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Jubilee 2025 Plenary Indulgence

Plenary Indulgence

An indulgence is the remission of the temporal punishment (the effects of sin that linger in us) caused by sin. Because sin is a preference for self-love, it leaves behind an unhealthy attachment to (or a disordered love for) earthly things, even after it is forgiven. The Church teaches that these earthly attachments can be purified either here on earth (through an indulgence) or after death in Purgatory. God’s abundant mercy is such that he offers to free us from earthly attachments through the granting of indulgences by means of heavenly remedies, such as prayers, pilgrimages, devotions, and works of mercy.  

Individuals, families, and small groups who make a pilgrimage to a designated Pilgrimage Site in the Archdiocese of Atlanta may obtain a plenary indulgence during this jubilee year. This will grant remission of temporal consequences for sin.  

 To obtain the indulgence for the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope: 

  • Visit one of the Designated Pilgrimage Sites in the Archdiocese of Atlanta (such as St. Brendan the Navigator)
  • Recite the official Jubilee prayer (see below) 
  • Celebrate sacramental confession
  • Receive Holy Communion
  • Pray for the intentions of the Pope with one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be
  • Be free from all attachment to sin
  • Complete an act of mercy or penance (examples below)

Because Confession and Mass schedules vary by Parish the archbishop strongly encourages pilgrims to go to confession at their own parish before visiting a pilgrim church. Large groups should have a priest or deacon accompanying them on the pilgrimage and are asked to arrange the visit in advance. 

Jubilee Prayer 

Father in heaven,

May the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom.

May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally.

May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever.

Amen.

Works of mercy

Visit those in need or in difficulty, e.g., the sick or prisoners or those who are lonely, elderly, or disabled

Works of penance

  • Abstaining from distractions (e.g., the use of smartphone apps or social media) at least one day a week
  • Abstaining from certain food and drink (fasting) at least one day a week
  • Abstaining from meat (abstinence) at least one day a week
  • Donating money to the poor
  • Supporting the work of those who defend and protect life in all its phases
  • Supporting the ministry of those who work with abandoned children, young people in difficulty, the needy or lonely elderly people, or migrants
  • Dedicating one’s free time to community service or parish ministry

What is a Plenary Indulgence? 

  1.  The following summarizes the usual conditions given in the Church's law (cf. Apostolic Penitentiary, Prot. N. 39/05/I): 
  2. This is how an indulgence is defined in the Code of Canon Law (can. 992) and in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (n. 1471): "An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which thefaithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints".
  3. In general, the gaining of indulgences requires certain prescribed conditions (below, nn. 3, 4), and the performance of certain prescribed works ..... [in this case, those granted for the Jubilee Year of Hope]
  4. To gain indulgences, whether plenary or partial, it is necessary that the faithful be in the state of grace at least at the time the indulgenced work is completed. [i.e. one must be a Catholic, not excommunicated  or in schism.]
  5. A plenary indulgence can be gained only once a day, but a second is possible if applied to the souls in purgatory. In order to obtain it, the faithful must, in addition to being in the state of grace:
    • have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin;
    • have sacramentally confessed their sins;
    • receive the Holy Eucharist (it is certainly better to receive it while participating in Holy Mass, but for the indulgence only Holy Communion is required); 
    • pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.
  6. It is appropriate, but not necessary, that the sacramental Confession and especially Holy Communion and the prayer for the Pope's intentions take place on the same day that the indulgenced work is performed; but it is sufficient that these sacred rites and prayers be carried out within several days (about 20) before or after the indulgenced act. Prayer for the Pope's intentions is left to the choice of the faithful, but an "Our Father" and a "Hail Mary" are suggested. One sacramental Confession suffices for several plenary indulgences, but a separate Holy Communion and a separate prayer for the Holy Father's intentions are required for each plenary indulgence.
  7. For the sake of those legitimately impeded, confessors can commute both the work prescribed and the conditions required (except, obviously, detachment from even venial sin).
  8. Indulgences can always be applied either to oneself or to the souls of the deceased, but they cannot be applied to other persons living on earth