The Glossary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that an indulgence is “the remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sin whose guilt has already been forgiven. In other words, we can receive from God a partial or complete canceling of our “purgatory time” by gaining an indulgence.

A plenary indulgence can be gained only once daily, but partials are unlimited. In order to obtain the Jubilee plenary indulgence, the faithful must, in addition to being in the state of grace:

  1. Visit one of the designated Jubilee churches or shrines. Or perform the prescribed act.
  2. Receive the Sacrament of Penance by going to Confession. (The Sacrament of Penance may be received several days before or after performing the prescribed acts.)
  3. Receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
  4. Be truly free from all willful attachment to sin.
  5. Make a Profession of Faith. (Recite the Nicene or Apostles Creed)
  6. Pray for Pope Francis’ intentions for the Church and for the world. (Recite the Our Father)

**To receive these special graces, one must be truly free from all willful attachment to sin.

Living as a faithful Catholic is an intense way of life that orients us towards striving to love God above all things and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Living to receive indulgences is already “waiting well” and living in hope.

The Gift of Indulgences:
The marvelous thing about fulfilling the requirements to receive an indulgence is that we trust that the Lord will draw from His infinite merits, won by His passion, death, and resurrection, special graces for the person who is asking for them. Christ has given the Catholic Church the power to forgive sins (John 20:21-23) and the power to bind and loose (Matt. 18:18). Building a habit of receiving indulgences eliminates the temporal punishment due to sin (purgatory time) and cooperates with God’s grace to be in deeper communion with Him.