Catholic Answers Live #12450

Can I Understand Indulgences, Sacrifices, and Vatican II?
Guest: Jimmy Akin
Date: November 8, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Catholic Answers Live is an open Q&A, “Ask Me Anything” format featuring renowned apologist Jimmy Akin. Listeners call in with diverse questions on Catholic doctrine, history, and practices, especially seeking clarity on indulgences, the fulfillment of Old Testament sacrifices, Vatican II’s liturgical changes, the meaning of the 144,000 in Revelation, Catholic tradition on crystals and healing, and more. With warmth and clarity, Akin explains complex issues, debunks myths, and provides practical advice and recommended resources.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recommended Resources for Catholic Apologetics and Learning

(02:41–06:17)

• Caller: Lifelong Catholic seeking easy-to-read apologetics resources.
• Jimmy’s Recommendations:
  • Catholic.com – Hundreds of thousands of free apologetics articles.
  • School of Apologetics: Series of beginner-friendly online video courses, including:
    • Beginning Apologetics (overview)
    • Evidence for God (Trent Horn)
    • Evidence for Christ (Jimmy Akin)
    • Evidence for the Church (Tim Staples)
  • Books:
    • A Daily Defense by Jimmy Akin: “the broadest survey of apologetics in one volume... responses to 366 objections...”
      Quote:

      "With literally hundreds of different objections considered, it’s the broadest survey... For how to respond to objections, A Daily Defense is the most comprehensive thing I’m aware of." (05:23)

• Offer: Jimmy sends the caller a free copy of A Daily Defense.

2. Why Don’t Christians Make Old Testament Animal Sacrifices Anymore?

(07:14–11:42)

• Caller: If burnt/peace offerings were a “pleasing aroma,” why discontinue them if not done for sin?
• Jimmy’s Explanation:
  • The “pleasing aroma” of sacrifices is analogical—humans find the smell good, so scripture uses this image for God.
  • God “doesn't need food,” as He Himself states (cf. Psalm 50).
  • Christ fulfilled the “whole sacrificial economy,” including not just sin but all Old Testament offerings (peace, fellowship, grain, drink).
  • Continuing them would distract from Christ’s one, all-sufficient sacrifice.
  • Quote:

    “Because Christ fulfilled everything, we needed to discontinue the other sacrifices lest they distract us away from appreciating what Christ did.” (10:44)

  • Humane, vivid comparison to barbecue smells, and a metaphor about distractions from Christ.
  • Memorable Moment: Playful dialogue about barbecue and local food culture (Arkansas!).

3. Explaining Indulgences—Like You’re Five

(15:13–23:39)

• Caller: Admits confusion about indulgences—wants a super basic explanation.
• Jimmy’s Analogy:
  • Indulgences “are not a physical thing”—you can’t hold them.
  • They “developed out of the church’s practice of penance.”
  • Analogy: A forgiving parent grounds their repentant child but might reduce punishment if the child makes extra efforts to be good.
  • After repentance and forgiveness, consequences (temporal punishment) can still remain.
  • Doing good works (prayer, almsgiving, etc.) shows one’s desire to reform; the Church, by Christ’s authority (“power of the keys”), can lessen those consequences—this is an indulgence.
  • Biblical backing from Hebrews: God disciplines those He loves—not as punishment, but as formation.
  • Quote:

    “An indulgence is when you’ve already been forgiven, but the Church uses the power of the keys to intervene and help lessen the consequences that still remain.” (22:41)

• Takeaway: Indulgences are the Church’s spiritual assistance for the already-repentant—removing/remitting temporal consequences, not guilt.

4. Catholic Tradition, Science, and Crystals for Healing

(24:06–35:39)

• Caller: Is the use of crystals for healing “New Age” or forbidden for Catholics? Her naturopath son has questions; caller recalls Jimmy discussing this on “Mysterious World.”
• Jimmy’s Historical Perspective:
  • Dismisses the blanket “all crystal healing is New Age/demonic” stance as ignorant of Catholic tradition.
  • Many Doctors of the Church (e.g., St. Albert the Great, St. Hildegard of Bingen, St. Thomas Aquinas) wrote extensively about healing properties of minerals and crystals—this was, at the time, scientific investigation.
  • Caveat: Most medieval claims about crystal healing were not based on rigorous experiment (pre-scientific method), so many are probably false.
  • Modern claims should be subject to evidence and double-blind study; placebo effect may be at play.
  • Morally: No intrinsic objection—nature is God’s gift, but Catholics should avoid both gullibility and harsh skepticism.
  • Quote:

    “The idea that crystals have healing properties is not something that Catholics should dismiss as New Age or demonic because it’s actually part of the Catholic tradition.” (30:32)

5. Who Are the 144,000 in Revelation?

(36:05–41:11)

