Plenary indulgence?

[Lucky_Mama]

Just a question as someone who is on their RCIA journey and not entirely sure as to what this means.

With WYD coming up, this has been posted on the WYD website -:

Apostolic Penitentiary Sydney Decree

The plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who, on the occasion of the “Twenty-third World Youth Day”, will gather at Sydney in the spirit of pilgrimage; all those who, wherever they are, will pray for the spiritual goals of this Meeting and for its happy outcome can also gain the partial indulgence.

The Youth Meeting held I the year 2005 in Cologne, offered the Apostolic Penitentiary an opportune occasion, with the authority of the Supreme Pontiff, to open wide to youth the spiritual treasures of the Church, with the aim of gathering singular fruits of sanctification.

Hence, this year, from 15 to 20 July, in Sydney, “in the great southern land of the Holy Spirit” (according to the expression of John Paul !!), will celebrate the “Twenty-third World Youth Day”, with the theme: “You will receive the power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8).

Indeed, young people gathered around the Vicar of Christ will participate in the sacred functions and above all have recourse to the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. In the Sacraments received with a sincere and humble heart, they will earnestly desire to strengthen themselves in the Spirit, and, confirmed by the Chrism of salvation, will openly witness the Faith before others even to the ends of the earth. May God grant that the very presence of the Supreme Pontiff among the young people gathered in Sydney express and render it such.

During the Audience the Holy Father granted to the undersigned on 21 June, the Supreme Pontiff has expressly confirmed to the Apostolic Penitentiary the special faculty to declare, through the present Decree, the bestowal of the gift of the Indulgence as follows:

The Plenary Indulgence is granted to the faithful, wherever they are during the above-mentioned meeting, if, at least with a contrite spirit, they will raise their prayer to God the Holy Spirit, so that young people are drawn to charity and given the strength to proclaim the Gospel with their life.

So that all the faithful may more easily obtain these heavenly gifts, priests who have received legitimate approval to hear sacramental confessions, should welcome them with a ready and generous spirit and suggest public prayers to the faithful, for the success of the same “World Youth Day”.

The present Decree is valid for this event. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary.

Give in Rome, at the Seat of the Apostolic Penitentiary, 28 June in the Year of the Incarnation of the Lord 2008, vigil of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.

Cardinal James Francis Stafford

Major Penitentiary

Fr Gianfranco Girotti, O.F.M. Conv.

Regent

Does this therefore mean that those who are not confirmed etc are able to partake in the sacraments, have communion etc?

Thanks

Kim

 

[PhilotheaZ]

No, that is not what it means.

Just in case this hasn’t been explained to you yet:

An indulgence is the remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sin whose guilt has already been forgiven … An indulgence is partial if it removes part of the temporal punishment due to sin, or plenary if it removes all punishment (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Glossary).

A plenary indulgence has some “usual conditions” required in addition to the indulgenced work (e.g., in this case, spiritual participation in World Youth Day). These conditions include:

• Sacramental confession (usually within about a week before or after performing the indulgenced work)
• Reception of Holy Communion (preferably the same day, but could be a little before or after)
• Pray for the Pope (most people pray an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, but you could choose the prayers)
• Complete detachment from sin (ah, that’s the difficult one for most of us!)

So in order to receive the indulgence as stated, you would need to already have your sins forgiven (implying that you have recently been to Confession), and you would have to receive Communion.

If you are in RCIA, you are not able to receive these sacraments yet. However, don’t let that discourage you from participating (physically or spiritually) in World Youth Day or other indulgenced works. God, who is merciful, knows your heart, and He will appy the merit of your good works as He sees fit. And He knows best, of course!

And don’t worry about missing this specific opportunity. There are plenty of ways you can obtain indulgences, even on a daily basis, once you have been initiated into the Church. See ourladyswarriors.org/indulge/index.html (not the most recent version of the Enchiridion on Indulgences published in 1999, which is not available online yet, but a good start). And most indulgences can be applied to yourself or offered for one of the souls in Purgatory (a very generous and meritorious thing to do; the souls you help free from Purgatory will certainly pray for you, too).

God bless you as you wait patiently for the day when you can fully participate in the sacramental life of the Church.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Just a question as someone who is on their RCIA journey and not entirely sure as to what this means.

With WYD coming up, this has been posted on the WYD website -:

Does this therefore mean that those who are not confirmed etc are able to partake in the sacraments, have communion etc?

Thanks

Kim

The Indulgence is available to any Catholic in good standing with the Church. A young person who has not yet been Confirmed, but otherwise has received their First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion can receive the Indulgence.