The Society has requested from the Apostolic Penitentiary, with the gracious permission of Bishop da Cunha, that a plenary indulgence be granted on the occasion of the 125th Anniversary of St. Anne Shrine for the month of July 2021.
This morning, we were notified:
“This Apostolic Penitentiary has received the forwarded request (St. Anne Shrine) and tells you that it is granted what has been politely requested and therefore the Indulgence can be publicly announced.“
The conditions under which the indulgence can be gained are as follows:
A Plenary Indulgence is granted under the usual conditions (Sacramental Confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff), obtainable once per day during July 2021, by truly repentant faithful pilgrims animated by charity (this indulgence may be applied to the suffrage of the souls of the faithful in Purgatory) and love of our Lord:
- Each time pilgrims devoutly visit St. Anne Shrine and Church in Fall River, Massachusetts and address humble prayers to God in this place for an appropriate period of time for the conversion of sinners and the growth of the kingdom of Christ in the world, concluding with the Lord’s Prayer, the Ave Maria, Gloria Patri, and invocation of the intentions of the Holy Father.
- Each time in the right spirit they attend the Novena to St. Anne during 17-25 July 2021.
- As a special dispensation of God’s limitless mercy, participation in the Festival Mass, Benediction, Exposition, and (if permitted by health officials) the procession of the relics of St. Anne on July 26, 2021 through the streets of Fall River, Massachusetts.
This is a special favor being granted to our beloved Shrine by the Holy Father, and a sign of limitless mercy, healing, and forgiveness found within the walls of St. Anne’s.
What is an 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 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.
In general, the gaining of indulgences requires certain prescribed conditions (as above) and the performance of certain prescribed works. 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).
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 (+/- 7 is suggested) 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 sought.