Plenary Indulgences
What Are Plenary Indulgences?
In his proclamation of the Special Year of St. Francis, Pope Leo XIV announced an indulgence would be available to the faithful during the jubilee year.
A plenary indulgence is a grace granted by the Catholic Church through the merits of Jesus Christ to remove the temporal punishment due to sin. When we sin, we commit an offense against God, and while we receive forgiveness through the sacrament of reconciliation, the effects of that sin sometimes remain. A plenary indulgence heals that wound, removing all temporal punishment from that sin while a partial indulgence removes some temporal punishment.
How can we receive a Plenary Indulgence?
To receive a plenary indulgence, you must have the intention to gain the indulgence, be in a state of grace, and perform a prescribed work or action. (See below)
General conditions to receive a plenary indulgence include:
- Receive the sacrament of confession (usually within seven days before or after performing the prescribed work).
- Receive holy Communion (usually on the day of performing the prescribed work).
- Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father (usually by reciting an Our Father and a Hail Mary).
- Be completely detached from our sins (including venial sins).
Prescribed actions during the Year of St. Francis
In his decree granting an indulgence during the Jubilee year, Pope Leo XIV outlined several possible actions. You can read the decree here, but a summary is included below.
Undertake a pious pilgrimage to a church name for St. Francis
The faithful can obtain the jubilee indulgence if they have a spirit detached from sin and visit in the form of a pilgrimage any "Franciscan conventual church or place of worship in any part of the world named after St. Francis or connected to him for any reason, and there, they will devoutly follow the jubilee rites or spend at least a suitable period of time in pious meditation and will raise prayers to God." The prayers should conclude with the Our Father, the Creed, and invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Francis of Assisi, St Clare, and all the saints of the Franciscan Family. The Diocese of Portland has one church name from St. Francis of Assisi. It is located at 81 Court Street in Belfast.
What if I am unable to take the above actions due to age or illness?
The elderly, the sick and those who take care of them and all those who for serious reasons are unable to leave their homes, will also be able to obtain the plenary Indulgence, provided that they are detached from any sin and intend to fulfill the general conditions as soon as possible, if they join spiritually in the jubilee celebrations of the Year of St. Francis, offering their prayers to the Merciful God, the pains or sufferings of one's life.