• Caller: Does Revelation mean only 144,000 people will go to heaven?
• Jimmy’s Exegesis:
  • No, Revelation never says only 144,000 go to heaven.
  • 144,000 is highly symbolic: 12,000 from each of Israel’s 12 tribes—described as male virgins—then immediately contrasted by “an innumerable multitude from every nation.”
  • Pattern in Revelation: Vision often shifts from something heard to something seen—same referent, different imagery (e.g., Lion of Judah/Lamb slain).
  • Conclusion: The 144,000 symbolize the entire redeemed people of God—the universal Church—not a literal or strict limit.
  • Quote:

    “The 144,000 are... a symbol of the entire Christian community.” (37:58)

6. Did the Catholic Church Try to Assassinate Martin Luther?

(43:04–47:38)

• Caller: Lutheran pastor claimed the Church plotted to murder Luther.
• Jimmy’s Response:
  • The Church excommunicated Luther (not executed him).
  • If any plot happened, it wasn’t official Church or papal policy (the Church = Pope’s actions).
  • Popes granted Luther safe passage for theological meetings.
  • No evidence of papal assassination attempts.
  • Quote:

    “I am very unaware of any pope ever... hiring a hitman. You know, it’s not like Dan Brown was right in the Da Vinci Code.” (45:56)

  • Humorous hypothetical about bishops in “Yeehaw Junction, Florida.”

7. Did Vatican II Ban Choir Lofts?

(48:12–51:31)

• Caller: Choir director claimed Vatican II forbade choir lofts.
• Jimmy’s Analysis:
  • Categorizes as “pious little legalism”—people invent rules not actually found in the law and claim they’re binding.
  • Vatican II did NOT ban choir lofts; claims otherwise are false.
  • The notion is a misrepresentation—sometimes justified by falsely ascribing it to “the spirit of Vatican II.”
  • Quote:

    “A lot of people lied about [Vatican II] and said it said things it didn’t. Sometimes... to promote their preferences by attributing them to Vatican II, even though Vatican II said nothing of the kind.” (50:06)

8. Televised/Recorded Eucharistic Adoration—Should You Kneel?

(52:13–54:48)

• Caller: Is reverence due to Jesus in televised, especially recorded, Adoration or Mass?
• Jimmy’s Guidance:
  • It is up to personal devotion—either is acceptable.
  • God transcends time and space; your act of devotion can be directed to Jesus regardless of your physical proximity.
  • No obligation if not physically present; otherwise, you’d never stand, as Jesus is always present somewhere.
  • Quote:

    “If you were to generalize the principle... you would constantly be kneeling your entire life. So I would say it’s a matter of choice. Does it help you with your personal devotion or not?” (54:33)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Old Testament Sacrifices:

  “Even though, yeah, it has a pleasing aspect... it would serve as a distraction away from what Christ did for us.” (10:44)

• On Indulgences:

  “It’s when you’ve already been forgiven, but the Church uses the power of the keys to intervene and help lessen the consequences that still remain.” (22:41)

• Crystals in Catholic Tradition:

  “The idea that crystals have healing properties is... actually part of the Catholic tradition.” (30:32)

• On Myths about Vatican II:

  “In fact, Vatican II did not issue any documents saying get rid of choir lofts. This is total bs.” (50:28)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| TIME | SEGMENT / CALLER | TOPIC | |-----------|------------------------|-----------------------------------------------| | 02:41 | Peter (PA) | How to learn more apologetics; recommended resources | | 07:14 | Ben (San Antonio, TX) | Why Christians don’t continue Old Testament animal sacrifices | | 15:13 | Ben (Spokane, WA) | Indulgences explained “like I’m five” | | 24:06 | Emma (Costa Rica) | Is crystal healing compatible with Catholicism? | | 36:05 | Diana (Cleveland, OH) | Meaning of the 144,000 in Revelation | | 43:04 | Jordan (Moorhead, MN) | Did the Church try to kill Martin Luther? | | 48:12 | Emily (Houston, TX) | Vatican II and choir lofts | | 52:13 | Ellen (Prince Frederick, MD) | Kneeling for televised/recorded adoration/Mass |

Tone & Style

• Engaging, conversational, good-humored
• Patient and charitable with callers' confusion
• Strong on practical examples and analogies
• Occasional playful banter—e.g., barbecue jokes, “Yeehaw Junction,” Da Vinci Code allusions, and TV culture references

Summary Takeaways

• Scripture, tradition, and reason together inform Catholic teaching—don’t accept simple answers to complex questions (especially “Vatican II did X” claims).
• Indulgences are a spiritual act of mercy, not an object or “get out of jail free card.”
• Jesus' sacrifice fulfills all OT sacrifices—Christians no longer participate in them to avoid diluting this truth.
• Be discerning: Not all traditions or claims (about healing, liturgy, etc.) are either "forbidden" or "guaranteed"—Catholic thought allows for evidence-based investigation and prudent openness.
• Personal devotion (e.g., kneeling during televised Adoration) is about intent and relationship, not legalism.
• Always check original sources before trusting claims about Church teaching or history.