Greetings one and all, I took a bit of a hiatus from blogging over the summer, and it lasted a little longer than I thought, I have a number of homilies that will be uploaded in a short while, in the meantime, for those who like to rack up as many indulgences as they can get, you will have plenty of opportunities over this coming year:
PLENARY INDULGENCE FOR THE YEAR OF FAITH
Vatican City, 5 October 2012 (VIS) - According to a decree made
public today and signed by Cardinal Manuel Monteiro de Castro and Bishop
Krzysztof Nykiel, respectively penitentiary major and regent of the
Apostolic Penitentiary, Benedict XVI will grant faithful Plenary
Indulgence for the occasion of the Year of Faith. The indulgence will be
valid from the opening of the Year on 11 October 2012 until its end on
24 November 2013.
"The day of the fiftieth anniversary of the solemn
opening of Vatican Council II", the text reads, "the Supreme Pontiff
Benedict XVI has decreed the beginning of a Year especially dedicated to
the profession of the true faith and its correct interpretation,
through the reading of - or better still the pious meditation upon - the
Acts of the Council and the articles of the Catechism of the Catholic
Church".
"Since the primary objective is to develop sanctity of
life to the highest degree possible on this earth, and thus to attain
the most sublime level of pureness of soul, immense benefit may be
derived from the great gift of Indulgences which, by virtue of the power
conferred upon her by Christ, the Church offers to everyone who,
following the due norms, undertakes the special prescripts to obtain
them".
"During the Year of Faith, which will last from 11
October 2012 to 24 November 2013, Plenary Indulgence for the temporal
punishment of sins, imparted by the mercy of God and applicable also to
the souls of deceased faithful, may be obtained by all faithful who,
truly penitent, take Sacramental Confession and the Eucharist and pray
in accordance with the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.
"(A) Each time they attend at least three sermons during
the Holy Missions, or at least three lessons on the Acts of the Council
or the articles of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, in church or
any other suitable location.
"(B) Each time they visit, in the course of a pilgrimage,
a papal basilica, a Christian catacomb, a cathedral church or a holy
site designated by the local ordinary for the Year of Faith (for
example, minor basilicas and shrines dedicated to the Blessed Virgin
Mary, the Holy Apostles or patron saints), and there participate in a
sacred celebration, or at least remain for a congruous period of time in
prayer and pious meditation, concluding with the recitation of the Our
Father, the Profession of Faith in any legitimate form, and invocations
to the Blessed Virgin Mary and, depending on the circumstances, to the
Holy Apostles and patron saints.
"(C) Each time that, on the days designated by the local
ordinary for the Year of Faith, ... in any sacred place, they
participate in a solemn celebration of the Eucharist or the Liturgy of
the Hours, adding thereto the Profession of Faith in any legitimate
form.
"(D) On any day they chose, during the Year of Faith, if
they make a pious visit to the baptistery, or other place in which they
received the Sacrament of Baptism, and there renew their baptismal
promises in any legitimate form.
"Diocesan or eparchal bishops, and those who enjoy the
same status in law, on the most appropriate day during that period or on
the occasion of the main celebrations, ... may impart the papal
blessing with the Plenary Indulgence".
The document concludes by recalling how faithful who, due
to illness or other legitimate cause, are unable to leave their place
of adobe, may still obtain Plenary Indulgence "if, united in spirit and
thought with other faithful, and especially at the times when the words
of the Supreme Pontiff and diocesan bishops are transmitted by
television or radio, they recite ... the Our Father, the Profession of
Faith in any legitimate form, and other prayers that concord with the
objectives of the Year of Faith, offering up the suffering and
discomfort of their lives".