Indulgences
Indulgence: a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sin, whose guilt is forgiven.
"An indulgence is the extra-sacramental remission of the temporal punishment due, in God's justice, to sin that has been forgiven, which remission is granted by the Church in the exercise of the power of the keys, through the application of the superabundant merits of Christ and of the saints, and for some just and reasonable motive." - from the Catholic Encyclopedia at (www.newadvent.org).
An indulgence is partial or plenary according to whether it removes part or all temporal punishment due to sin. Can be obtained for the person himself or for the dead.
Prayer to offer indulgences merited:
O my God, in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary (kiss your scapular), I offer Thee the Precious Blood of Jesus from all the altars throughout the world, joining with it the offering of my every thought, word, and action of this day. O my Jesus, I desire today to gain every indulgence and merit I can and I offer them, together with myself, to Mary Immaculate, that she may best apply them in the interests of Thy Most Sacred Heart. Precious Blood of Jesus, save us! Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us! Amen.
Requirements for a plenary indulgence:
--Be baptized, not excommunicated, and in the state of grace at least at the completion of the prescribed work.
--Have at least the general intention of receiving indulgence as well as carry out the required work
--Have no attachment to sin (habitual sin, even venial sin); a whole-hearted desire to not sin anymore
--Receive sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, and pray for intentions of the Holy Father.
(One confession suffices for several indulgences, but Communion and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father must be completed for each plenary indulgence.
These can be done w/in several days of completing the indulgenced work, but Communion and prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father (usually 1 Our Father & 1 Hail Mary & 1 Glory Be) are appropriate on the day of the work.
Daily Works to obtain plenary indulgence:
- Adoration of Blessed Sacrament for at least one half hour
- Devout reading or listening of Sacred Scriptures for at least one half hour
- Pious exercise of Stations of the Cross
- Recitation of Marian Rosary (5 decades without interruption) in a church, oratory, w/ members of family, in a religious community, or in a pious association.
8 Ways to Gain a Plenary Indulgence During the Year of St. Joseph:
1) Meditate for 30 minutes on the Our Father.
2) Attend a spiritual day retreat that includes St. Joseph meditation“Saint Joseph, an authentic man of faith, invites us to rediscover the filial relationship with the Father, to renew fidelity to prayer, to listen and to correspond with profound discernment to the will of God.”
3) Carry out a corporal or spiritual work of mercy“The virtue of justice practiced in an exemplary way by Joseph is full adherence to the divine law, which is the law of mercy, ‘because it is precisely the mercy of God that brings true justice to fulfillment.’ “Therefore those who, following the example of St. Joseph, will carry out a corporal or spiritual work of mercy, will also be able to obtain the gift of Plenary indulgence.”
4) Recite the Holy Rosary with your family (or if engaged, with your future spouse)“The main aspect of Joseph’s vocation was to be guardian of the Holy Family of Nazareth, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and legal father of Jesus. So that all Christian families are stimulated to recreate the same climate of intimate communion, love and prayer that was lived in the Holy Family.”
5) Entrust your day and/or work to St. Joseph, invoke his protection and intercession“The plenary indulgence can therefore be achieved by anyone who entrusts their activity daily to the protection of St. Joseph and any faithful who invoke the intercession of the Artisan of Nazareth with prayers, so that those looking for work can find a job and the work of everyone is more dignified.”
6) Pray to St. Joseph for persecuted Christians“The plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who will recite the Litanies to St. Joseph (for the Latin tradition), or the Akathistos to St. Joseph, in whole or at least some of it (for the Byzantine tradition), or some other prayer to St. Joseph, proper to other liturgical traditions, in favor of the Church persecuted ad intra and ad extra and for the relief of all Christians who suffer every form of persecution.”
7) “Recite any legitimately approved prayer or act of piety in honor of St. Joseph”“The Apostolic Penitentiary grants a plenary indulgence to the faithful who will recite any legitimately approved prayer or act of piety in honor of Saint Joseph, for example ‘To you, o Blessed Joseph,’ especially on the recurrences of March 19 and May 1, on the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, on St. Joseph’s Sunday (according to the Byzantine tradition), on the 19th of each month and every Wednesday, day dedicated to the memory of the Saint according to the Latin tradition.
