Indulgências, um rosto misericordioso de Deus

: a história e a teologia da doutrina das indulgências

Abstract

Indulgences are a treasure of the merciful love of God. Sin has consequences – temporal punishment –, which must be healed with good works. And because we belong to the Church – Mystical Body of Christ –, we are not alone in this path and we can be helped by the merits of other members of this Body – communion of Saints: the merits of Christ, achieved in His work of redemption, and the merits of the Saints. The Church, by the authority received from Christ himself, applies these merits – the treasure of the Church – to the faithful who fulfill certain conditions and dispositions. The love offered to us by God through the indulgences is an immense and undeserved gift and must be satisfied by the detachment from sin and the practice of good works. Just as we receive indulgence, so can we offer indulgence to the other members of the Mystical Body who need it. Indulgences are a path of purification so that union with God and with brothers have fewer barriers. Their ultimate end is the communion with God and with others in
the eternity of Heaven.

Date of Award	21 Oct 2025
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	João Manuel Duque (Supervisor)