Plenary Indulgence on the Occasion of the Eighth Centenary of the Christmas at Greccio
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December 19, 2023Plenary Indulgence on the Occasion of the Eighth Centenary
of the Christmas at Greccio
as Experienced by St. Francis of Assisi
In all Franciscan Churches, it will be possible for all the faithful to receive a plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions, from December 8, 2023, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary to February 2, 2024, the Feast of the Presentation In the Temple of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
What is a Plenary Indulgence?
An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain defined conditions through the Church’s help. A plenary (meaning “full”) indulgence is a special type of indulgence that, if all the requirements are met, removes all temporal punishment due to one’s sin. The church uses the power of the keys given to St. Peter by Jesus in Scripture (Matthew 16:18) to remove temporal consequences that still remain from sins committed. Even if we have been forgiven of a particular sin, we still experience the consequences of that sin in our lives.
What Do We Have To Do To Get A Plenary Indulgence This Christmas?
To obtain an indulgence, Catholics in the state of grace must:
1. Go to confession
2. Receive Holy Communion
3. Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father
4. Pray before the Manger Scene in St. Peter Church (A Franciscan Church)
The doors of St. Peter Church will be open until 7:00 p.m. on Christmas Day to allow the faithful an opportunity to pray before the Manger.
