odpust

Odpust is the Polish term for an indulgence in the Catholic Church, a remission of the temporal punishment still due to sins after their forgiveness. An indulgence is a gift granted by the Holy See or by a competent church authority and is not a pardon of guilt itself; it reduces or eliminates the punishment that remains after the sin has been forgiven through confession.

Indulgences are categorized as plenary (zupełny) or partial (częściowy). A plenary indulgence removes all temporal punishment if certain conditions are met, including sacramental confession, reception of Holy Communion, and a prayer for the intentions of the pope, together with a sincere detachment from sin. The act granting the indulgence is usually a prescribed devotional or pious work, such as visiting a church or shrine and reciting specific prayers. Partial indulgences grant part of the punishment and require fewer or different conditions.

In practice, odpusty are common in Poland, where parishes and shrines designate occasions for indulgences, often tied to patronal feasts, pilgrimages, or special jubilees. Local customs may specify particular prayers or works to accompany the indulgence, but the overarching framework is defined by the Church’s regulation of indulgences.

Regulatory basis and history: indulgences are governed by the Code of Canon Law and related normative documents issued by the Holy See, with historical roots in medieval practice. Modern instruction emphasizes the spiritual nature of indulgences, the call to penance, and the relationship between cleansing sin, devotion, and prayer, rather than any monetary or transactional interpretation.