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Plenary Indulgence for Souls in Purgatory 1-8 November

Oct 31, 2014

Hello Fr John,

Could you please explain about the plenary indulgence for souls in Purgatory from 1 to 8 November? What are the complete requirements to gain this indulgence?
How will it fall to partial indulgence only?
Also, is it any day between those dates or does it need to be done everyday?

I tried browsing around websites but the explanations were not consistent and unclear..

Thank you very much for your help, Father.

Kind regards,

Christian

Asked at 10:11 am on October 31st 2014

Dear Christian:

There are two types of indulgences: partial and plenary.
For a partial indulgence you need to:

1. Be baptized.
2. Be in the state of grace.
3. Have the intention to obtain the indulgence.
4. Perform the works or offer the prayers correctly.

For a plenary indulgence:

1. Meet all the requirements for a partial indulgence.
2. Not be excommunicated.
3. Have no affection for sin, even venial sin.
4. Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Communion and offer prayers for the Pope’s intentions within the prescribed period of time.

It may be that someone’s wish to obtain a plenary indulgence is not granted because condition no. 3 is not fulfilled.

The indulgence can be obtained on any one day, it does not have to be done on multiple days.

The communion, confession and prayers for the Pope’s intentions (which can be any one of a number of prayers, such as an Our Father and a Hail Mary) do not need to be performed all on the same day and it is sufficient to do these acts within several days of the act performed to obtain the indulgence.

Replied at 03:06 am on November 01st 2014

Father,

I found this strange saying that we should do this between 1 & 8 Novb?! I think whatever day/time we do this we will benefit.

my question : why the church say praying a Novena or 10 days of prayers or one months .. will have an indulgence?

other question: i have heared about “full remission ” the the pope gives in specific days/events !? what does it mean ? and if we confess any time we don’t take the “full remission”

Thank you Father

Assaf

Replied at 02:44 pm on November 05th 2014

Dear Assaf:

Yes, I am not quite sure where Christian obtained the information about being able to do this in a period of a week as normally the indulgence for All Souls Day is limited to just November 2.

It is not unusual for plenary indulgences to be linked to specific days. For example. there is a plenary indulgence associated with the recitation of the prayer Jesu dulcissime, Redemptor, on the feast of Christ the King. There are indulgences related to specific events, such as the Pope’s blessing at Christmas and Easter, participating in a retreat, a priest’s first mass, etc.

Full remission refers to a plenary indulgence. There are two types of indulgences, plenary and partial. I listed in my previous reply the conditions needed for a plenary indulgence. The confession, communion and prayers for the Pope’s intentions should take place within a few days of the act performed to obtain the plenary indulgence, otherwise it becomes a partial indulgence.

An indulgence is partial or plenary according to whether it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to our sins.

Temporal punishment of sins is explained by the Catechism in this way.

“1473 The forgiveness of sin and restoration of communion with God entail the remission of the eternal punishment of sin, but temporal punishment of sin remains. While patiently bearing sufferings and trials of all kinds and, when the day comes, serenely facing death, the Christian must strive to accept this temporal punishment of sin as a grace. He should strive by works of mercy and charity, as well as by prayer and the various practices of penance, to put off completely the “old man” and to put on the “new man.”84”

Replied at 12:27 am on November 06th 2014