(OSV News) — Have you heard of the word "indulgence" but aren't exactly sure what it means? You’re not alone. Indulgences come with a lot of baggage. Many people — even some Catholics — consider indulgences a medieval error connected to the upheaval in the Church during the Reformation. It is true that indulgences were often granted improperly at that time. Nevertheless, they remain a normal and very helpful tool at the Church’s disposal to aid an individual’s response to God’s grace. Any tool can be misused. However, it does not follow that it is intrinsically corrupt. To understand the true meaning and purpose of indulgences, one must consider them within the broader context of God’s abundant love and the…