Year for Priests — Indulgences
A plenary indulgence is offered for all faithful on the occasion of the Year for Priests, June 19, 2009 – June 19, 2010. The Year for Priests marks the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Mary Vianney, also known as the Curé de Ars. (See Bishop Joseph Latino’s column on page 1.)
For the faithful, a plenary indulgence can be obtained on: the opening and closing days of the Year for Priests; Aug. 4, 2009, the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Mary Vianney; the first Thursday of the month.
In the Diocese of Jackson an indulgence also can be obtained on:
Sept. 15, 2009 – Our Lady of Sorrows; Feb. 22, 2010 – Chair of St. Peter.
Conditions for gaining a plenary indulgence for the faithful: attend Mass in a church on the above days offer prayers to “Jesus Christ, supreme and eternal priest,” for the priests of the church; make a good confession within eight days of the above dates; pray for the intentions of the pope.
A partial indulgence is offered to the faithful when they repeat five times the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be, or any other duly approved prayer “in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to ask that priests maintain purity and sanctity of life.”
The elderly, the sick, and all those who for any legitimate reason are unable to leave their homes may obtain the plenary indulgence if “on the days concerned, they pray for the sanctification of priests and offer their sickness and suffering to God through Mary, Queen of the Apostles,” with the intention of observing the usual three conditions (Mass, confession, praying for intention of the pope) as soon as they can.
