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:
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 15th) and of St. Michael (September 29th)
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 14th or September 28th)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
20th) and of St. Norbert (June 6th).
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 15th 2011 until September 29th
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.
