What he is saying is that sin has 2 effects. They are Temporal Punishment and Eternal Punishment.

Eternal Punishment is resolved via confession and absolution. Temporal Punishment is what we refer to as the stain of sin. Its removal is part of the purgatory process we believe in. Example: while I may confess a sin and not want to do it again, sin has an attraction that we can’t remove. Our soul’s addiction or inclination toward that attraction or sin is the effect of temporal punishment or the stain of sin. So, while we confess our sins and receive sacramental absolution, that doesn’t mean we are immediately ready to behold God in Heaven. We must be further purified to remove even the temptation of sin.

That is where an indulgence comes in. Indulgences, despite their bad name from some dark times in Church history, are a great gift to the people of God. Through the ministry of the Church installed by Christ an indulgence is a removal of temporal punishment. As the CACC states “to obtain from the Father of mercies the remission of the temporal punishments due for their sins”.

Now read this quote again and I hope it makes more sense.

“An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints” (Indulgentarium Doctrina norm 1).

I hope that helps. I can answer more questions on Sunday if you have them. Also, how awesome that this Sunday’s night is on Confession.

bob