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Treasury of Merit
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Treasury of Merit

Roman Catholicism
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Quick Summary

In Roman Catholic theology, the Treasury of Merit refers to the abundant satisfaction of Christ for human sins and the excess merits of saints. This spiritual wealth is believed to be available for dispensation to others through indulgences for salvation.1

An indulgence is a remission of the temporal punishment due to sin, granted by the Church. This concept is rooted in the belief that after guilt is forgiven through absolution, a temporal punishment remains. Indulgences draw upon the Treasury of Merit, which includes the merits of Jesus Christ and the saints, to help individuals satisfy this punishment, either in this life or in purgatory.2

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. treasury of merits
  2. indulgence

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