mcliffor:
It is my understanding that we can obtain a plenary indulgence this week if we go to a cemetery and pray for the dead.
Is it necessary to receive communion for each indulgence? How long before or after?
Also, what does it mean to have no attachment to sin, even venial? Do I have to go to confession immediately before or are there other ways of remitting venial sins besides sacramental confession?
I know confession is a condition, but I would like to go to confession after I go to the cemetery.
Sorry it is a day late, but for future reference my pastor, Fr. Eduard Perrone, wrote this in the Sunday bulletin:
I do want to remind you about our Mass schedule for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Tuesday is a holyday of obligation: All Saints Day. Masses will be at 6:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 12 noon, and 7:00 p.m. This is the day when we acknowledge that there are a good deal more saints in heaven than those the Church has canonized, and certainly more than those saints with whom we are familiar.
Wednesday is the observance of All Souls Day. Masses will begin at 6:30 a.m. and continue throughout the morning. Each year I remind you of your obligation and privilege to pray for the souls of those in purgatory. There are many, so it seems, who have forgotten the dogma of purgatory and have blithely come to think of all the faithfully departed as already being in heaven. While that is a matter of Christian hope, the reality is that there are many souls still being purified–perhaps our loved ones among them–who rely on the help of our Masses, prayers, indulgences and other good works offered for them.
There are two practices particularly recommend to you to help the “poor souls” (as those in purgatory are called) at this time of the year. First, on All Souls Day you should (not by the obligation of Church law but by the bond of your Christian love for those in need) go to Mass, or better, go to many Masses that day. Offer your Mass intentions for the souls of the dead. If you should go to more than two Masses, you are reminded that you can receive Communion only twice on any given day. Also, you may gain the plenary indulgence for the faithful departed by praying in church some prayers for them, and recite the Creed, plus some prayers for the intentions of the Pope (an Our Father and a Hail Mary suffice). You must also be in a state of grace and not have any venial sin on your soul (an act of contrition for all your sins is thus recommended); and, finally, you need to receive Holy Communion (preferably on the very same day) and confession (some days before or after is acceptable).
Visits to the cemetery from November 1-8 also gain a plenary indulgence (only one plenary indulgence can be gained per day) if one observes all the same requirements (one confession suffices, however, as long as there are no new mortal sins committed; but Communion is required for each plenary indulgence).
Being attuned to the Church is a sign of one’s fidelity. You ought to get into the spirit of this season by increasing your good works for the thirsting poor souls and having Masses offered for them.
The link is not likely to work in another week so I am going to link you to the home page. You can find more under “Fr. Perrone”, followed by “Pastor Articles”. Of course, you can always hit the link in my sig for his many great sermons:
assumptiongrotto.com/
