A Summary of the Vatican’s Decree on Plenary Indulgences for the Deceased Faithful applicable this November.
By Austine J. Crasta, STL
In response to requests from several pastors, the Vatican has released a new Decree facilitating easier access for the faithful to the traditional plenary indulgences for souls in purgatory even amidst the current pandemic restrictions this November. Presented below is an accessible summary of the key points of the Decree along with very brief explanatory notes for added clarity.
General Observations
- Changes announced are applicable only this year (i.e., November 2020)
- Rationale for the Decree: In order to avoid gatherings where they are forbidden
- Applicable to:
- the Elderly
- the Sick
- all those who for serious reasons cannot leave their homes or are prevented from doing so because of pandemic restrictions
(a) Plenary Indulgence for Visit to a Cemetery (Nov. 1-8)
- may be transferred to other days in the month of November 2020
- individuals can freely choose these days (i.e., it is not restricted to November 1-8 but can be any eight days from November 1 to 30)
- the days may be separate from each other (i.e., the chosen dates do not need to be continuous)
(b) Plenary Indulgence for Visit to a Church or Oratory on All Souls Day (Nov. 2) and the Recitation of the “Our Father” and the “Creed” there
- may be transferred to any day in the month of November (i.e., not necessarily only Sundays before or after All Saints as was previously permitted)
- individuals may freely choose any day (i.e., without the usual necessity for the consent of the bishop)
Conditions for Plenary Indulgences and Concessions Made for November 2020:
- the individual faithful must have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin (i.e., in addition to being in a ‘state of grace’)
- it is enough to join spiritually with the other faithful (i.e., physical visits to Church or Cemetery are not required for those prevented from doing so)
- one must have the intention of complying as soon as possible (i.e., after the restrictions have eased) with the three usual conditions for indulgences (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer according to the Holy Father’s intentions) before an image of Jesus or the Blessed Virgin Mary, and recite pious prayers for the deceased
Examples of Prayers for the Deceased:
- Lauds and Vespers of the Office of the Dead
- the Marian Rosary
- the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
- other prayers for the deceased dearest to the faithful
- reading of one of the Gospel passages proposed by the liturgy of the deceased
- perform a work of mercy by offering to God the sorrows and hardships of their own lives
Priests are:
- asked to offer themselves with particular generosity to the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance and administer Holy Communion to the sick
- reminded about the possibility of collective/general absolution during the pandemic indicated in the Vatican’s Note of 19 March 2020
- strongly invited to celebrate Holy Mass three times on the day of the Commemoration of all the deceased faithful
Austine J. Crasta is a theologian, visual artist and a catholic communicator from Bangalore, India and currently based out of Belgium.
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