Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On the Solemnity of St. Joseph, March 19 , the Apostolic Penitentiary in Rome announced the granting of special indulgences for the faithful, suffering from the pandemic caused by the Coronavirus.

As the Apostolic Penitentiary wrote, “So that all those who suffer because of COVID-19, precisely in the mystery of this suffering, may rediscover ‘the same redemptive suffering of Christ’ this Apostolic Penitentiary, ex auctoritate Summi Pontificis, trusting in the word of Christ the Lord and considering with a spirit of faith the epidemic currently underway, to be lived in a spirit of personal conversion, grants the gift of Indulgences in accordance with the following disposition.”

A PLENARY INDULGENCE is granted to the faithful, if with a spirit of detachment from all sin, and with the intention to fulfill the usual conditions as soon as possible (sacramental Confession, Reception of Holy Communion, and prayer for the Holy Father’s Intentions), they perform the following spiritual works:

Quarantined in their own home or in the hospital by order of the health authority, and offering this trial in a spirit of faith to God and in charity towards their brothers and sisters, they participate spiritually, through the media, in the celebration of Holy Mass, OR they pray the Holy Rosary, OR they pray the Way of the Cross or other forms of devotion, OR if at least they will recite the Creed, the Lord's Prayer and a pious invocation to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Health care workers, family members and all those who, following the example of the Good Samaritan, exposing themselves to the risk of contagion, care for the sick of the Coronavirus according to the words of the divine Redeemer: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15: 13), will obtain the same gift of the Plenary Indulgence under the same conditions (sacramental Confession, Reception of Holy Communion as soon as possible, and prayer for the Holy Father’s Intentions).

A Plenary Indulgence is also granted, under the same conditions, on the occasion of the current world epidemic, to those faithful who offer a visit to the Blessed Sacrament, OR Eucharistic Adoration, OR reading the Holy Scriptures for at least half an hour, OR the recitation of the Holy Rosary, OR the pious exercise of the Way of the Cross, OR the recitation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, to implore from Almighty God the end of the epidemic, relief for those who are afflicted and eternal salvation for those whom the Lord has called to Himself.

A Plenary Indulgence is granted to an individual, on the point of death, provided that they are duly disposed and have recited a few prayers during their lifetime (in this case the Church makes up for the three usual conditions required). For the attainment of this indulgence the use of the crucifix or the cross is recommended (cf. Enchiridion indulgentiarum, no.12).

General Remarks on Indulgences

1. 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 the faithful Christian who is duly disposed, gains under certain prescribed conditions (nos. 1-4 above) 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."

2. In general, the gaining of indulgences requires certain prescribed conditions (nos. 3, 4 below), and the performance of certain prescribed works (the works or prayers described in nos. 1-4 above).

3. 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.

4. A plenary indulgence can be gained only once a day. 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 (in the current crisis, as soon as possible, when attendance at Mass is once again permitted)
— pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.

5. 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 (when public attendance at Mass is once again permitted) and a separate prayer for the Holy Father's intentions are required for each plenary indulgence.

6. 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).

7. 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.

Finally, the Apostolic Penitentiary reiterates, “where the individual faithful find themselves, in the painful impos- sibility of receiving sacramental absolution, it should be remembered that perfect contrition, coming from the love of God, beloved above all things, expressed by a sincere request for forgiveness and accompanied by votum confes- sionis, that is, by the firm resolution to have recourse, as soon as possible, to sacramental confession, obtains for- giveness of sins, even mortal sin.”

May we take great comfort in these days that the Church remains close to her children and provides for their spiritual benefit. May Mary, the Mother of the Church and the Health of God’s people, continue to intercede for us for an end to this grave crisis. Assuring you of my continued prayers for all of you.

In Christ,
Fr. Vincent