the gratuitous
assertions of our adversaries. We certainly do not wish to excuse or
palliate the evil deeds of Catholics, who, with all the blessed aids which
their religion affords, ought to be much better than they are. Yet we will
add, quoting the words of the _Catholic World_: "If we are not very much
better than our neighbors, we are not any worse; and are not to be hounded
down with the cry of vice and immorality by a set of Pharisees who are
constantly lauding their own superiority and thanking God they are so much
better than we poor Catholics."

Chapter XXVII.

INDULGENCES.

There are few tenets of the Catholic Church so little understood, or so
grossly misrepresented by her adversaries, as her doctrine regarding
Indulgences.

One of the reasons of the popular misapprehension of an Indulgence may be
ascribed to the change which the meaning of that term has gradually
undergone. The word Indulgence originally signified _favor, remission or
forgiveness_. Now, it is commonly used in the sense of unlawful
gratification, and of free scope to the passions. Hence, when some
ignorant or prejudiced persons hear of the Church granting an Indulgence
the idea of license to sin is at once presented to their minds.

An Indulgence is simply a remission in whole or in part, through the
superabundant merits of Jesus Christ and His saints, of the temporal
punishment due to God on account of sin after the guilt and eternal
punishment have been remitted.

It should be borne in mind that, even after our guilt is removed, there
often remains some temporal punishment to be undergone, either in this
life or the next, as an expiation to Divine sanctity and justice. The Holy
Scripture furnishes us with many examples of this truth. Mary, the sister
of Moses, was pardoned the sin which she had committed by murmuring
against her brother. Nevertheless, God inflicted on her the penalty of
leprosy and of seven days' separation from the people.(470)

Nathan, the prophet, announced to David that his crimes were forgiven, but
that he should suffer many chastisements from the hand of God.(471)

That our Lord has given to the Church the power of granting Indulgences is
clearly deduced from the Sacred Text. To the Prince of the Apostles He
said: "Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound also in heaven;
and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed also in
heaven."(472) And to al