About Indulgences

From the Apostolic Constitution The Doctrine of Indulgences (Pope Paul VI, January 1, 1967):

An indulgence is the remission before God of the temporal punishment due for sins already forgiven as far as their guilt is concerned. This remission the faithful with the proper dispositions and under certain determined conditions acquire through the intervention of the Church which, as minister of the Redemption, authoritatively dispenses and applies the treasury of the satisfaction won by Christ and the Saints.

An indulgence is either partial or plenary, according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due for sin. (Norms 1 and 2)

This means that "a plenary indulgence" is an indulgence that removes all of the temporal punishment due for sin. "Plenary" means "full", and refers to the full remission of temporal punishment.

The six requirements for obtaining a plenary indulgence are:
1) Sacramental confession within 8 days before or after the work.
2) Eucharistic communion on the day of the work.
3) Recitation of the "Our Father" and the "Creed" for the intentions of the Pope.
4) There must be the intention to gain the indulgence and the indulgence must be asked for.
5) The work, itself.
6) One must also be free from all attachment to sin, however slight.


Plenary indulgences can be received once a day, either for yourself or for a soul in purgatory. You need to perform one of the following to gain a plenary indulgence:

1. Recitation of the Rosary in common (not by yourself)
"Recitation of the Marian Rosary (at least five decades without interruption) in a church; or with members of the family, in a religious community, or a pious association. Devout meditation on the mysteries is necessary. In public recitation, the mysteries must be announced."
2. Recitation of the Rosary before the Blessed Sacrament (even by yourself)
3. Make the Way of the Cross
4. Read the Bible for one-half hour
5. Make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament for one-half hour.


The Handbook of Indulgences: Norms and Grants [The Enchiridion Indulgentiarum and the English version of the Handbook of Indulgences, based on the Third Edition of the Enchidiridion Indulgentiarum: Normae et Concessiones of May 1986, published by Libreria Editrice Vaticana Published by authority of the Bishop's Committee of the Liturgy, NCCB] is the authoritative resource about indulgences and what is necessary for obtaining them for folks in the United States.




Explanation of Indulgences

Norms for Indulgences



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