Questions about Plenary Indulgence?

I want to pass on this information to you about the very recent action of our Holy Father to grant a special indulgence to Catholics during this time of world-wide quarantine:

Quoting and adapting the story printed in “America” magazine: Seeking to bring God’s mercy and consolation to people everywhere during this coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis has authorized the granting of a plenary indulgence under specific conditions to all the faithful who are victims of coronavirus as well as their family members, health workers, and all others who care for them, including those who simply pray for them. (Italics, mine). He has also reminded bishops and other pastors throughout the world of the possibility of granting “general absolution” to the faithful, “without prior individual confession,” in situations such as the present emergency, especially in zones most badly hit by the crisis.

1. The decree states that healthy Catholics can gain this indulgence in a variety of ways while the pandemic lasts such as:

• Praying before the Blessed Sacrament

• Making Eucharist Adoration

• Reading Sacred Scripture for a half-hour or more while at home

• Recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet

• Make the intention of going to Confession and receiving the Eucharist and praying for the Pope’s intentions once this is possible after the pandemic ends.
  

2. For those who are currently afflicted by the coronavirus, including those on their death beds and unable to receive the Anointing of the Sick (or “last Rites”), those who are hospitalized, in quarantine or confined to their homes, the Pope asks that they follow any one, or all, of these actions:

• In their hearts, detach from all sin

• Unite their hearts spiritually through the means of social communication with Mass

• Recite the Rosary or the Stations of the Cross

• Simply recite the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer and say any prayer to Our Lady – in other words, by praying in some way or other.

The decree of Pope Francis extends this possibility to all health workers who are caring for the stricken at risk to their own health and to family members who may care for Covid-19 victims in any way, also by simply praying for them.

The Pope notes that while the above are offered to Catholics, he also stated: “I do not wish to distinguish between believers and non-believers, we are all human beings and, as human beings, we are all in the same boat. And nothing that is human can be alien to a Christian. Here one cries and one suffers. We have in common our humanity and suffering. We should not make a difference between believers and non-believers. Let us go to the roots: our humanity. Before God, we are all his children.”

IN SUMMARY

These are the prescribed works to choose from:

• Recitation of the Rosary

• Read Scripture at home for at least one-half hour

• Visit the Blessed Sacrament in church if it is open

• Undertake a period of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament in the church

• Celebrate the Stations of the Cross in your home

• Recitation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at home

• Or, other forms of devotion such as the recitation of the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, the Hail Mary

• Make a decision to go to Confession and receive the Eucharist when the pandemic is over
  

Along with the above, the usual conditions that must be chosen are:

• A spirit detached from sin

• Sacramental confession as soon as possible

• Reception of the Eucharist as soon as possible

• Prayer for the Holy Father’s intentions
  

The Holy Father is also imparting a special Urbi et Orbi Blessing on the world on March 27 at 1:00 PM EST. He asks that Catholics join him, via media, for this special event as they unite their hearts to it as another way to receive the special Plenary Indulgence.