8) For the elderly, sick, and dying: recite act of piety in St. Joseph’s honor, entrust life and discomforts to St. Joseph“In the current context of health emergency, the gift of the plenary indulgence is particularly extended to the elderly, the sick, the dying and all those who for legitimate reasons are unable to leave the house, who with a soul detached from any sin and with the intention of fulfilling, as soon as possible, the three usual conditions, in their own home or where the impediment holds them, they will recite an act of piety in honor of St. Joseph, comfort of the sick and patron of a happy death, offering with trust in God the pains and discomforts of your life.
Plenary Indulgences:
By Calendar:
Jan 1: Participate in the public recitation of Veni Creator Spiritus
Nov 1-8: Visiting cemetery and pray for the dead.
Nov 2: Visiting church or oratory and recite an Our Father and Apostles' Creed
Dec 31: Participate in the public recitation of the Te Deum
Lent/Easter
- Fridays during Lent: Those who, after communion, recite the Prayer before the Crucifix
- Holy Thursday: Recite Tantum Ergo during reposition after Mass of the Lord's Supper
- Good Friday: Taking part in adoration of the cross during the solemn liturgy
- Easter Vigil: Renewal of Baptismal Promises during Mass
Other Specific Days:
- First Communion: When receive or if devoutly assist at a first communion ceremony.
- First Mass of Newly-Ordained Priests: to the priest in first Mass w/ a congregation, and to faithful who devoutly participate in that Mass.
- Pentecost: Public recitation of Veni Creator Spiritus
- Corpus Christi: Devoutly participate in Eucharistic procession
- Solemnity Of Sacred Heart of Jesus: Participate devoutly in public recitation of the Iesu Dulcissime
- Christ the King: Public recitation of Iesu Dulcissime dedicating the human race to Christ the King
Various:
- Receive blessing imparted either by Pope to City and to the World (even via TV or other media), or by bishop to the faithful entrusted to him on solemnities he designates w/ plenary indulgence
- Assist at celebrations fostering religious intentions
-Participate in the solemn Eucharistic rite which closes a Eucharistic congress.
- Spend at least three full days of spiritual exercises during a retreat
- Approach of Death: If priest can't be present for apostolic blessing, it is given to those in articulo mortis (approach of death) provided they regularly prayed in some way during their lifetime.
- On occasion of mission having heard some of the sermons AND are present for its solemn conclusion.
- Jubilee Celebration of Priestly Ordination (25th, 50th, or 60th anniversary): To priest if renews before God the promise made to faithfully fulfill the duties of his vocation; To faithful who participate in jubilee Mass celebrated by the priest.
- Renewal of baptismal promises on anniversary of one's baptism
- Visit a parish church on its titular feast day
- Visit church or altar on anniversary of its dedication and recite Our Father & Apostles or Nicene Creed
Partial Indulgences are granted (you may gain as many of these as you want each day) to those:
- while carrying out their duties and enduring the hardships of life, raise their minds in humble trust to God and make, at least mentally, some pious invocation.
- who, led by the spirit of faith, give compassionately of themselves or of their goods to serve their brothers in need.
- who, in a spirit of penance, voluntarily abstain from something that is licit for and pleasing to them.
- who, in the particular circumstances of daily life, voluntarily give explicit witness to their faith before others.
- who teach or study Christian doctrine
- who make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament for adoration less than 30 minutes
- who make an act of Spiritual Communion or an act of thanksgiving after Communion (Anima Christi, En Ego, O bone et dulcissime Iesu).
- who in preparation for sacramental confession examine their conscience with the purpose of amendment and devoutly recite an act of contrition
- who devoutly recite an appropriately approved prayer for the unity of Christians (Omnipotens et misericors Deus).
- who for their personal edification spend time in mental prayer.
- who devoutly recite the canticle of the Magnificat; or pray at dawn, noon, or evening the Angelus or during the Easter season the Regina Caeli.
- who devoutly address the Blessed Virgin in some approved prayer: (e.g., Maria, Mater gratiae; the Memorare; the Salve Regina; the Sancta Maria, succurre miseris; or the Sub tuum praesidium.)
