How to gain a plenary indulgence for the Souls in Purgatory any day this November? The Vatican announced the renewal of the month-long Holy Souls Indulgence opportunity. The renewed decree allows the faithful the opportunity to offer a plenary indulgence for the Souls in Purgatory. Normally, the Church recognizes the indulgence from November 1 - 8. However, due to the pandemic, the Vatican again extended it for the entire month of November.
Apostolic Penitentiary
"The Apostolic Penitentiary, having listened to the pleas recently received from various Sacred Pastors of the Church, due to the continuing state of the pandemic, confirms and extends for the entire month of November 2021 all the spiritual benefits originally granted on 22 October 2020," the renewed decree states. "Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Plenary Indulgences for the deceased faithful are extended for the entire month of November.”
This specific plenary indulgence releases a soul from temporal punishment in Purgatory so they can immediately go to Heaven. It applies to one soul of your choice each time you perform the normal conditions listed below.
The decree also adds the All Souls' Indulgence of November 2, which is "established on the occasion of the commemoration of all the deceased faithful for those who piously visit a church or oratory and recite the Our Father and the Creed, may be transferred... to another day of the month of November, freely chosen by the individual faithful..."
Steps to obtain this Plenary Indulgence
(1) Pray at a Cemetery.
The decree asks the faithful to "visit a cemetery and pray for the deceased, even if only mentally." Some suggested prayers include the Prayer of Saint Gertrude or the Eternal Rest Prayer.
(2) Go to Confession and receive Holy Communion.
In order for one to obtain a plenary indulgence, the person must detach oneself from all sin. If the person is not detached, a partial indulgence will be applied. However, for the sick, elderly, homebound, or those who cannot go out due to coronavirus restrictions, they can "unite themselves spiritually to other members of the faithful."
For these situations, the decree encourages prayer "before an image of Jesus or the Blessed Virgin Mary, reciting pious prayers for the deceased, for example, Lauds & Vespers of the Office of the Dead, the Marian Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, other prayers for the deceased dearest to the faithful, or occupy themselves in reading of one of the Gospel passages proposed by the liturgy of the deceased, or perform a work of mercy by offering to God the sorrows and hardships of their own lives."
The individual must also have the intention of complying as soon as possible to the three conditions: sacramental Confession, Holy Communion, and praying for the Pope.
(3) Pray for the Pope.
The Church suggests that the faithful pray one Our Father and one Hail Mary for the good intentions of the Pope as the third condition for receiving the plenary indulgence.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. Amen. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
+JMJ+
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