Can a person gain an indulgence without intending to?
The short answer
No. Canon law says a capable person must have at least a general intention of gaining indulgences in order to gain them.
Intention is required
To gain indulgences, a capable subject must have at least the general intention of acquiring them (CIC 996).
Continue exploring
- Do I have to go to confession to receive a plenary indulgence?Q&A
- How many plenary or partial indulgences can one receive per day?Q&A
- Can I receive a plenary indulgence for reading the Bible?Q&A
- As a Protestant, may I confess my sins to a priest to stay focused on the Lord?Q&A
- Can I give a priest permission to talk about my confession?Q&A
- Can a priest report a sin not yet committed, to prevent a crime?Q&A