The Gaining of Indulgences

A person in the state of mortal sin deserves, in strict justice, the eternal pains of hell. To relieve such a man of temporal punishment would be meaningless. Hence, to gain an indulgence, a person must be in the state of sanctifying grace.

Any person in the state of grace (layman, cleric, or religious) can gain an indulgence if he meets the conditions prescribed by the Church for gaining it, and if he has the rightdisposition, that is, if he has piety as his motive.

An indulgence is not gained except upon due fulfillment of all conditions set for its gaining by the prelate who grant sit.

Anyone who meets all requirements can gain an indulgence, even the prelate who grants it. But such a prelatecannot grant an indulgence for his own private benefit.