What happened with the indulgences at the Council of Trent?

Answer 1

Indulgences were covered in the 25th Session of the Council. I have included the entire paragraph covering indulgences below.

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Basically it doesn't say anything about the "sale" of indulgences, however, it directs that all bishops see that any abuses of indulgences be reported and stopped "And being desirous that the abuses which have crept therein, and by occasion of which this honourable name of Indulgences is blasphemed by heretics, be amended and corrected."

DECREE CONCERNING INDULGENCES.

Whereas the power of conferring Indulgences was granted by Christ to the Church; and she has, even in the most ancient times, used the said power, delivered unto her of God; the sacred holy Synod teaches, and enjoins, that the use of Indulgences, for the Christian people most salutary, and approved of [Page 278] by the authority of sacred Councils, is to be retained in the Church; and It condemns with anathema those who either assert, that they are useless; or who deny that there is in the Church the power of granting them. In granting them, however, It desires that, in accordance with the ancient and approved custom in the Church, moderation be observed; lest, by excessive facility, ecclesastical discipline be enervated. And being desirous that the abuses which have crept therein, and by occasion of which this honourable name of Indulgences is blasphemed by heretics, be amended and corrected, It ordains generally by this decree, that all evil gains for the obtaining thereof,--whence a most prolific cause of abuses amongst the Christian people has been derived,--be wholly abolished. But as regards the other abuses which have proceeded from superstition, ignorance, irreverence, or from what soever other source, since, by reason of the manifold corruptions in the places and provinces where the said abuses are committed, they cannot conveniently be specially prohibited; It commands all bishops, diligently to collect, each in his own church, all abuses of this nature, and to report them in the first provincial Synod; that, after having been reviewed by the opinions of the other bishops also, they may forthwith be referred to the Sovereign Roman Pontiff, by whose authority and prudence that which may be expedient for the universal Church will be ordained; that this the gift of holy Indulgences may be dispensed to all the faithful, piously, holily, and incorruptly.

Answer 2

Another answer from our community:

They were reaffirmed and explained. If Martin Luther had understood indulgences to begin with there would never have been any need for all this unpleasantness, or at least he wouldn't have had them to blame it on!

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The Council of Trent met over a period of 1545 to 1563 under 3 different popes. The decree on indulgences was covered near the end of the last session - the 25th.

The Council of TrentThe Twenty-Fifth SessionThe canons and decrees of the sacred and oecumenical Council of Trent,DECREE CONCERNING INDULGENCES.Whereas the power of conferring Indulgences was granted by Christ to the Church; and she has, even in the most ancient times, used the said power, delivered unto her of God; the sacred holy Synod teaches, and enjoins, that the use of Indulgences, for the Christian people most salutary, and approved of by the authority of sacred Councils, is to be retained in the Church; and It condemns with anathema those who either assert, that they are useless; or who deny that there is in the Church the power of granting them. In granting them, however, It desires that, in accordance with the ancient and approved custom in the Church, moderation be observed; lest, by excessive facility, ecclesastical discipline be enervated. And being desirous that the abuses which have crept therein, and by occasion of which this honourable name of Indulgences is blasphemed by heretics, be amended and corrected, It ordains generally by this decree, that all evil gains for the obtaining thereof,--whence a most prolific cause of abuses amongst the Christian people has been derived,--be wholly abolished. But as regards the other abuses which have proceeded from superstition, ignorance, irreverence, or from what soever other source, since, by reason of the manifold corruptions in the places and provinces where the said abuses are committed, they cannot conveniently be specially prohibited; It commands all bishops, diligently to collect, each in his own church, all abuses of this nature, and to report them in the first provincial Synod; that, after having been reviewed by the opinions of the other bishops also, they may forthwith be referred to the Sovereign Roman Pontiff, by whose authority and prudence that which may be expedient for the universal Church will be ordained; that this the gift of holy Indulgences may be dispensed to all the faithful, piously, holily, and incorruptly. Answer:

Answer 3

The Council did not forbid indulgences, they forbade the sale of indulgences. Indulgences can be obtained only through spiritual actions, such as pilgrimages, attending missions, etc.

Answer 4

Most importantly, the Council of Trent acknowledged that abuses had occurred surrounding indulgences and called for such abuses to be abolished. On 4 December 1563, in its final session, the Council declared them "most salutary for the Christian people", decreeing that "all evil gains for the obtaining of them be wholly abolished", and instructing bishops to be on the watch for any abuses concerning them.

A few years later, in 1567, Pope Pius V cancelled all grants of indulgences involving any fees or other financial transactions.

Answer 5

At the Council of Trent, the Catholic Church affirmed that indulgences are valid expressions of spiritual healing but sought to address abuses related to their sale. The Council emphasized the need for genuine repentance and detachment from sin, stating that indulgences are not a means to purchase forgiveness or salvation. The decree on indulgences helped to clarify their purpose and restore confidence in their use within the Church.

Answer 6

No, the Church banned the sale of indulgences.