HOLY YEAR OF MERCY: there are the continual effects of sin. A major effect, especially of habitual sin, is By our sin and our attachment to it we SPECIAL TIME TO DRAW continued attachment to sin. The more we have distanced ourselves from God. He CLOSER TO GOD sin, the stronger the inclination to sin be- waits in hope for our return. When God comes, to the point that it is more proper- sees that we have detached from sin and During this Holy Year of Mercy, pilgrims ly called “attachment”. turned back to him, he runs out to us and to the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth embraces us. He does not fume in anger Ann Seton have the opportunity to receive The more attached we are to the sin, the or wag a scolding finger. As the parable special grace. This special blessing occurs less we are attached to God. Even after about the Prodigal Son dramatizes, God through the Church’s Sacrament of Rec- God forgives our sins, our attachment to throws a party. onciliation and through the granting of a sin still continues to separate us from Plenary Indulgence. God. The stronger the attachment, the So what’s an indulgence? greater the separation. WHAT IS AN INDULGENCE? An indulgence is the Father running out to This separation from God has traditional- greet us. After having confessed our sins Many people in this Year of Mercy will ly been called “temporal punishment” due and received God’s forgiveness, God proceed through the Door of Mercy to to sin. With God’s help we can counter shortens our distance to him. In other obtain a “plenary indulgence.” our continued attachment to sin. This is words, he eliminates or reduces the pun- traditionally achieved through the Pen- ishment due because of our sin. An “indulgence” is like the Father of the ance given by the priest in the Sacrament prodigal son running out to him after he of Reconciliation. There are many other It becomes indulgence on the part of the decided to come home. It is God shorten- personal acts of penance for sin: corporal Father who, through the Bride of Christ, ing our trip back to him after we have and spiritual works of mercy, prayer, of- his Church, reaches the pardoned sinner admitted our sin and received God’s for- fering up personal suffering — AND in- and frees him from every residue left by giveness for sin dulgences. the consequences of sin, enabling him to act with charity, to grow in love rather There is a difference between sin and the Detaching from sin is not always easy es- than to fall back into sin. effect of sin. To be forgiven, one must pecially when dealing with habits of sin. repent and accept God’s forgiveness. On- Detachment usually hurts. It usually in- By creating an indulgence, the Church ly God can forgive sin. As Pope Francis volves suffering. But it comes with the sets a goal for us – to be completely de- reminds us God forgives every sin, and he promise that the sin will stop, the hurting tached from sin – and assures us that God always forgives sin when we seek for- will stop, and that you can draw close to the Father will run to us, and help us giveness. God never tires of chasing after God again. achieve it. us with forgiveness. We must remember to seek that forgiveness that is always This is why Catholics – especially the CONDITIONS FOR A available. saints – see something good in suffer- ing. It’s an opportunity to detach from sin Besides sin, which God always forgives, and become more attached to God. 1 to the choice of the faithful, but an PLENARY INDULGENCE 3. To gain indulgences, whether plenary "Our Father" and a "Hail Mary" are The following "General remarks on In- or partial, it is necessary that the faith- suggested. One sacramental Confes- dulgences" from Gift of the Indulgence2 ful be in the state of grace at least at sion suffices for several plenary indul- summarizes the usual conditions given in the time the indulgenced work is com- gences, but a separate Holy Commun- the Church's law: pleted. ion and a separate prayer for the Holy

Father's intentions are required for 1. This is how an indulgence is defined in [N.B. Thus, one must be a Catholic in communion with the Pope, i.e. not ex- each plenary indulgence. the Code of Canon Law (can. 992) and in the Catechism of the Catholic communicated or in schism.] 6. For the sake of those legitimately im-

Church (n. 1471): "An indulgence is a 4. A plenary indulgence can be gained peded, confessors can commute both remission before God of the temporal only once a day. In order to obtain it, the the work prescribed and the conditions punishment due to sins whose guilt has faithful must, in addition to being in the required (except, obviously, detach- already been forgiven, which the faith- state of grace: ment from even venial sin).

ful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed condi- — have the interior disposition of com- 7. Indulgences can always be applied ei- tions through the action of the Church plete detachment from sin, even ve- ther to oneself or to the souls of the de- which, as the minister of redemption, nial sin; ceased, but they cannot be applied to dispenses and applies with authority other persons living on earth. — have sacramentally confessed their the treasury of the satisfactions of sins; Christ and the saints". IN SUMMARY — receive the Holy Eucharist (it is cer- 2. In general, the gaining of indulgences tainly better to receive it while par- requires certain prescribed conditions ticipating at the Eucharist, but for To gain the plenary indulgence during the (below, nn. 3, 4), and the performance the indulgence only Holy Commun- Year of Mercy remember the following: of certain prescribed works. ion is required); Walk through the Door of Mercy with an [N.B. The grants of indulgence are con- — pray for the intentions of the Su- awareness of the God whose name is tained in the Enchiridion Indulgentiarum preme Pontiff. Mercy.3 (4th ed., 1999), in special grants of the 5. It is appropriate, but not necessary, that Holy See, such as for the Year of the Holy the sacramental Confession and espe- Meet all the conditions described in nn. 3- Eucharist, and in special grants which cially Holy Communion and the prayer 4 above. Most importantly, recipients bishops may establish for their dioceses.] for the Pope's intentions take place on must be in the state of grace and have a the same day that the indulgenced complete detachment from sin, even veni- work is performed; but it is sufficient al sin. 1 This section draws from the statement locat- that these sacred rites and prayers be ed at https://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/indulge carried out within several days (about nces_conditions.htm. 20) before or after the indulgenced act. 2 Given at Rome at the office of the Apostolic 3 Pope Francis, on January 12th, published his Penitentiary 29 January 2000. Prayer for the Pope's intentions is left first book entitled: The Name of God is Mercy.