Marriage is a call to die [to self]… Christian marriage vows are the inception of a lifelong practice of death, of giving over not only all you have, but all you are. Is this a grim gallows call? Not at all! It is no more grim than dying to self and following Christ. In fact, those who lovingly die for their [spouses] are those who know the most joy, have the most fulfilling marriages, and experience the most love.
Kent Hughes

Canonical Penances

Canonical Penances

CANONICAL PENANCES

BASIC R.C. BELIEF In primitive times, heavy penalties were exacted for grave sins. As martyrdom was supposed to effect certain salvation, those about to be martyred could offer their merits as a substitute for these heavy, or canonical, penances that were being endured by others. Those thus helped were receiving an indulgence. Indulgences that were for one year would give the recipient the benefit of one year of canonical penance to be applied toward his debt of temporal punishment.

POST VATICAN II Indulgences no longer carry a time allotment, so, while the concept began with the idea that these canonical penances, and while the principal remains the same, there is no time attached to these anymore.