Tomorrow, October 1 is the first Thursday of October and as such is a day designated for the Plenary Indulgence granted in the Year of the Priest.PLENARY INDULGENCE OFFERED FOR YEAR FOR PRIESTS
The Vatican is offering a plenary indulgence for all faithful on the occasion of the Year for Priests, marking the 150th anniversary of the death of St. Jean Marie Vianney, also knows as the Curé de Ars (June 19, 2009-June 10, 2010).
The decree was made public and signed by Cardinal James Francis Stafford and Bishop Gianfranco Girotti, respectively penitentiary major and regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary in May 2009.
The decree noted that Benedict XVI would preside at the opening liturgy June 19, the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, "a day of priestly sanctification." The Year will end in St. Peter's Square, in the presence of priests from all over the world "who will renew their faithfulness to Christ and their bonds of fraternity."
For priests, the plenary indulgence can be gained by praying lauds or vespers before the Blessed Sacrament exposed to public adoration or in the tabernacle. They must also "offer themselves with a ready and generous heart for the celebration of the sacraments, especially the sacrament of penance."
The plenary indulgence, which under current norms must be accompanied by sacramental confession, the Eucharist and praying for the intentions of the Pope, can also by applied to deceased priests.
Priests are granted a partial indulgence, also applicable to deceased priests, every time they "devotedly recite the prayers duly approved to lead a saintly life and to carry out the duties entrusted to them."
For the faithful, a plenary indulgence can be obtained on the opening and closing days of the Year for Priests, on the 150th anniversary of the death of St. Jean-Marie Vianney, on the first Thursday of the month, or on any other day established by the ordinaries of particular places for the good of the faithful.
To obtain the indulgence the faithful must attend Mass in an oratory or Church and offer prayers to "Jesus Christ, supreme and eternal Priest, for the priests of the Church, or perform any good work to sanctify and mould them to his heart."
The conditions for the faithful for earning a plenary indulgence are to have gone to confession and prayed for the intentions of the Pope.
The elderly, the sick, and all those who for any legitimate reason are unable to leave their homes may obtain the plenary indulgence if, with the intention of observing the usual three conditions as soon as they can, "on the days concerned, they pray for the sanctification of priests and offer their sickness and suffering to God through Mary, Queen of the Apostles."
This is a wonderful opportunity, Your Grace, in the year of the priest. The bishop is the fullness of the priesthood so he is included also. Thank you for posting the notice of it and thank you to the Holy Father for making it available.
ReplyDeleteThe priests from Western Newfoundland are on retreat this week at St Catherine's Retreat Facility in Grand Falls- Windsor so there is no Mass anywhere but there. Abp Marcel Gervais is giving the retreat as this news breaks nationally.
Last night I passed the Cathedral of the Holy Reedemer in Corner Brook and recalled that my husband and I first visited there in 1988 and met the bishop of that diocese who was Bp Raymond Lahey. He had just come home after a trip to Ottawa he told us as we were on a work tour of Newfoundland out of there. Not a few hours later his name was on the national news! It is still there today . David Mainse of 100 Huntley Street is at this moment saying "quoting a Jesuit who was on his team at one time" that God is taking the top off but he asks us in TV land not to blame God. I would add that we should not blame our holy Mother the church either. The Winnipeg Statement does come to mind. But we can ask God's Mercy for all priests and bishops of Canada.
The news of this indulgenge is a "rose given to all of us" from St Theresa today.