Jubilee Indulgences

This weekend has seen the 70th anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Maximilian Kolbe, and the 50th anniversary of the beginning of St. Michael's Abbey here in California.  We'll be celebrating our Golden Jubilee from now through 29 September 2012.  The Holy Father has graciously granted several indulgences on this occasion: 

INDULGENCES

granted by pope benedict xvi for the golden jubilee year of saint michael's abbey of the norbertine fathers

15 August 2011--29 september 2012

OUR HOLY FATHER POPE BENEDICT XVI through his Apostolic Penitentiary in Rome has made a generous grant of Indulgences on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of St. Michael's Abbey of the Norbertine Fathers. This is a great gift from the spiritual treasury of the Church, by the power the keys of the kingdom of heaven given to St Peter and his successors. This apostolic gift is intended to increase the fervor of the Christian life among the faithful by intensifying their acts of prayer, charity and penance for the living and the dead. These Indulgences are both Plenary and Partial. They all may be gained for oneself or for the faithful detained in Purgatory. It is especially praiseworthy to help the departed in this way. An indulgence is not the forgiveness of sin, but a remission of the temporal punishment due to sin. It is based on the law of satisfaction taught by the Lord in the Holy Gospels, and on the union of the members of the Church in the One Body of Christ by their sharing of spiritual gifts and bearing each other's burdens.

PLENARY JUBILEE INDULGENCES

These are gained under the customary conditions of Holy Communion, Sacramental Confession within at least 20 days before or after the work, and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father. Those who receive communion at least five days a week and confess at least every few weeks fulfill the sacramental conditions and do not need to make a special communion or confession. Any prayers may be said for the Pope, but the Lord's Prayer and a Hail Mary suffice. There must also be freedom from any deliberate attachment to sin, even venial, and this means simply the contrition and purpose of amendment sufficient to confess these sins.  

A plenary indulgence may only be gained once a day, but when it is not gained fully, a partial indulgence is still always gained, so one may still perform several acts a day which are ordinarily enriched with a plenary indulgence, since they gain at least a partial indulgence. This is important especially when we want to apply these greater indulgences to the departed.

The special Plenary Jubilee Indulgences granted in favor of St. Michael's Abbey are as follows:

For a devout pilgrimage to the abbey Church on the solemnities of the Assumption (August 15^th) and of St. Michael (September 29^th) of the years 2011 and 2012. The faithful should visit the abbey church and either assist at some public prayer of the Mass or Liturgy of the Hours, or at least spend some time there in devout reflection, in any case concluding their time with the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and an invocation to Our Lady and St. Michael. This pilgrimage may be made individually or together with others and may be made from noon of the preceding day (August 14^th or September 28^th)and throughout the day of the solemnity itself. In addition, the common discipline of the Church grants this same indulgence for the faithful who visit the abbey Church on the solemnity of its Dedication (September 20^th) and of St. Norbert (June 6^th).

For visiting on any day the cemetery where the founding confreres of St. Michael's are buried, spending some time there in devout considerations, and concluding their visit in aid of the departed with the Lord's Prayer, the Creed and an invocation to Our Lady and St. Michael. This visit may be made on any day of the Jubilee from August 15^th 2011 until September 29^th 2012. This visit may be made on as many days as the faithful desire. The cemetery is Ascension Cemetery at 24754 Trabuco Road in Lake Forest.

For performing any work of mercy for those in need for at least an hour in a spirit of gratitude for the innumerable graces granted to St. Michael's Abbey over the years, concluding the merciful work with the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and an invocation to Our Lady and St. Michael. This work does not have to be sponsored by the abbey, it can be any work of mercy. If any of the conditions of this indulgence are not met, for example, on account of a shorter time or the omission of the prayers, there is still a partial indulgence granted by general discipline of the Church.

Anyone who is ill or infirm on account of age, or who for some other weighty reason cannot go to the abbey church or cemetery may gain the plenary indulgence all the same, by uniting their intention with those who can go, offering their sufferings and trials to God through Our Lady. They should fulfill the general conditions given above as soon as they are able, and pray the Our Father, the Creed and an invocation to Our Lady and St. Michael.  

     

PARTIAL JUBILEE INDULGENCES

For each and every visit to the abbey church to pray or the cemetery to aid the departed with at least a contrite heart, if even the conditions for the plenary, indulgence cannot be fulfilled.