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 God alone  can  know  the  extent  of  the  obligations  of  the sinner to  his  justice,  even  after  the  guilt  has  been  remitted by his  mercy,  and  the  soul  has  recovered  sanctifying  grace.

Were we  deeply  penetrated  with  these  sacred  truths, we would  endeavor  to  offer  to  God  every  day  some  satisfaction, in  order  to  diminish,  if  we  cannot  entirely  cancel, the debt  we  have  contracted.

It is  to  sinners  thus  disposed,  that  the  Church,  by  her Indulgences, offers  a  means  to  supply  their  insufficiency.

Y Indulgence  we  understand  a  release  from  the  temporal punishment  due  to  actual  sins,  already  remitted as to  the  guilt,  granted  out  of  the  sacrament  of  penance,  by those  who  have  the  power  of  dispensing  the  spiritual treasures of  the  Church.

We say,  1st,  A  release  from  the  temporal  punishment; because an  Indulgence  cannot  remit  the  eternal  punishment. 2dly, Due  to  actual  sins;  because  baptism  leaves no punishment  to  be  undergone. 3dly, Already  remitted as to  the  guilt;  because  we  cannot  obtain  the  remission  of temporal  punishment  due  to  sin,  whilst  the  sin  itself  remains. 4thly, Granted  out  of  the  sacrament  of  penance; because, although  the  priest,  in  remitting  the sin  in  the tribunal of  penance,  remits  also  a  part  of  the  temporal punishment, in  proportion  to  the  dispositions  of  the  penitent, yet  a  part  often  remains,  which  may  be  remitted  by an  Indulgence  out  of  the  sacrament  of  penance. 5thly, By those  who  have  the  power  of  dispensing,  &c.;  because  the granting of  Indulgence  is  an  act  of  jurisdiction,  and  therefore supposes  a  legitimate  authority  in  the  one  who  exercises it. 6thly, The  spiritual  treasures  of  the  Church;  the spiritual treasures  of  the  Church  are  the  merits  and  satisfaction of  Jesus  Christ  and  the  Saints,  out  of  which  the Church, when  she  grants  an  indulgence  to  her  children, offers to  God  an  equivalent  for  the  punishment  which  was due to  the  divine  justice. For the  merits  and  satisfaction of Jesus  Christ  are  of  infinite  value;  they  can  never  be exhausted;  they  are  the  source  of  all  our  good. The merits and  satisfaction  of  the  Saints,  as  they  have  their value from  Jesus  Christ,  and  through  him  are  accepted  by