The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

INDULGENCES. 433And their spiritual growth, tar from being retarded,isquickened by the aid of Indulgences, which areusually accompanied by acts of contrition, devotion,and self-denial, and by the reception of the Sacraments.But, do what we will, we cannot please our opponents. If we fast and give alms ;if we crucify ourflesh, and make pilgrimages and perform other worksof penance, we are accused of clinging to the ragsof dead works, instead of "holdingon to Jesus"byfnith. If, on the other hand, we enrich our soulswith the treasures of Indulgences, we are chargedwith relying on the vicarious merits of others,pnd of lightening too much the salutary burden ofthe cross. And how can Protestants consistentlyand fault with the Church for mitigating the austerities of penance, since their own fundamental principle rests on faith alone without good works fBut have not Indulgences been the occasion ofmany abuses at various times, particularly in thesixteenth century?I will not deny that Indulgences have beenabused ;but are not the most sacred things liable tobe perverted? This is a proper place to refer brieflyto the Bull of Pope Leo X. proclaiming the Indulgence which afforded Luther a pretext for his apostacy.Lee determined to bring to completion themagnificent church of St. Peter, commenced by hispredecessor Julius II., and with that view he issueda Bull promulgating an Indulgence to such as would37 2C