"An indulgence is the extra-sacramental remission of the temporal punishment due, in God's justice, to sin that has been forgiven, which remission is granted by the Church in the exercise of the power of the keys, through the application of the superabundant merits of Christ and of the saints, and for some just and reasonable motive." - from the Catholic Encyclopedia at (www.newadvent.org).
An indulgence is partial or plenary according to whether it removes part or all temporal punishment due to sin. Can be obtained for the person himself or for the dead.
Prayer to offer indulgences merited:
O my God, in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary (kiss your scapular), I offer Thee the Precious Blood of Jesus from all the altars throughout the world, joining with it the offering of my every thought, word, and action of this day. O my Jesus, I desire today to gain every indulgence and merit I can and I offer them, together with myself, to Mary Immaculate, that she may best apply them in the interests of Thy Most Sacred Heart. Precious Blood of Jesus, save us! Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us! Amen.
Requirements for a plenary indulgence:
--Be baptized, not excommunicated, and in the state of grace at least at the completion of the prescribed work.
--Have at least the general intention of receiving indulgence as well as carry out the required work
--Have no attachment to sin (habitual sin, even venial sin); a whole-hearted desire to not sin anymore
--Receive sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, and pray for intentions of the Holy Father.
(One confession suffices for several indulgences, but Communion and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father must be completed for each plenary indulgence.
These can be done w/in several days of completing the indulgenced work, but Communion and prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father (usually 1 Our Father & 1 Hail Mary & 1 Glory Be) are appropriate on the day of the work.
Daily Works to obtain plenary indulgence:
- Adoration of Blessed Sacrament for at least one half hour
- Devout reading or listening of Sacred Scriptures for at least one half hour
- Pious exercise of Stations of the Cross
- Recitation of Marian Rosary (5 decades without interruption) in a church, oratory, w/ members of family, in a religious community, or in a pious association.
8 Ways to Gain a Plenary Indulgence During the Year of St. Joseph:
1) Meditate for 30 minutes on the Our Father.
2) Attend a spiritual day retreat that includes St. Joseph meditation“Saint Joseph, an authentic man of faith, invites us to rediscover the filial relationship with the Father, to renew fidelity to prayer, to listen and to correspond with profound discernment to the will of God.”
3) Carry out a corporal or spiritual work of mercy“The virtue of justice practiced in an exemplary way by Joseph is full adherence to the divine law, which is the law of mercy, ‘because it is precisely the mercy of God that brings true justice to fulfillment.’ “Therefore those who, following the example of St. Joseph, will carry out a corporal or spiritual work of mercy, will also be able to obtain the gift of Plenary indulgence.”
4) Recite the Holy Rosary with your family (or if engaged, with your future spouse)“The main aspect of Joseph’s vocation was to be guardian of the Holy Family of Nazareth, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and legal father of Jesus. So that all Christian families are stimulated to recreate the same climate of intimate communion, love and prayer that was lived in the Holy Family.”
5) Entrust your day and/or work to St. Joseph, invoke his protection and intercession“The plenary indulgence can therefore be achieved by anyone who entrusts their activity daily to the protection of St. Joseph and any faithful who invoke the intercession of the Artisan of Nazareth with prayers, so that those looking for work can find a job and the work of everyone is more dignified.”
6) Pray to St. Joseph for persecuted Christians“The plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who will recite the Litanies to St. Joseph (for the Latin tradition), or the Akathistos to St. Joseph, in whole or at least some of it (for the Byzantine tradition), or some other prayer to St. Joseph, proper to other liturgical traditions, in favor of the Church persecuted ad intra and ad extra and for the relief of all Christians who suffer every form of persecution.”
7) “Recite any legitimately approved prayer or act of piety in honor of St. Joseph”“The Apostolic Penitentiary grants a plenary indulgence to the faithful who will recite any legitimately approved prayer or act of piety in honor of Saint Joseph, for example ‘To you, o Blessed Joseph,’ especially on the recurrences of March 19 and May 1, on the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, on St. Joseph’s Sunday (according to the Byzantine tradition), on the 19th of each month and every Wednesday, day dedicated to the memory of the Saint according to the Latin tradition.
