher, wrote: “the Catholic Church teaches that when a person confesses his sin to a priest, the priest forgives his sin in the name of God. Upon absolution by the priest, the guilt of mortal sins is forgiven and the penitent is saved from hell.” However, also upon absolution, the eternal penalty for sin is changed into temporal punishment.

“This temporal punishment cannot be remitted by the priest, but must be suffered by the penitent either in this world or in purgatory or what the Catholic Church calls indulgences.”

The doctrine of indulgences rests upon three foundations which non-Roman Catholics, especially the Bible Baptists, cannot accept; namely, tradition, the authority of the Church, the doctrine of purgatory. Since they go only by what the Bible says, they claim that the doctrine of indulgences has no Biblical basis whatsoever and that the doctrine of purgatory is diametrically opposed to the teaching of God’s Word.

That is “their side of the table” and the Roman Catholics also have “their side of the table.” There is not enough space here to go thoroughly over their respective sides. I see another side, but only God sees the “table,” the whole table, at one glance. We poor limited mortals see the “table” part by part, and only one part at a time.

That’s why there is need for dialogue, listening to the others’ side and telling them about the side of the table facing us. This is the reason why “the two sides of a coin” are not an adequate analogy to explain any controversy. There are actually at least three sides: your side, my side and the side of God Who sees the “table” at one glance.

In connection with indulgences, I would like to appeal to my personal experiences as a Roman Catholic. When I was yet a boy, my devout mother used to offer stipends for Masses in behalf of our departed grandparents and other relatives. After my ordination as a priest, she was still offering stipends for their souls. I remarked, “syaro og wala pa na sila malangit.” (Surely they are already in heaven by now.)

In my seminary training, I learned that if the souls for whom those Masses are offered are either in hell (thus the indulgence is useless) or already in heaven (thus the indulgence is no longer needed), the merit is deposited in the so-called “Treasury of the Church” to the account of the one who gave the stipend.

I personally experienced the truth of this Roman Catholic doctrine when I needed blessing and graces. And these were withdrawn from my prayerful mother’s account in the “Treasury of the Church.”

For instance, I was spared so many dangers during my travels around the world and I survived so many sicknesses and illnesses in my life (which I relate fully in my book “I Laugh Only”). Who could have thought that I have already reached the diamond jubilee of my earthly existence?

Thanks to the surplus indulgences withdrawn for my sake from my saintly mother’s account in the Treasury of the Church! Praise the Lord!