An indulgence is the remission of the temporal punishment due for sins already forgiven through the Sacrament of Confession. Confession obtains forgiveness for our sins, but the "stain" of the sin is still there. Souls have these left over stains "bleached" from their souls in Purgatory.

     Partial indulgences remove only a part of the purgatory time our sins have earned for us, and plenary indulgences remove all of it. Please note that this only applies to sins that have already been forgiven through the Sacrament of Confession.

     To gain a partial indulgence: a Catholic must be in the state of grace, and must perform prescribed prayer or "work." A partial indulgence can be gained more than once a day.

     To gain a plenary indulgence: a Catholic must be in the state of grace, and have gone to Confession within a week of performing the prescribed prayer or "work," and also must have received Holy Communion, and said at least one Our Father and one Hail Mary for the intentions of the Holy Father on the same day as the prayer or "work" itself. Plenary indulgences can only be gained once a day, and can either be applied to one's own soul, or to the soul of someone in purgatory.

     This is by no means a complete study of indulgences, but a very basic explanation for the sake of those who may be unfamiliar with them.