8) For the elderly, sick, and dying: recite act of piety in St. Joseph’s honor, entrust life and discomforts to St. Joseph“In the current context of health emergency, the gift of the plenary indulgence is particularly extended to the elderly, the sick, the dying and all those who for legitimate reasons are unable to leave the house, who with a soul detached from any sin and with the intention of fulfilling, as soon as possible, the three usual conditions, in their own home or where the impediment holds them, they will recite an act of piety in honor of St. Joseph, comfort of the sick and patron of a happy death, offering with trust in God the pains and discomforts of your life.
Plenary Indulgences:
By Calendar:
Jan 1: Participate in the public recitation of Veni Creator Spiritus
Nov 1-8: Visiting cemetery and pray for the dead.
Nov 2: Visiting church or oratory and recite an Our Father and Apostles' Creed
Dec 31: Participate in the public recitation of the Te Deum
Lent/Easter
- Fridays during Lent: Those who, after communion, recite the Prayer before the Crucifix
- Holy Thursday: Recite Tantum Ergo during reposition after Mass of the Lord's Supper
- Good Friday: Taking part in adoration of the cross during the solemn liturgy
- Easter Vigil: Renewal of Baptismal Promises during Mass
Other Specific Days:
- First Communion: When receive or if devoutly assist at a first communion ceremony.
- First Mass of Newly-Ordained Priests: to the priest in first Mass w/ a congregation, and to faithful who devoutly participate in that Mass.
- Pentecost: Public recitation of Veni Creator Spiritus
- Corpus Christi: Devoutly participate in Eucharistic procession
- Solemnity Of Sacred Heart of Jesus: Participate devoutly in public recitation of the Iesu Dulcissime
- Christ the King: Public recitation of Iesu Dulcissime dedicating the human race to Christ the King
Various:
- Receive blessing imparted either by Pope to City and to the World (even via TV or other media), or by bishop to the faithful entrusted to him on solemnities he designates w/ plenary indulgence
- Assist at celebrations fostering religious intentions
-Participate in the solemn Eucharistic rite which closes a Eucharistic congress.
- Spend at least three full days of spiritual exercises during a retreat
- Approach of Death: If priest can't be present for apostolic blessing, it is given to those in articulo mortis (approach of death) provided they regularly prayed in some way during their lifetime.
- On occasion of mission having heard some of the sermons AND are present for its solemn conclusion.
- Jubilee Celebration of Priestly Ordination (25th, 50th, or 60th anniversary): To priest if renews before God the promise made to faithfully fulfill the duties of his vocation; To faithful who participate in jubilee Mass celebrated by the priest.
- Renewal of baptismal promises on anniversary of one's baptism
- Visit a parish church on its titular feast day
- Visit church or altar on anniversary of its dedication and recite Our Father & Apostles or Nicene Creed
Partial Indulgences are granted (you may gain as many of these as you want each day) to those:
- while carrying out their duties and enduring the hardships of life, raise their minds in humble trust to God and make, at least mentally, some pious invocation.
- who, led by the spirit of faith, give compassionately of themselves or of their goods to serve their brothers in need.
- who, in a spirit of penance, voluntarily abstain from something that is licit for and pleasing to them.
- who, in the particular circumstances of daily life, voluntarily give explicit witness to their faith before others.
- who teach or study Christian doctrine
- who make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament for adoration less than 30 minutes
- who make an act of Spiritual Communion or an act of thanksgiving after Communion (Anima Christi, En Ego, O bone et dulcissime Iesu).
- who in preparation for sacramental confession examine their conscience with the purpose of amendment and devoutly recite an act of contrition
- who devoutly recite an appropriately approved prayer for the unity of Christians (Omnipotens et misericors Deus).
- who for their personal edification spend time in mental prayer.
- who devoutly recite the canticle of the Magnificat; or pray at dawn, noon, or evening the Angelus or during the Easter season the Regina Caeli.
- who devoutly address the Blessed Virgin in some approved prayer: (e.g., Maria, Mater gratiae; the Memorare; the Salve Regina; the Sancta Maria, succurre miseris; or the Sub tuum praesidium.)