Depiction of St. Paul while composing ... seemingly in deep contemplation or in the midst of a composer's nap!This might be one way of interpreting the recent articles that have come to parish bulletins in the Diocese of Brooklyn (NY) and in related Web sites that are focused on the "Plenary Indulgences."
The local Ordinary, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzo, brought the matter to the people of his diocese in the bulletin announcements. When asked by reporters why he was doing this, his response was simple: "Because there is sin in the world." Well, you certainly cannot say this Bishop is not speaking out against the prevailing evils in our world in our times. So, let's see what the local Shepherd is suggesting to his flock.
A teaching of the Church is this: through the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession, penitents are forgiven sins. However, the forgiveness of sins does not remove the "time in purgatory" for our sinfulness. Confession of a serious or mortal sin, however, does free a person for banishment to the regions of Hell. A person who is freed from the consequences of mortal sin or other sins through confession removes the sin but does not free that person from the obligation of atonement, the temporal punishment of sin --- time in purgatory.
Always mindful of its pastoral obligation, the Church extends to her people Plenary Indulgences, means to obliterate the temporal punishment due to God for our sins. Plenary Indulgences are granted by the Holy See usually on the occasion of a major event or celebration. Recently, on February 11th, the Archdiocese closed the period for a Plenary Indulgence that was granted for the anniversary feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. We are at the present time in the closing months of the Plenary Indulgence granted by Pope Benedict XVI to celebrate another anniversary, the commemoration of the Saint's 2000th birthday! This continues through June 29, 2009.
So, what does a person have to do to gain the benefits of a Plenary Indulgence? First and foremost, the person is required to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Secondly, the person much receive Holy Communion. Next the person must make a pilgrimage (a visit) to a specifically designated church (although this does not pertain to elderly who are housebound as well as others who also for one reason or another area homebound), finally the person is expected to pray for the intentions of the Holy Father as usually expressed for the special Plenary Indulgence. Also, the person is expected to do all that is possible to overcome habitual sins.
For the Plenary Indulgence granted to us for the Year of St. Paul, Archbishop Wuerl designated the following churches* in the Archdiocese to fulfill the pilgrimage obligation:
Montgomery County:
St. Paul Church: Damascus
St. Catherine Laboure: Wheaton
Prince George County:
St. Hugh Church: Greenbelt
St. Mark: Hyattsville
St. Philip the Apostle: Camp Springs
Washington, DC
Cathedral of St. Matthew: Rhode Island Ave and Connecticut Avenue
Shrine of the Immaculate Conception: 4th St and Michigan Ave
St. Augustine Church: 15th and V Sts, NW
St. Luke: East Capitol Street, SE
Shrine of the Sacred Heart: 16th St and Park Rd, NW
Calvert County
Our Lady Star of the Sea Church: Solomons Island
St. Anthony: North Beach
Charles County
St. Ignatius Church: Port Tobacco
Holy Ghost: Newburg
St. Mary's County
St. Joseph's Church: Morganza
St. Michael: Ridge
Immaculate Heart of Mary: Lexinton Park
The upcoming Lenten season will afford all Catholics the opportunity to fulfill the obligation to confess their sins at least one a year and receive Holy Communion and to gain at least one Plenary Indulgence for him-/herself each day during the period of the Indulgence granted. The faithful can receive a Plenary Indulgence for a deceased person as well, fulfilling the expectations of the Holy See.
