GL responds: Looks like Mervyn missed his calling or is an incarnate of a seventeenth century bishop. Money from indulgence was used to serve - build St. Peters and other basilicas. Folks who bought indulgence (to consume meat) had less money for other luxuries including beer.:) Considering that money was always in limited supply, there was always a sacrifice. Regards, GL ---------------------------------
Roland Francis, Pope Francis made it easy to understand the above. To keep it simple, he said, "Money has to serve, not to rule." I agree with him. Those who are able to pay for indulgences, should be inspired to do so. Mervyn ----------------------Roland Francis wrote: There was the age of the Indian boarding school (in this case a Jesuit one) where meat was served on Fridays. Catholics were in those days mandated to abstain from meat on Fridays all year. So this school would ask the student ten rupees for an impressive-looking certificated copy of a papal bull allowing the holder to eat meat on Fridays. In those days too, there was this 'Papal Blessing' beautifully done framed certificate that a newly wedded couple could buy for a not insignificant sum of money from the Matunga Don Bosco church. I myself was presented one by an in-law relative.
