Mango kid Posted July 18, 2013 Report Share Posted July 18, 2013 The Vatican is taking a modern approach to one of its oldest traditions, by offering indulgences to Twitter followers of the Pontifex's social media account. Aware that some Catholics may not be able afford to travel to Brazil, where World Youth Day is being held from July 23-28, and perhaps also in an effort to modernize himself, Pope Francis is making this first-time offer to the faithful who follow the events in Rio de Janeiro online. Under Catholic belief, after confessing and being absolved of sin, the indulgences granted reduce the amount of time one spends in purgatory, where one's sins are weighed after death. Under the Pope's new offer, those who follow the week's events on the Twitter feed can get a speedier transit through purgatory, hopefully on the way to heaven. Pope Francis clears John Paul II for sainthood by approving 2nd miracle attributed to retired pontiff Pope Francis invites boy with Down Syndrome for spin on popemobile Pope Francis blesses thousands of Harleys "The notion of indulgence is that you've already been forgiven for your sin, because you've gone to confession, at least in theory, but what it does is reduce the amount of time you have to spend in purgatory after you die to work off that sin," said Patrick Hornbeck, chair of the department of Theology at the University of Fordham in New York. The concept of indulgences date back to the 1300s, when popes began to teach that because the church had the power from Christ to forgive sins, the church also had the power to reduce the amount of time one spent in purgatory, said Hornbeck. "The way indulgences were originally conceived as is you do some kind of religious work. So you say a particular prayer, you go on pilgrimage to a particular place, you state a particular mass, or whatever that might be," said Hornbeck. 10 Photos Pope Francis blesses Harley-Davidsons . "What's new about this announcement is the migration onto Twitter, and to say that's it's possible to follow these events in Brazil on World Youth Day through an electronic medium rather than going there yourself," said Hornbeck. The decree, issued by the Apostolic Penitentiary -- the Vatican office that deals with indulgences -- also asked priests around the world to make themselves available to hear confessions of those who want the Indulgence and to encourage public prayers for the success of World Youth Day. "This Pope has done a remarkable job of demonstrating how well aware he is of the way in which his younger audience, his younger followers, follow things and I think it totally makes sense that young Catholics would be much more likely to participate via social networking and social media rather than through traditional ways," said Hornbeck. The Pope has almost 2.7 million followers on Twitter. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57594227/vatican-get-time-off-in-purgatory-by-following-pope-on-twitter/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealing The Show Posted July 18, 2013 Report Share Posted July 18, 2013 who's next...the queen ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.Legacy Posted July 18, 2013 Report Share Posted July 18, 2013 damn pope, you busta! straight busta! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.DUB Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 https://twitter.com/MrJChrist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Dreadful Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollie The Magic Bum Posted July 23, 2013 Report Share Posted July 23, 2013 @POPE FOLLOW BACK BRO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTS Posted July 23, 2013 Report Share Posted July 23, 2013 hopefully on the way to heaven So it's a 50/50 deal? What if by following the Pope and gettimg time off in Purgatory I'm just speeding him up my way to hell? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Generations Posted July 23, 2013 Report Share Posted July 23, 2013 "Get time off in purgatory" sounds like a vacation deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEGION Posted July 23, 2013 Report Share Posted July 23, 2013 LMAO Now I've seen everything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROSS-Out Posted July 23, 2013 Report Share Posted July 23, 2013 Long story short, Pope is Pimpin' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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