31/10/2024
So you're visiting a grave tomorrow, right?
If you do this right, you can get a FREE plenary indulgence.
WHY DO YOU WANT A PLENARY INDULGENCE?
A person sins - say she broke someone's heart by betrayal. Later, she’s forgiven by Christ because she's genuinely repentant. Let’s say — she dies immediately after that repentance.
Confession of sins doesn’t directly involve the effects of her sins. This is logical. The other person's heart is still broken at this point. It will heal, in time and by God’s mercy.
Now that the guilty girl can't fix it anymore because he's dead.
So, she now has to suffer the temporal punishment of that sin. ��We tend to think there are no consequences all the time when God forgives us.
But in many cases, the consequences/effects of the sin are natural.
Hence it will still be there.
Action --> consequence. Just logical.
PURIFICATION
All of us will need to be purified before entering heaven.
That's what we call purgatory.
So, this girl is in purgatory right now.�Let’s say she’s a loved one of yours - maybe she’s someone you don’t know but is an ancestor from years 1350 or 244.
HOW CAN YOU HELP THIS PERSON?
You get her a plenary indulgence! (It removes or lessens the punishment in purgatory).
�WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ABOUT MISS HEART BREAKER?�Well, later, this person will be YOU.�(you will sin, you will ask for forgiveness, you will die…but you’ll get purified in purgatory anyway also -and get the temporal punishment for your sins. �We sin a lot and damage many things on the way to forgiveness, right?).
�“For a just man shall fall seven times and shall rise again: but the wicked shall fall down into evil.” Prov 24:16
Of course, we assume you’re not ending up in hell, right?�
ALSO, LETS SAY YOU’RE A SAINT…
So you don’t need another’s prayers because you’ll skip purgatory, right?�So, do you say this…?
“BUT JOMAR! I’M GOING TO HEAVEN!!”
With God’s mercy, you are. However, we cooperate with this mercy by doing many things, Including living out a Christian life.
It is never an instant “Heaven without doing anything” for the Catholic.�On the way to heaven, you will be purified here on earth (through repentance, confession, etc). This purification is a fact of life. You already suffer today. That’s a purification for you. But this is another topic, lets go back to our topic.��Now, according to 1 Corinthians:
11 for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 the work of each will come to light, for the Day[a] will disclose it. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire [itself] will test the quality of each one’s work. 14 If the work stands that someone built upon the foundation, that person will receive a wage. 15 But if someone’s work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved,[b] but only as through fire.
�1 Corinthians 3:11-15 New American Bible (Revised Edition)
�Note: You will be saved. But you will suffer loss via fire. I just repeated the last line, so there’s that. This is why we pray for those in purgatory. We know one day, we will be there, too. There is a book I’m reading called “Purgatory” - get a copy of it to know more.
THREE GROUPS�We express our love to the saints in heaven, our guardian angels, and now to the souls in purgatory. I just mentioned this to show how unique Catholics are! We interact with people, angels, and holy souls.
BOOK �At the end of this article is a whole book, “Manual of Indulgences” - from the US Bishop’s office. Read it for more info.
WHAT’S THE PLENARY THING?
A Plenary indulgence removes all of the temporal punishment of repented/forgiven sins accumulated up to this point (today) - for a person in purgatory. Does it mean the person exits purgatory because of your indulgence? No, that’s not up to us. That’s God’s decision-making. We’re here to help them by shortening their time there.
BEFORE YOU READ THE REQUIREMENTS, �Note that the list below is designed to make you a holier person.
And there’s no payment or fee to do the requirements.
The indulgence is free.
The benefits to you and the person in purgatory - are eternal.��REQUIREMENTS
What is required of the Catholic to gain the plenary Indulgence on NOV 1-8?
1. You have confessed mortal sins recently (20 days) before or after the Nov 1-Nov 8. If you have already followed the first Saturday / First Friday devotions, you have already done this.
2. You don’t have attachment to venial sins (go to mass, and this is already taken care of in the "I confess to you, my brothers and sisters…”). Note: You have to mean it.
3. You need to pray for the Holy Father (link below gives you details). This is also part of the Sacred Heart / Immaculate Heart devotions.
4. Receive Communion. Again, go to mass, and you're set. Say the Creed and Our Father - also part of the mass.
5. You intend to get the indulgence for that day by praying this in the morning from NOV 1 - NOV 8
"O my God, in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary (here kiss your Brown scapular as a sign of your consecration – this carries a partial indulgence). I offer Thee the Precious Blood of Jesus from all the altars throughout the world, joining with it the offering of my every thought, word and action of this day.
O my Jesus, I desire today to gain every indulgence and merit I can, and I offer them together with myself, to Mary Immaculate, that She may best apply them to the interests of Thy Most Sacred Heart. Precious Blood of Jesus, save us! Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us! Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!"
Note: You have to mean this prayer, not just read it.
6, NOW AT THE GRAVESITE - bring a prayer for the deceased or even prayers for those in purgatory. See below for an example. Of course, your Google search can help. But I do recommend prayer books (literal paper). There's a thing about looking at a mobile phone while on top of a grave versus looking at a prayer book with your mouth moving. Catch my drift?
NOTICE THE REQUIREMENTS ARE NOT SPECIAL?
The requirements are nothing special.
>>”STAY AWAY FROM SIN" - can summarize the first two requirements.
>>FAVORITE SINS?
You have this favorite sin.
You can’t stop doing it.�It gives you pleasure to commit this sin.
Well, for 8 days, you can stop this specific sin.�Confess it. Ask for God’s help to overcome it.�Do this plenary indulgence requirement.
That’s how you start stopping.�Note: You really have to detach from all sins, this just gives you a few steps to start.
>>Praying for the Peter of the Roman Catholic Church is also a good thing - as well as praying for your priests. �So far, nothing special here. BASIC CATHOLICISM.
>>Getting Jesus's Body / Blood during mass = is also not outside the everyday life of a Catholic.
�Note: Plenary indulgencies can be acquired only once per day.
GRAVESITE PRAYER: Prayers for the Poor Souls in Purgatory
Lord Jesus, lovingly welcome into Your presence my deceased family, relatives and friends who have completed their journey on this earth, and have gone to their rest in the hope of rejoicing with you forever in heaven.
Source of all life and love, look favorably upon their goodness, and forgive any sins they may have committed, so they may enjoy for all eternity the great rewards You have promised to those who believe in You. Amen.
V. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.�R. And let the perpetual light shine upon them.
May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
V. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine.�R. Et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Fidelium animae, per misericordiam Dei, requiescant in pace. Amen.
Note: You have to mean this prayer, not just read it.
BOTTOMLINE�: Like many Catholic practices, you can do this or other things during All Saints Week or All Souls Week. It’s optional! But what is not optional is to follow Jesus through the ways the Catholic Church as made it easier for us to do.
MORE READINGS:
Abt this Nov 2024: https://www.catholic365.com/article/43800/plenary-indulgences-save-the-dates-for-a-special-opportunity-to-help-the-holy-souls-in-purgatory-november-1-8.html
USA Manual of Indulgences: (A whole book)http://holyjoe.org/indulgences/Indulgences_1999.pdf
From November 1-8 we have a special opportunity to help the Holy Souls in Purgatory that is not available to us year round.
