Saturday, October 24, 2009

Plenary Indulgences for the Dead


"Saint Gregory Delivers the Soul of a Monk" by Giovanni Battista Crespi

1. On All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2) a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls, is granted to those who visit any parish church or public oratory and there recite one Our Father and one Credo.
2. On all the days from November I though November 8 inclusive, a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls, is granted to those who visit a cemetery and pray even if only mentally for the departed.
Conditions for both indulgences:
~ Only one plenary indulgence can be granted per day.

~ It is necessary to be in the state of grace, at least by completion of the work.

~ Freedom from attachment to sin, even venial sin, is necessary; otherwise the indulgence is only partial. (By this is meant attachment to a particular sin, not sin in general.)

~ Holy Communion must be received each time the indulgence is sought.

~ Prayers must he recited for the intentions of the Holy Father on each day tire indulgence is sought. (No particular prayers are prescribed. One Our Father and one Hail Mary suffice, or other suitable prayers.

~ A sacramental concession must he made within a week of completion of the prescribed work. (One confession made during the week, made with the intention of gaining all the indulgences, suffices.)


It is really not that hard of a thing to do, but so great is the reward for the souls in purgatory, please in your mercy do some good for them and the Lord will reward you in Heaven.

2 comments:

Len said...

Thank you for this information! I will certainly be visiting my parish cemetery, St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery in Mt. Clemens, MI, and will be praying over the graves of some dearly beloved friends. May they rest in God's peace, and may they enter into His eternal kingdom. May His kingdom be filled with His faithful followers, like the night sky is filled with the stars!!!

Sanctus Belle said...

I am hoping to have the entire family this weekend get to confession and say prayers in a nearby cemetery as well. It is so mysterious the way God works through our little offerings and prayers.