A Plenary Indulgence is the remission before God of ‘all’ the temporal punishment due to be suffered for already-forgiven sins.
A Catholic, being in the state of grace, can gain a Plenary Indulgence by many different prayers and works of piety, including:
Making a visit to the Blessed Sacrament to adore Him for at lease one half hour.
In addition to the Visit, these three conditions are required:
- Confession
- Holy Communion
- Prayer for the Holy Father’s intentions.
(One Our Father and one Hail Mary suffice)
The three conditions may be fulfilled several days before or after the performance of the prescribed work; it is fitting, however, that Communion be received and the prayer for the intention of the Holy Father be recited on the same day the work is performed.
In addition, to gain a Plenary Indulgence, a person’s mind and heart must be free from all attachment to sin, even venial sin.
If one tries to gain a Plenary Indulgence, but fails to fulfill all the requirement, the indulgence will be only partial.
(From the leaflet “How to Gain a Plenary Indulgence,” TAN, Imprimature Most Rev. Thomas G. Doran, Bishop of Rockford, March 31, 1998)
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