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On October 31, 1517: The monk Martin Luther fixed his 95 Theses in the door of the Cathedral of Wittenberg, getting up in protest for the sale of indulgences. With this act, in the religious world there began a revolution that we know as a Protestant Reform. The Catholic Church prohibited the sale of indulgences in the year 1567.

Year 2000 up to the present: As part of the celebration of the third millenium of the Catholic Church, the Pope Juan Pablo II authorized the archbishops to offer indulgences. In the last three years, and under the leadership of the new Pope Benedicto, the plenary indulgences have been a part of the anniversary celebrations nine times. At present, there are offered indulgences as part of the celebration of San Pablo who culminates in June, 2009.

Now: what sound the indulgences? Why is it up to us now, Lutero, to raise how our voice in protest or, at least, to raise an alert voice? In accordance with the Catholic Church, after dying and before being able to enter the sky, the soul of a person must be purified of the sins by means of the temporary punishment in the purgatory. Nevertheless, a Catholic can receive an indulgence, which reduces or erases this punishment instantaneously. Neither the existence of the purgatory nor the offering of indulgences has Biblical base.

In his simplest definition, indulgence means “pardon, liberation of an obligation, reference”. The Catholic Church "offers" two types of indulgences: partial, that reduce the time in the purgatory, and the plenary sessions, which eliminate it completely, unless another sin is committed. During the epoch of Lutero, the Church was selling the indulgences. On the day of today, the indulgences are not in sale, but neither they are free. The person who should be interested in obtaining one has to confess often, receive the communion, do a prayer for the Pope, do charitable contributions and achieve a finished distancing of any inclination towards the sin.

How does this affect us? Think for a moment about his neighbor, his uncle, his friend or friend of the whole life and the false hope that as Catholics have of coming to the sky if they act in accordance with what dictates the Catholic Church, if they receive a role that assures his eternity to them. What is our responsibility? What must we do?

As part of the Visible Church of the Gentleman, we have the obligation to raise our voice and to proclaim that it is for grace that we are safe, by means of the faith, not for works; that no church, no priest, no shepherd can offer us pardon or reference of our sins taking the place of Jesus Christ. If this way out, in vain then Christ died. It is as your blood spilling that we have reference of our sins. He paid the price. In Jesus we are well-taken; only he makes us accepted before God. No role, church or human authority can do that for us. Christ is our hope.